10 Simple Ways to Stay Motivated When You Work from Home

When you work from home, it’s like hitting two birds with one stone — you can be at home and you provide for the family as well. 

While having a home-based job is the best way to earn in the comfort of your home, it could sometimes lead to slacking off since you tend to do things your own way without the presence of a boss or a colleague to monitor your every move.

The result? Lack of productivity and motivation to get the job done! So, in order to stay motivated, here are some pieces of advice that you can use to make the best out of your time at home — while at work.

Source: forbes.com

1. Wake up early so you can start working early as well.

You chose to work from home so you can sleep in if you want to…. right? Wrong. While it can be difficult, try your best to wake up early so you’ll be more productive. A study revealed that waking up early in the morning makes you a proactive person. And by starting early, you finish early as well. So, rise and shine!

2. Get dressed for the day.

Working from home is not an excuse to look like a slob everyday. Many of us are guilty of wearing our pyjamas when working from home, but it really is a good idea to make an effort to look good. An article from Forbes said that it is still important to dress up for work even for a home-based one.

Dr. Karen Pine, professor of psychology at the University of Hertfordshire and fashion psychologist said: “When we put on an item of clothing it is common for the wearer to adopt the characteristics associated with that garment. A lot of clothing has symbolic meaning for us, whether it’s ‘professional work attire’ or ‘relaxing weekend wear,’ so when we put it on we prime, the brain to behave in ways consistent with that meaning.”

So, trade that comfy set of PJs in and wear some nice casual pants and a top instead. You’ll never know when your boss or a client wants to hop on a video call with you, right?

3. Pack your lunch to stop constant grazing.

Munching on just about everything you can find in the fridge is the easiest thing to do while working at home. Working at an office gives you a controlled break-time, but at home, sky’s the limit. So, try to pack your lunch just as you would when you’re working at an office. This way, you can control what you eat and prevent unnecessary grazing.

4. Housework is for after work – not during work hours.

Try to separate your time working “for” the house and working “at” the house. When housework calls, try to do it after work, so you can focus on finishing your work hours.

5. Have a dedicated office space.

It could be anywhere around the house where you find peace and quiet. Having a dedicated office space helps you manage your home-based job and will keep you free from distractions and will help you concentrate on the task at hand. It also helps to have a door on the office so you can shut it off from the main part of the house.

6. Use silencing headphones to prevent outside disruptions.

Playing your favourite music or a podcast will make you focus on your job and will help you be productive.

7. Have a list of goals printed out where you can see them.

Make a schedule. Know what time should you start working, set deadlines and list down all your tasks and when should you finish them. Prioritise your responsibilities and finish the most urgent ones. However, if you’re done creating your plan, stick with it. It’s easy to get derailed but with proper time management, you’ll be able to have time for other non-urgent and smaller tasks.

8. Avoid working where you sleep.

It’s just so tempting to work sitting on your bed right after you wake up, but remember, working on your bed makes you way lazier than working in your pyjamas. It’s because your bed is supposed to be the place where you relax and fall asleep. So, assign even just a small space of your house as your work room (it should be away from your bed) where you think about work and not about sleeping.

9. Have a break sometimes.

Once you find your niche, it’s easy to push yourself to work hard. But working too much or for too long with out a break could stress you and burn you out. So try to take breaks and free your mind from work for even a couple of minutes. There’s no harm in getting a coffee break and going outside for a while. In fact, by having a break, you feel refreshed to take on your tasks well, helping you avoid making mistakes brought about by being too overworked.

10. Be self-disciplined.

Above all, whether you’re working at an office or at home, you’ll stay motivated by disciplining yourself. You can stick with everything in this list with the right discipline. Teach yourself to recognise when should you work and when should you play, and train yourself to stay the course.

What other tips can you give to stay motivated when you work from home?