Thanks to the global pandemic, many Malaysians find themselves working from home. A few months ago, we'd have no issues sticking to our schedule while in the office. But now, we found out that it's not that easy to work from home.
If you find it hard to be productive while working from home, here are some tips to help you out:
1. Choose a space based on your needs
Your home office serves a good purpose, but it doesn't mean you have to stay in one spot for the whole day. Depending on your task, you may find yourself more productive working from the sofa or at the dining table.
Determine how you regularly divide your day. For instance, are you more creative in the morning? You should spend your time writing or coming up with new ideas for your project. You can use the afternoon for more relaxed tasks such as sifting through emails and completing the rest of your tasks for the workday.
2. Keep your working space tidy
Whether you're working in a home office, living room, or kitchen, an untidy space will distract you. You'll feel the urge to do your household chores, and now's not the time for that especially when there's a pile of work waiting to be done.
Whenever you work from home, claim a clutter-free zone. This zone will help you stay focused on your workload, just like how it should be at your desk in the office.
Work wherever you want, as long as it doesn't affect your productivity.
3. Prepare yourself!
Most people believe that working from home means sitting around in your pyjamas with the television playing in the background. That is simply untrue.
For many people, working requires focus. You'll need to prepare as you would if you were going into the office. You should set a morning ritual of getting dressed, making your cup of coffee, and doing whatever you need to get in the right working mindset.
You should also write down your work to-do list for the day. This list will increase your chances of being productive when you set an intention.
4. Position yourself
Some people like to work in bed or on the couch. If you're not sitting at a table, you should have a small one within your reach for extra space. You can place your paperwork, a glass of water, or your phone on the table.
5. Lights on
Natural light through the windows is nice, but it can also cause glare on your computer screen. If you're not affected by it, that's fine. But if you feel distracted, you should pull the curtains and turn on the light switch.
Reserve a special space and designate it as your home office to help you get used to working from home.
6. Create a home office ambience
When you're working from home, you can create a personalised work area in a way you may not be able to at the office. You can create a cosy yet productive space that suits your working style.
You can add houseplants, flowers, candles or even lava lamps.
7. Set your schedule
You might be working from home, but you'll still need a schedule. Set a time for work, take a break during lunch, and clock out once your working hours are finished for the day.
8. Take a breather (don't worry, you can go outside)
Take a 10-minute walk around the house or apartment to freshen yourself and to encourage new ideas. You also won't get bored being stuck inside your house for the whole day.
Just like any regular stores, you should know when to stop and continue the next day.
9. Clock out
You need to create boundaries. One of the biggest issues for people working from home is that they don't know when to clock out because they're already at home.
Learn to differentiate that there's time for work and there's time for yourself. You might already be home, but that doesn't mean you should sacrifice your time for work. There's always tomorrow.
If you have a problem finishing your work at home, then you should try to schedule your tasks just like how you would when you were in the office.
