Working from home productivity hacks

Productivity Hacks for Working at Home

Do you get to the end your your day and wonder where the time went?

When someone asks you what you did all day… are you at a loss?

Do you keep thinking that tomorrow will be different?  You’ll finally get a grip on your time…

Thanks to  COVID-19 more and more people are working from home. If you haven’t done it before it can at first seem like a dream come true which can quickly transition into a nightmare if you don’t establish some guidelines to follow.

Here are some productivity hacks that will ensure a successful day.   

Get up early: There is a tendency to sleep in when you are working from home but research shows that our most productive time is the first 2-4 hours right after getting up (yes even if you think you are a night owl).  Get your most challenging work done soon after you get up. Start with your most demanding and high priority work at that time.

How you start your day determines your day: Take the time to prepare yourself physically for the day. If you spend your day in your pajamas, your work will reflect that. Show up for yourself just like you would show up for your workplace. Workout. Eat healthy. Shower! Dress comfortably but in a presentable fashion. If you are embarrassed to open the door in your daily work from home outfit, you need to step up your game. 

Practice Gratitude:  Recognizing the things that you are grateful for is the precursor to joy and happiness.  Be sure to spend some time appreciating the many blessings you have.  If you start your day by being grateful, you will set the tone for the day.

Be still:  Successful people know the importance of being still.  You can’t run an engine 24/7 without a breakdown. Set aside some time to pray, meditate and be still.  Even the stuffy corporate world is recognizing the benefits of the practice of meditation and mindfulness.

Have a plan:  Begin by focusing on the some key questions:

• How do I want to show up today? (feeling and being)
• What did I accomplish yesterday?
• What are my top three priorities for today?

It’s simple but powerful.  Create a plan and a calendar for the week that lets you know not only the obligations you have such as appointments or meetings but the sacred times you’ve set aside for accomplishing goals.

Get to Work and Focus:  No multi-tasking allowed! This is not time to catch the news on the television while you work on that proposal and send a text message to a friend.

Productivity hacks aren’t just for starting and fast tracking your work day. One of the key things you can do to set yourself up for success is finish your day well.  Here are some ways to finish strong:

Create boundaries

Determine an end time and stick to it.  When you work from home it is easy to always be working.  You can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner over your computer and still stay up all hours of the night working on just one more thing.  Instead, set a time to stop and say to yourself, “Now it’s time to …”  then move away from your office and electronics until start time in the morning. Pace yourself so that you don’t leave anything hanging though.  Finish that dreaded task that will haunt you all night if you don’t get it done before you move on. 

Clear your desk

Nothing gives you and others a sense of accomplishment like a clean desk.  Put work away. Refresh your stacks and put away files and other materials.  Only leave out what you need to start the next day.  Speaking of which…

Set a priority for the next day.

Check your calendar for the next day then plan out what will make tomorrow truly significant.  What one thing would you like to accomplish?  Put it on your calendar and schedule a time frame for that to happen. Then show up and do it.

Do something nice for someone.

End your day on a positive note by doing something to make someone else’s day.  Send an encouraging message or text.  Forward an article or picture that will make someone smile.  You might encourage a friend, family member or co-worker, but helping others feel good will result in you feeling good as well.  

Want to get on track?

Grab a copy of my workbook: Dream Achiever: Simple Steps to a Productive Life