Remote work is rapidly rising across the globe, but especially across the UK.
A recent study shows 31% of all British employees work from home at least once a week. This number is only expected to grow as employers catch on to the productivity benefits of allowing employees to do their work from anywhere.
Whether you work from home full-time or a few times a month, you’ve probably realised that it’s not always easy to stay motivated. There are so many distractions competing for your attention. What’s to stop you from watching TV in your living room or even just taking a nap. Here are easy tips for staying motivated when you’re working from home.
1. Track Your Time
There’s no boss breathing over your neck to make sure everything gets done on time. This gives you a lot of freedom, but also a lot of responsibility. Tech tools like this amazing software by Humanity help you track your time and be your own boss.
Keeping track of how many hours you spend on each task will make sure you not only get paid what you’re owed, but that you’re actually staying on track to meet deadlines. There’s nothing worse than slacking off for too long and having to rush to catch up.
2. Wake Up Earlier
Did you know morning people actually accomplish more in a day than night owls? It’s true. German biologist Christoph Randler discovered that people who wake up earlier are typically more proactive during their workday.
If you’re finding yourself feeling sluggish when trying to get to work, your alarm clock might be to blame. Try waking up earlier and starting earlier. Think of all that time you’ll have to yourself once you finish the day’s tasks.
3. Make a Schedule
Whether you’re working remotely for a company or trying to start a business, schedules are key. It’s tempting to let your creativity and time management run free when you’re off the clock, but schedules are helpful for a reason.
Without a schedule, what’s to stop you from extending your lunch break another two hours or stopping in the middle of the workday to run errands? These things might be okay every once in a while, but they’ll quickly derail your success.
4. Create an Office Space
Say what you will about working in an office, but having a dedicated workspace helps you stay focused. If you’re trying to work from your couch, you’ll quickly learn it’s not as comfortable as it sounds. Having a space that’s separate from your personal life to get work done will help your mind go from “home” mode into “work” mode.
Your office space can be as simple as a corner of your bedroom to an actual, dedicated office. Just make sure you only use this space for work, not for fun.
5. Don’t Isolate Yourself
Finally, the best way to stay motivated while working from home is to keep yourself from being too isolated. Some people love the quiet when working alone, but nobody wants to go without human interaction for too long.
When you’re in an office, you can always ask a coworker for help or take a five-minute break to chat. At home, it’s just you and your computer. Take time to get out a few times a day, interact with others, and stay in touch with any coworkers.
Working from home is a dream come true for many people. Yet, it still comes with its own challenges. As long as you follow the tips above, you’ll power through your workdays successfully.
