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Working from home sounds like fun but what makes it so glamorous because of the flexibility that comes with it rather, it is the biggest challenge with the idea. Going to work every day is easier because you’re forced to be disciplined, but if you work from home especially where your office is right next to your bed, your discipline will be truly tested.
Working from home means combating distractions that are around you and this can be quite challenging as you try to stay productive since you are like the boss in your own space, that is, having nobody to supervise you like your supervisor at your 9-5 job, you can easily get distracted by either call from your friends or family, staying longer than you should in checking the email or social media notifications that just popped up on your home screen, taking a longer meal or toilet breaks, etc so you have to put in a lot of work and this implies being disciplined to stay focused.
So, here are ways you can get started in practicing self-discipline by working from home.
1. Work with a schedule.
Having and working with a schedule while working from home is one important way of being disciplined. By working according to the set-up routine, you can work efficiently and also still be able to enjoy breaks for yourself without feeling like you are not doing more.
In the previous article, I shared a routine that I use daily, and for some of you who haven’t read it, I would like to share it again.
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7 am: Check my phone and email and reply to messages. I wake up by 6 am so I try to do all my chores before 7.
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8 am: Have my bath and breakfast.
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9 am to 12 pm: Research the topics/articles I need to write for clients or the blog.
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Noon to 2 pm: I make and have lunch or I order a takeout.
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2 pm to 4 pm: I discuss with clients, check my social media pages and emails, and reply to messages, I also call back anyone whom I missed their calls. Then, I take a walk or I lay down for a while.
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4 pm to 7 pm: I continue on the articles and blog posts.
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7 pm: I call it a day and I make dinner.
Instead of having a schedule for the week. you can just create a to-do list for that day and you will find out that by prioritizing and sticking to a routine, you’re more willing to work more.
2. Create a designated work space/environment.
As humans knowingly and unknowingly, we set and have a purpose for each room or space in our home and we furnish it according to that purpose in our mind so that anytime we enter such space, we will be reminded of the reason we furnished such room and use it accordingly but that does not mean that you have to set your office space in your bedroom or kitchen because the environment will end up distracting you and not make you focused on your task.
Setting up a workspace keeps you motivated and improves efficiency while working from home. One mistake remote workers make is making their bed or couch their workspace. Your brain already associates the bed and couch with rest and sleep and making those places your workspace is a No for me.
Having a specific workstation helps you stay productive, consistent orderly, and disciplined in your job because working from a designated office space helps you get less distracted and more disciplined in your work time.
3. Do not work in your sleepwear/pajamas.
…Because you work from home, you think you do not have to dress like a 9-fiver so you still throw in your sleepwear because it is very comfortable to work in. You are not wrong but then it will be difficult to control what your brain thinks and it already associates the clothing with time for bed or sleep.
As humans, what we wear can affect the way we act or behave, and putting on your PJs will only make you feel a bit lazy no matter how much we try to deny the glaring truth. Some even do not brush or shower, they just start working immediately after they wake up from sleep. All these can affect your productivity.
So as a worker working from home, to avoid this and be effective, start by dressing for work as you did when you were working from the office. It doesn’t have to be too formal and not too casual.
Wake up, brush, shower, dress up in your work clothes, eat, and get to work.
4. Take short breaks.
When you were working from the office, there were set times for a break like lunch break, and a break from work also happens when you have meetings in the boardroom so working from home doesn’t prevent you from taking a break or two.
Do not underestimate the importance of taking breaks except you do not care about your work productive. The trick to doing this is to work when you feel energized and productive and take breaks when you are not. Aside from taking a walk down your street, you can also chat or speak online with a colleague, have a quick lunch, chat with friends on the phone, listen to music, or even spend some time with your family or loved ones, standing up to stretch, taking a power nap between 15-20 minutes, and grabbing coffee or tea.
Remember taking breaks helps to do the following:
- Reduce stress and fatigue.
- It also creates a good work/life balance.
- Boosts your energy, and makes you more productive.
- It also improves your mood which helps to make you more motivated to work.
- Taking breaks helps to make you more creative because when you take breaks, you tend to come back with new ideas and solutions that you wouldn’t have thought of if you had been working continuously.
5. Avoid distractions.
Home distractions can make you stray away from your work and cause you to not achieve your goals and if you want to increase your workflow while working from home, you need to avoid distractions like;
- Noise from your kids or family members or even your neighbors.
- Phone calls from friends.
- Noise from the television
- Notifications from emails, SMS alerts, etc.
- House chores
- Interruptions from visitors.
You can avoid these distractions by setting boundaries with your children and family members and letting them know firmly that it is work time or you can shut the door which will send signals to them that you’re busy and unavailable, turning off the television or silencing and putting away your phone, making sure to be done with your house chores before your work time and letting your friends and neighbors know that you work from home and so they do not just drop by at your place during your work time.
6. Be connected with your colleagues from work.
Working from home can be isolating sometimes especially if you were a 9-5 worker before so you tend to miss the hustle and bustle of working from the office and interactions with your colleagues.
You can decide to stay connected and bond with your colleagues either virtually like using Zoom or Google Meet or in person during your breaks in between your tasks and while at it, you guys can discuss projects, share ideas, and motivate one another.
Communicating with your colleagues or teammates can make you feel less lonely, increase your productivity at work, and keep you more motivated.
STAYING DISCIPLINED
For some people being disciplined while working remotely, especially from home comes very easy for them while for others, they have to put in a lot of work and dedication.
Take it a day at a time to practice self-discipline by following the six tips mentioned above and I hope these tips help you have a well-organized routine and still increase your productivity while working from home.
