Let your mind wander.Īllow yourself to daydream. A 2011 study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign indicates that taking breaks helps to increase productivity and focus. If possible, walk outside to get some fresh air, clear your head, and unlock your creativity. Fetch a drink of water from the kitchen, or simply take a minute and look out the window. Get away from your desk every hour or so. Just like you take coffee and lunch breaks when working at the office, take breaks from your home office. You may not be able to go out, but you now have more opportunities to work on your hobbies. If possible, really try to make time for things you enjoy. Look after yourself.Įat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, drink enough water, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. Even if you live alone, make the best use of your most productive time. If, for instance, you are a morning person, wake up before the rest of the household and put in an hour or two of work. When are you most productive? Determine this, then set a schedule accordingly. Wake up at a regular time, go through your morning tasks, including dressing for work, then sit at your desk by a set time. Create a routine that, as much as possible, reflects your old work schedule. Let your housemates know that the minute you sit at your “office,” you are working and they should respect this. If you are highly disciplined, it could even be a corner of your bedroom.
Depending on the size of your home, you could set aside a different room or just a corner of your living room. However, there are general techniques you can use, whatever your living arrangements may be. Coping mechanisms are different, depending on whether you live alone, with a partner or children. If you’ve found yourself struggling to cope with the challenges, below are a few pointers to help you stay motivated and productive as you continue to work from home. But then weeks turned to months with no such luck. Maybe you told yourself you’ll be back in the office before you knew it. You’ve probably realized by now that working from home has its challenges - especially if you’re an extrovert. When you first learned you would be working from home, were you thrilled? The freedom of possibly setting your own hours, having no boss looking over your shoulder, not having to deal with unpredictable colleagues - it all sounded pretty amazing.