If you have a remote job, you’ve probably experienced how dull it can be to work alone. While working from home has perks, it lacks the social interaction that regular office workers can enjoy. This lack of social interaction can leave remote workers feeling demotivated.
Despite the popularity of work-from-home (WFH) jobs, some still struggle to cope with this work environment. Let’s explore ways to stay motivated while working from home.
Why Do You Struggle So Much Working from Home?
You struggle to work from home because there can be many personal interruptions. On a WFH setup, the boundaries between work and home are unclear. Communication can also be challenging without in-person interactions.
The tendency to shift your attention between work and home is greater. This can create an unhealthy balance between work and personal life. Constant distractions can lessen your drive to complete tasks properly.
Household chores, such as caring for family members and pets, can interrupt work and decrease productivity. Your focus may be divided, affecting communication with colleagues and superiors. Fortunately, there are ways to stay productive while working from home.
How to Stay Motivated Working from Home?
To stay motivated working from home, you must recognize the boundaries of work, personal, and family responsibilities. Creating a daily plan can also be helpful. When setting priorities, consider deadlines and the level of importance for each task and allocate time accordingly.
Here are some tips for working from home and staying motivated.
1. Shower and Dress Up
Showering and choosing your best clothes when going to the office can help you develop a professional mindset.
Similarly, in a work-from-home setup, it’s important to maintain a routine by showering and getting dressed as if going to an office. This will help you feel more professional and get into a “work mode.”
Being in work mode can help you stay focused and motivated to complete tasks without the distractions of working from home. This can shift your focus to completing work instead of taking constant breaks and engaging in non-work-related activities.
2. Have a Home Office
To work from home effectively, you can create a home office. It can be a spare room, or you can transform the corner of your room into an office space. This dedicated space will help create a boundary between your work and personal life, allowing you to focus and stay motivated.
You can add a personal touch to your home office or work corner. Making your workspace personal creates an atmosphere where you feel comfortable and inspired. You can repaint it with your favorite colors and add decors like picture frames and small plants.
3. Keep Your Work Environment Clean
Maintaining a clean working environment can help you stay motivated while working from home. A clean and organized workspace can help you stay focused and increase productivity.
Some people like to add decorations and other items to keep themselves motivated. Others prefer to keep their workspace simple with the necessary tools and a personal touch. Maintaining cleanliness can help keep your mind and body healthy regardless of preference.
4. Take Breaks
Just like in the office, taking breaks can help you stay motivated while working from home. Working for long hours can lead to muscle strain and other health issues. Take breaks to have lunch, snacks, and stretch.
Working from home has given employees the luxury of having access to personal things or matters that would be impossible in an office setting. During breaks, take the opportunity to have healthy chats with loved ones and check on pets.
5. Reward Yourself
There are many ways to stay inspired after work. You can watch your favorite movies, have a snack, or order your favorite items online to stay motivated after work. These activities can boost your productivity and help you stay motivated while working from home.
Your dedicated workspace is just a few steps away from your bed, making it easy to transition from work to rest. After working for hours, you can reward yourself with a nap or sleep to recharge.
Need more tips? Find out how to get more done in less time here.
How to Be Accountable on a Work-from-Home Set Up?
Taking accountability means being responsible for your actions. To be accountable requires the completion of tasks within the timeframe provided and the delivery of quality output. It also means being transparent and having effective communication.
Here are some steps for working from home and keeping yourself accountable.
Step 1: Follow the Rules Set by Your Employer
For a seamless work-from-home experience, you must follow the rules set by your respective departments and employers. It ensures you understand your employer’s expectations and how you should perform.
Step 2: Use the Required Tools for Task Completion
In addition to communication, using tools and software to complete tasks efficiently is crucial. These include project management, security, communication, and time-tracking software.
Step 3: Monitor Your Progress
Keeping track of how fast you do things while maintaining the best results is essential when working from home. A work-from-home setup can make you feel stagnant due to social isolation, thus leading to a lack of career progress.
By keeping a close eye on how much you’re progressing, you can motivate yourself to do more. For instance, you can set a weekly goal that gets harder as you reach one after another. This way, you’ll have something to look forward to at the end of your work week.
Is It Better to Work from Home or in the Office?
Whether working from home is better than working in an office depends on your type of work. Physical presence is crucial for some, like manufacturing or construction. However, WFH offers benefits like flexible hours, location, and cost savings for jobs that don’t require physical presence.
Remote work allows employees to work from different locations, eliminating the need to travel to a physical office. This reduces the cost allocated for transportation, parking, and other commuting expenses.
Similarly, employers can save on rental, office supplies, and other office maintenance expenses.
Here’s a comparison between hourly and salaried position to help you decide whether you should stay in a remote job or choose an in-office position that offers a fixed salary.
WFH: Keep Yourself Productive
Numerous challenges are associated with working from home, but there are also numerous strategies that can help maintain productivity.
Keeping the same routine when working in the office and following the mentioned work-from-home tips are essential for staying focused and motivated.
