In a tech-savvy world, the number of possibilities presented is endless. Thanks to technology, work does not have to be done at a particular place or at a particular time. Some people work remotely, others do online work and they can simply work from the comfort of their homes.
Working from home is ideal in moments of crisis when flexibility is critical. In some cases, such as freelancing, you can work for people continents away. With such endless possibilities, comes the need to do things differently as there is a new set of challenges provided by the lack of a boss who wants to see you seated at your desk. You make the rules and live by them.
An office is great because it gives you a structured environment, which allows you to work almost uninterrupted and you are almost always assured of maximum productivity. However, if your job allows you to work from home, or if you are a freelancer who does not have an office, a strict self-discipline is the only way to stay productive. There is the great temptation to maybe watch a movie, snooze a little after lunch, or just laze in the house. So, here are some tips that can help you stay disciplined and productive, even when watching an episode of Game of Thrones would seem very ideal.
Get out of bed
Of course, if you live in a bedsitter, your bed might be the chair and bed and only furniture you have. Most startups have been started on beds, where people simply wake up, pull their laptops and start working.
Although this sounds really romantic, it is a bad idea when you are trying to be productive. Once you feel a bit tired and lazy, lying down for two minutes is simply very easy and can turn into hours and before you know it, you will not have accomplished anything by the end of the day.
If you are to work from home, get out of bed, have a cup of tea and sit away from your bed, whether you live in a bedsitter or in a bigger house. Better still, have a dedicated working area, such as a chair and a desk, if this is possible. This will ensure that laziness is kept at bay.
Have a schedule
Self-discipline starts with having a plan and sticking to it. Having planned schedule ensures that you stay disciplined and motivated. For example, knowing your deadlines could easily help you plan your day well, such that you are able to create time to attend to your work on time.If you find it hard to have a written schedule and sticking to it, you can use apps to help you plan your day and work efficiently. A schedule will help you avoid the temptation to play another round of GTA V when you should be trying to meet a deadline.
Take a shower in the morning and dress up
Working from home is very comfortable because you can choose when to wake up and even whether the shower would be nice immediately you wake up, or later. Well, showering is a great way to wake up and get into the right frame of mind. Most people simply wake up, sit up on their beds, switch on their computers then start working. If you do this, chances are, you will feel lazy and it will take you much longer to actually wake up.
Another great tip is to actually dress up a little bit. Of course, suiting up is a bit impractical but, at the very least, get out of your pajamas.
Attend to household chores and run your errands
One distraction that routinely comes with working from home is the urge to clean up and go run your other errands. It is easy to simply stop working on projects and start doing other things, especially if you are feeling lazy or tired.
Since you are not being watched by anyone, keeping the self-discipline that requires being diligent with your time can be tricky. To avoid such distractions, create time to attend to household duties and other errands.
Set goals and take some time off
In order to stay disciplined, set daily goals and stay focused. This way, you will avoid distractions and the temptation to procrastinate. Distractions are the biggest enemy of people who work from home. Therefore, setting daily goals and deliberately working towards them leads to more productivity.
On the other hand, it is very easy to work continuously without taking breaks since there are no meetings and other activities that require you to get away from your computer. When setting goals, set aside time for short breaks in order to re-energise.
Set working hours
While working from home, working hours can be vague. You can easily mix your personal life and work life, which means that there will be no time for maximum productivity or relaxation. Just like people who work in offices, it is important to compartmentalise your life and your work so as to avoid burnout.
Get Support When Children are Involved
Working from home can be a challenge when you are a parent or guardian with children in the house. They are not used to having their parent at home and might want to play, seek attention or even become clingy. Make it clear to those who can understand that you are still at work and engage them during your breaks to keep the balance. The nanny can also be very instrumental at this point in keeping the children busy and occupied.
Stay motivated despite the environment
Working from home is quickly becoming common. As such, there is need to develop a new set of skills which involve self-discipline so as to ensure that you remain productive. These tips will come in handy for anyone trying to find the right balance when working from home.
Hello BrighterMonday,
I really like this article.
I am starting out my first job and the work schedule is actually very flexible. I get to work from home most days and only go in to the office once or twice a week. I always thought I’d have a regular 8-5 job but this is new to me and I didn’t know exactly how to be effective in working from the house. But with this advice I now know how best to maximize working from home. Thank you very much.
Natasha K Muturi
You’re welcome Natasha,
We really appreciate your feedback and readership.
Keep it Brighter Monday your Career partner.
^TM
Any job opportunity for working at home or during my free time?
Hi Kelvin,
These jobs you can only access them though the internet so kindly google and enroll to jobs that suites you.
^TM
Thanks for the advise
You’re welcome Dennis.
Keep it Brighter Monday for more tips and career guidance.
^TM
very informative. keep up the good work
Thanks Mohamed.
We appreciate your audience .
Keep it here for more informative articles.
^TM
Thanks for your advise keep us knowledgeable.
You’re welcome Anthony.
We endeavor to bring our readers relevant and practical tips.
Keep it Brighter Monday for more enlightening career advice.
^TM
This will really help ..especially me..thanks alot brighter monday
You’re welcome Maggy,
Put the tips you read here to practice and see the results. All the best from us.
^TM
Nice article. Works for also studying at home.
I need a genuine link for work at home/online job.
Hi Edwards ,
To get more information about online jobs click here http://bit.ly/2shuf80 and be part of a program that will give you more details of how you can work online.
^TM
Beautiful read ,steps we take for granted
I’m attending a Government program on online jobs next week.
I will remember to apply the rules
Violet
Make sure you do violet and stay tuned for more tips and advice.
^TM
hi, i have tried to google for these jobs but i have never been successful.
please advice what to do.
Hi Eunice, here http://bit.ly/2shuf80 is a link of a current program that is ongoing which will teach you how to access these jobs.
^TM
Very educative. Rgds.
You’re welcome Marcelyne,
Keep it here for more tips.
^TM
I concur, i think having a quality sleep may make your day a success.
Waking up early to prioritize on one’s duties will lessen the day’s burden.
It is also advisable to take note of distractions that are likely to slow down one’s performance.
What is your view?
We couldn’t agree with you more Maurice.
Anything that is slows down ones performance needs to be done away with. Keep reading our articles for more career advice.
^TM
Am still looking for a job of my professional as HRM Plz my contacts are 0715895579
Hi Wycliff,
Someone from the team will contact you.
^TM
So educative thank you..
^TM
You’re welcome Eldah.
Keep it here for more inspiring career advice.
^TM
[…] about their escapades over the weekend, and not to mention social media. For those people who work from home, there is the unique problem of an alluring bed and the desire to catch up on the latest episode of […]
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