How to Work Productively from Home

Working from home is a new way of life for many people, and it can be difficult to find the motivation and rhythm that works best for you. We’ve compiled a list of our favourite tips and tricks to stay positive and productive during the work day, all from the comfort of your own home!

Get a good night sleep and wake up at a consistent time

This is a super important one. Whilst it is very tempting to scroll through your social media feed until 3am, your future self won’t thank you for it. Setting up a consistent sleep schedule not only improves your overall health and wellbeing, but means that you get the most out of your day.

Read the news & stay informed

Sometimes reading the news can be a bit of a bummer, especially when there is a lot of uncertainty in the world. Though this is the case, it is important to maintain informed about what is happening outside of your living room. Starting the day by reading the news also engages your brain (more than scrolling through Instagram or Facebook anyway) and wakes you up for the day ahead.

Create and maintain a morning ritual

This step varies for everyone, but the idea behind it is the same. Creating a consistent morning ritual tells your brain that the day has started, and is a great way to get into the zone before  a day of work. For some, it’s as simple as making a coffee. For others, getting dressed for a day at the ‘office’ is the motivation they need. Experiment with what works best for you!

Create distinct workspaces

As great as working from your bed seems at the time, it definitely isn’t the most effective workspace (and is terrible for your posture!). Take the time to create distinct workspaces in your home, whether it’s a proper study nook or just a spot at the kitchen table. Make sure to clear away clutter or anything that could become a distraction, and set yourself up with everything you need for the day (tea or coffee included). Natural light is a great mood booster, so aim to work somewhere close to a window, door or skylight.

To do lists

To do lists are one of the greatest ways to stay on top of your work from home, and like most other steps, they are totally customisable! If you like having projects done in a certain timeframe, create a ‘to-do timetable’ to keep your progress on track. If you prefer a more relaxed approach and just don’t want to forget what you still need to work on, a regular to-do list is a fantastic way to stay focused. These double as progress trackers, and ticking something off of your list is a super satisfying feeling that is sure to keep you motivated.

Create rules and goals for yourself

Perhaps you aren’t allowed to use your phone until you’ve responded to all of your emails, or maybe you can have a chocolate whenever you finish a paragraph. Setting rules can be a fantastic way to keep yourself in check and on track during the day. This step relies on you following those rules, so if you find yourself breaking them constantly, try setting smaller, more achievable goals. Don’t forget to reward yourself for reaching your goals; you deserve it!

Know someone who’s been working super hard? Show you appreciate their dedication with a chocolate gift from Edible Blooms! They can be delivered straight to their door as a heartfelt ‘thank you’, and they are a great way to reward a job well done.

Channel afternoon slump into productive break

We’ve all felt it before; after a productive morning, we find ourselves wanting nothing more than to avoid our work (and often slump onto the couch). Forcing yourself to work in this situation leaves you unproductive and grumpy, impacting the quality of your work. Try channelling your energy into something else instead! No, we don’t mean scrolling through Facebook.

Find an activity that feels like a break from your regular work, but still creates the feeling of productivity. For some this is tending to their garden or indoor plants. For others, it might be sewing, doing the dishes, drawing or cleaning. Though this doesn’t necessarily get your work done, it leaves you feeling refreshed from a break, without the guilt of being unproductive. Win win!

Make plans to encourage productivity

Have something due in a week? Seems like plenty of time, right? Sometimes, this can be too much time, and without any pressure to get us motivated, the due date comes closer and closer with no work to show for it. How do we get around this lack of motivation without leaving work till the last minute? Well, we create plans!

If you know you are busy in the three days leading up to the assignment being due, it forces you to be productive before this time frame. Nothing will be left to the last minute, and you will likely have extra time to read over and finalise your work before submission. This is a great tactic for all of those expert procrastinators out there!

Everyone is different, so what works for someone else may not work for you. Even if not everything on this list suits you perfectly, we hope it’s given you some much needed inspiration to get off the couch, out of those pyjamas and into those work projects!