3 Tips on how to stay productive when working from home

Working from home has a different atmosphere than working in the office. At home there are more distractions, especially if someone has to take care of their kids at the same time. For those who are single, focus is easily broken and motivations to be productive are less than when working in the office.

To some extent, work productivity will be disrupted. Work was delayed day by day, work piled till we would have to work until late at night. Undoubtedly, it is not an easy thing to stay focused when working from home.

So, how do you increase your work productivity? How do you make sure you don’t have to work overtime to the point of having to sacrifice your evenings and weekends?

There are many productivity improvement tips out there, however with these 3 tips, you can stay productive right after finishing this article.

1. Have a comfortable work space

A comfortable workspace is the most important factor when working from home. It is not only important for you to stay productive but it is also important for your health. Uncomfortable workspaces can cause various ailments such as headaches, numbness in the neck and spine as well as poor body posture.

According to a study from Upright and Ernst & Young, employees with good body posture record 75% more productivity than other employees. How do you make sure you are more comfortable working from home?

First, use ergonomic furniture and work tools. Ergonomic chair is a solution to back pain because it has a lumbar support function. You work at least 6-8 hours a day, meaning you’ll sit for 6-8 hours as well, so it will do well to invest more for the sake of your health. You are also advised to buy an ergonomic keyboard and mouse to avoid getting carpal tunnel syndrome.

Second, the position of the workplace should have good lighting. Preferably close to a natural light source such as windows or doors. This is to prevent your eyes from getting tired and dizzy from facing the computer screen for too long. Once an hour you should rest your eyes by looking at the scenery outside your house.

2. Use the pomodoro technique

This technique was invented by a university student, Cirillo in 1980. This is how he stays productive.

• List the tasks you want to do and set up a timer.
• Set the timer for 25 minutes and focus on doing only one task until the timer sounds.
• Rest for 5 minutes.
• Repeat 3 to 4 times.
• After finishing 4 rounds, you can take a longer rest of around 15-20 minutes.

This way, you don’t have to face the computer for too long. This technique is very good for your eye health. This 5 -minute break can be used to get up for a while, stretch the body and rest the eyes by looking at more distant objects.

To ensure this technique is effective, make sure you focus on completing only one task at a time. If the task takes longer to finish, break it down into several small parts.

3. The Ivy Lee Method

This method was used by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation company in 1918. A consultant named Ivy Lee helped the CEO of Bethelehem Steel to increase the level of employee efficiency at the time. 

This is Ivy Lee's method.

• Each day before the end of work, write down six important tasks that need to be completed the next day.
• Arrange the six tasks according to their level of importance.
• The next day, complete the task according to its level of importance. Do not switch until the first task is completed.
• Repeat until the 6th task.
• If there are still unfinished tasks, add them to the list for the next day.

In conclusion, find balance between work and life. These productivity tips can be used so that you can get work done faster and have enough rest time and time to spend with family.

Lastly, don’t forget to take care of your health. Without a fit and healthy body, it is difficult for you to produce good work. Practice a healthy lifestyle by exercising, getting enough sleep and maintaining a balanced diet.

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Source:

• Work From Home Setup - What Every Employee Must Have https://blog.vantagecircle.com/work-from-home-setup/
• The Pomodoro Technique https://todoist.com/productivity-methods/pomodoro-technique
• The Ivy Lee Method: The Daily Routine Experts Recommend for Peak Productivity https://jamesclear.com/ivy-lee