Working from Home – 5 essential tips to stay motivated!

For those accustomed to an office environment, working from home can be a new and challenging experience. While working from home has its perks – like flexible hours and avoiding the daily commute – it also comes with its challenges. To help you navigate this new way of working and maintain productivity, here are five tips I’ve learned over the years of working from home as a Graphic Designer.

Tip 1: Treat Home Like the Office

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home often conjured images of lounging in pyjamas with a laptop in bed or on the sofa with Netflix in the background. While tempting, this approach can negatively impact the quality and quantity of your work. When you don’t treat your home as a professional workspace, it’s easy to lose focus and productivity. My first tip is to start your day as if you were going to the office: get up, get dressed, and sit at your desk ready to work at your usual start time. This routine helps you maintain a professional mindset and keeps distractions at bay.

Tip 2: Plan Your Day to Stay on Track

Failing to plan is planning to fail, especially when working from home. Without a clear schedule or daily to-do list, it’s easy to get sidetracked by procrastination. To combat this, write down your weekly tasks and break them into manageable daily goals. Tools like Microsoft Excel, Trello, or Monday can help you organize your work and prioritise what needs to be done. Being organised enables you to stay focused and productive throughout the day.

Tip 3: Focus on Work, Not Household Chores

Working from home can be full of distractions, like laundry that needs doing or rooms that need tidying. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you’ll quickly handle some housework before starting your job, but this can eat into your workday. My advice: treat your home office like a real office. Ask yourself, “Would I be doing chores if I were at the office?” If the answer is no, then save those tasks for after work. This focus will help you accomplish more and leave you time for your chores later.

Tip 4: Take a Daily Break Outside

When working from home, it’s easy to lose track of time and find that the day has flown by. While being deeply involved in your work is great, it can lead to burnout if you don’t take breaks. That’s why my fourth tip is to get outside at least once a day, even if it’s just for a 15-minute walk. Fresh air and a manageable amount of exercise can elevate your mood and productivity. I’ve found that incorporating a daily walk into my routine helps me stay focused, reduces stress and can sometimes help me come up with a breakthrough idea for a design project that I have been working on prior to going out for a walk.

Tip 5: Stay Connected with Others

One downside of working from home is the potential for social isolation, especially during the Christmas season when everyone else seems to be out celebrating. Therefore, it is important to stay in touch with friends and family. These connections can lift your spirits and make your day more enjoyable. Also, consider joining online forums related to your industry. Once the lockdown is lifted, these forums might offer in-person meetups where you can network and socialise.

Finally…

Everyone’s situation is different, and not all of these tips may apply to your home setup or workflow. However, I hope they help increase your productivity and well-being during these unusual times. Stay positive and stay safe!