Working from home is not easy if you’re not organized
Are you looking for great tips on how to stay organized and productive while working from home?
If you answered yes, then keep reading because you are in the right place. In this article, we are going to discuss a few secrets every people working from home need to know.
As you already know, the way we work has changed drastically these last 30 days due to the Coronavirus COVID 19 pandemic.
If you remember, just a few weeks ago, working from home was not as developed as it is today.
I am sure that if you were told that half of the inhabitants of the planet would be locked up at home and that almost everyone would be forced to work remotely, whether for their own account or on behalf of their boss, you wouldn’t have believed it.
And yet, that’s what’s going on right now.
According to CNBC, “42% of workers who did not telecommute are doing so now…”
As of this writing, millions of people are working from home because of the coronavirus. This new fact is not always easy and people who were not used to working from their home, have to adapt to this new concept.
But given that some people are doing quite well, for others, between the dog to take out, the children to occupy, the husband or wife to manage and their professional obligations that must be respected, working at home can very quickly become something complicated.
Most people will agree that working from home is not easy, especially if you’re not organized. You’ll need to plan ahead, organize your home office space, and make sure that you are equipped for what you are going to be doing on a day-to-day basis.
Being organized is very important when you work from home. The more that you work in an organized manner, the easier it will be for you to get things done on a daily basis.
If you are planning on using a computer at your home, make sure that you have a network connection available for you to use.
This will allow you to connect your computer to the Internet easily because, with millions of people working from their homes and using the Internet at the same time, it can become difficult to have a great and speed connection.
These days, having a great Internet connection is a must. A network connection will allow you to work remotely and also help you keep all of your files in one location, which will help you organize your home office better.
Many people who want to start working from home often wonder how to stay productive when they work from home. They worry about how they can cope with their professional responsibilities and with their personal and family obligations.
They worry about how their social lives will be impacted or about how much money they can make working away from their 9 to 5 jobs.
They worry about many other things and maybe it’s your case too. You work from your home or you’re thinking to start a work from home job but you’re wondering how to organize yourself.
If you want to know how to still be productive while developing your activity from home, here are 13 easy tips you can start applying today that can help keep you on track.
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1 – Get a good night’ sleep to start your workday off right
If you’re new to this working from home concept, or even if you’ve been working remotely for years, you may probably already know that the best way to be productive is to go to bed early so you can wake up early.
This will allow your body and your mind to be ready for the next day. This is just one of the many benefits you can get when working from home.
By adding some yoga or meditation into your everyday routine, you will have your mind and body in perfect condition for the first few hours of your day.
Many people who work from home also fail to wake up early enough to go through their natural sleep cycle. While it may take you a little longer to fall asleep, your body will remain rested even if you’re a little less rested.
The best way to get a good night’s sleep to start your workday off right is to have a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy foods, getting plenty of rest, and exercising will not only keep you healthy and help you be more productive but will give you a lot of fun time doing what you love.
When working from home, make sure that you understand that you have responsibilities to yourself and your family as well.
Having a good night’s sleep will not only benefit you as an internet marketer but will give you a better attitude and more productive energy during the day.
When working from home, it’s important to get as much sleep as possible. Remember that your health is important to you and your business.
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How to make money blogging: 10 Ways bloggers actually make money (Part 2/2)
2 – Have a balanced breakfast before starting your workday
Having a balanced breakfast before starting your workday can make a big difference in how you feel throughout the day. If you don’t feel energetic you won’t be able to work on your computer effectively.
Having a full stomach will allow you to have an easier time when it comes to focusing on and completing the most important tasks in your work.
When you’re eating right and having a nutritious breakfast, you’ll feel better and be more productive as you make progress toward completing the day’s tasks.
The first thing you need to remember when you work from home is that you should have enough food on hand to get through your workday.
Even if you’re eating out, you need to eat something just to help you through the day. Most people think of the snack they get at the office as being a good source of energy, but in fact, most people who work from home are more likely to eat more than five or six snacks that are high in sugar.
This doesn’t mean you can’t find the time to eat healthy snacks between your workday. Eating a well-balanced breakfast will help you be more energized throughout the day and help you keep your brain sharp.
Having a balanced breakfast before starting your workday can have many benefits other benefits. One benefit is that the earlier you eat your breakfast, the less time you have to spare and so you can start working more quickly.
Also, having a balanced breakfast in the morning helps to control the amount of food you eat throughout the day. The more you eat, the more tired you can be but also be sleepy.
Another benefit of having a balanced breakfast before starting your workday is that it makes you feel healthier and help to boost your immune system. If you feel better throughout the day you will be less likely to be sick and feeling sluggish.
3 – Start by organizing your home office or space where you’re going to be working from
Before you begin working, you must first start by organizing your home office. Be sure that you have an idea of what you are going to do first and find yourself a quiet space in your house to make it your office.
If you have kids like me, for example, you probably know how things can quickly get complicated when your kiddos ask for your attention all the time.
With the times we are currently going through when schools are closed and the whole family is at home, it is important to know how to balance things between the time you work and the time you are with your family.
For this reason, you must, therefore, take your own workspace and fix the borders well so that your family does not come to disturb you when you work.
Even if you love your children, and I’m sure you love them with all your heart, they should still understand that when you are in your space, it is for work and therefore they should not bother you.
You can arrange your workspace either in your bedroom, in the kitchen or in the garage. No matter where you choose to work from, this place should be your space only and it should only be used for your professional activity.
4 – Always make sure that you are using light colors for your documents
Using dark colors is a big no-no because it makes it harder to read and you will have a harder time reading the computer screen, which is actually your workspace.
Word processing is a great way to ensure that you are organized and that you will be able to be productive and focus on the information that you need to do.
When you are working on documents or on any type of project at all, using word processing programs will help you be more efficient and focus more on the important part of any project rather than on the unnecessary parts.
It may be difficult at first to change your habits, but if you start out doing it, you’ll find that you will be much more organized in the long run.
Always remember that it is not easy to get things done when you’re not organized. Doing things well is a lot easier when you have things sorted out properly.
So take the time to be organized and get things moving.
5 – Use free programs to organize your office
I recommend that you store all your files and important software online, like on Google Drive or Dropbox for example. This way, you will not have to worry about using the traditional storage facilities and you will be able to access your most important files at any time.
6 – Work smart, not hard
There is no way that you can get everything done at once. A lot of people end up working late into the night and not getting very much done. Work smart; do your best and then take breaks. This will give you time to recharge. You don’t need to work hard. You just need to work smarter.
7 – Read your work
Every day you should go over your schedule and make sure that you haven’t missed any of the important tasks that need to be done. You should also find out what you need to do that might require a phone call or some remote assistance. Always review your check-list if you have one to make sure you haven’t missed any important part of your job.
8 – Quit worrying about your day
You should be excited and motivated about your work at home, but you will get more done if you are relaxed and have a positive attitude. Be sure to enjoy yourself every day.
9 – Plan your workday ahead of time
Take some time to come up with a plan for your workday, so that you know exactly what you are going to do each day.
In order to work from home efficiently, you must first realize the importance of planning and organizing your day in advance. It is no good starting your day with a cup of coffee in front of your laptop.
In fact, your coffee will contribute to the stress you feel throughout the day, as well as cause you to procrastinate. Instead, start your day by working in a relaxed way, getting your priorities straight and get out of the house early and stretch your legs.
You must then plan what you need to do to get organized, then set up your computer, as this is the first step to work from home. Start off by creating a list of all the things you need to do for the day.
You can use this list to keep the list of tasks to separate, rather than listing everything at once. Once you have created your list, break it down further into daily tasks and weekly tasks.
This way, you will be able to keep track of what needs to be done each day and work on it from there, rather than having to check the same tasks over again.
Another important aspect of working from home is setting aside time to work from home. You do not want to dedicate too much time to your work at home, so use your time carefully.
Setting aside some time is essential, as this allows you to work with more energy and is much more productive. Do not try to fill your time in with things you do not need, as this will only detract from your overall productivity.
This means that you should save your time for work that you can complete without difficulty.
10 – Start off your workday with a clean slate
Leave nothing out. The most important part of the day is the first part of the day. What you do in the first hour of the day, will determine how you end the day.
11 – Stick to your schedule and get everything done on time
You don’t want to make a mistake that can ruin your entire day and keep you from your goals. It is important to stick to your task because you don’t want to miss a meeting or have your work be delayed.
If you work at home, it is important to think ahead and do your work early so that you can complete it before the scheduled time.
12 – Get an internet connection
Working from home can be really stressful and working without an internet connection can cause problems with work. If you have trouble reaching your potential clients due to a lack of connection, you might lose a meeting and lose your chance to get paid.
13 – Relax from time to time
It is important to have fun while you are working on your own schedule. It’s therefore important to relax from time to time even if you have too much work.
You should then be able to spend time with your relatives as well as interact with others to keep intact your social life. Relaxing will allow you to be more productive and this will also help you remove some stress off of you.
Staying productive when you work from home doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, there are plenty of tips that you can find right online if you want to complete your knowledge.
14 – Set a deadline and stick to it
If you don’t set a deadline, you will probably have several days of work that just fall through the cracks. Your best bet is to create a schedule that is realistic and detailed and stick to it.
This is a great way to avoid burnout, which can lead to other problems. When you feel that you aren’t being productive, it can be easy to give up on your goal for the day.
15 – Try to work when you are most productive
There is no denying that everyone should begin to work when they are the most productive.
Why is this important?
Well, it is important because when you work when you are the most productive you will produce more than what you could produce if you worked at a random hour. It just makes good business sense.
16 – Create a to-do list to better organize your work
One of the best ways to succeed when you work from home is to be able to organize your work so that you know exactly what to do and when to do it.
For this reason, I would recommend creating a to-do list that can help you organize your work. This is because lists, or planners if you will, actually help you deal with things on a daily basis.
A to-do list is actually a tool that helps you in managing your task management. It helps you get things done even if you do not have enough time because when you have a planning or a well-organized schedule, it will be easier for you to prioritize your activity.
The advantage here relies on the fact that you can better focus on urgent tasks and avoid wasting your precious time on things that will not help you grow your business.
Now, you need to understand that managing the things that you are doing is what creating a to-do list is all about. This way, you are not wasting too much time on unnecessary activities.
Your to-do list should be as useful as possible. That is why you should find a good template that will make your list easier to manage. There are many options available for you so that you can create a to-do list that will help you manage your tasks effectively. It will also help you in having a better plan for your work schedule.
17 – Learn to manage your time wisely
If you want to be successful and improve your productivity while working from home, you must learn to manage your time wisely.
The first rule to this is knowing your time and how much you want to spend on any project or piece of work you’re working on.
By knowing your allotted time for any project, you are in a better position to know what to do with it as the deadline approaches. Allocating your time for anything that doesn’t have a definite end or completion date is unproductive.
Knowing that your time is precious is only the first step. You must also understand how to use your time effectively.
For example, you must learn to set goals for yourself that are reasonable. Set realistic goals and don’t get carried away with the idea that you can accomplish anything in a single day.
You must also learn to know when you are wasting your time and when you’re working on tasks that don’t bring you any results.
If you don’t know when you’re wasting your time, then you can ensure that you’re not wasting it on projects that don’t have a specific completion date.
Managing your time wisely doesn’t mean letting yourself be lazy or working 16 hours per day. You must also learn to delegate tasks to others.
For example, you can hire a virtual assistant on platforms like Fiverr.com so they can do things that you don’t have time to do yourself.
By delegating, you are saving yourself from wasting your energy and your time on unproductive tasks. You will then be able to only focus on money-producing activities or on important things that will take your home business to the next level.
19 – Disconnect from social media
Social media is part of our daily life today. Even if it is increasingly difficult to live without Instagram, YouTube, Facebook or Pinterest today, it is important to know how to use these social networks in an intelligent way.
Why?
Simply because when it is misused, it is well known that social networks can quickly become a real distraction. If social media is not important for your business development, do your best to log out as often as possible.
20 – Have clear work hours
When you work from home, you can be attempted to work long-lasting hours. But if you really want to succeed, you must set clear working hours for yourself and you must respect your time during the day.
For example, it’s important to schedule a time to start working, a time to have breaks, a time to lunch, a time to relax and a time to end your day.
21 – Don’t forget to exercise from time to time
With this coronavirus pandemic, many people working from home don’t have the possibility to go out and exercise as they used to due to the lockdown.
But even in normal times, those who work at home can be attempted to sit in one spot all day long. Don’t make this mistake to spend all your day just sitting in front of your computer.
Since you no longer have to walk to go to work, it’s important to find a way to exercise regularly to stay healthy and to clear your mind.
22 – Invest in tools that will make working from home easier for you
From Google calendar to time management apps and other useful apps you can install on your phone, there are many tools you can use today to help you take your business to the next level.
For example, if you’re a blogger and work from home, make sure to check my resource library here to see the tools I use to grow my blog.
So make sure to invest in your own education and in your business.
23 – Track your progress
Tracking your progress when you work from home can be difficult at first. You have to consider how much time you are putting into your professional activity and how much time is spent on the other parts of your house, like household chores, or your family life. If you want to be successful, you have to learn how to take care of both aspects.
To do so, for example, you can track your progress by adding a journal entry to your computer. This can be one of the best ways to see your progress and see what your priorities are.
Write down goals for yourself and add them to your journal. Make a schedule of what you want to accomplish, which will help you stay on track.
The idea is to ensure that you have some sort of progress tracking in place and not allow yourself to be taken by surprise when you wake up and realize you haven’t done anything.
Another good thing to do is create a “To Do” list as I told you before. On this list, make sure to include your top three priority goals.
Then follow it up with a short report of how you feel about each one. Keep repeating this process every day or every week until you feel it is beneficial for you.
Take your time and don’t expect results overnight. Having a well thought out plan and sticking to it will make you succeed in staying focused, committed, and successful at home.
24 – Measure your results
Measure your results
Tracking your progress and being able to measure your results is partially what will make or break your home business or whatever activity you do from home.
Why?
Simply because if you can’t measure your results, you won’t know what is working and what is not.
So, if you are a beginner in your home business venture and let’s say you’re in the Internet marketing niche, be sure to learn the basics about marketing.
Yes, learning the fundamentals of your online marketing strategies is one of the best things that you can do for your business.
As a marketer, you should be focusing on how to improve your sales figures every month. When you can measure your results in a very easy way, you will always know where you are heading.
There are many advantages when it comes to tracking and recording your sales. One of the best advantages is that when you are able to track your sales in a very simple way, you will always know what is happening in your business.
It is also important to know how many of your customers visited your website and where they come from. That will give you an idea of how effective your advertisements are and how many clicks you have had on them.
When you have these, you will be able to see which ads would be more effective in generating leads.
If you are having difficulty tracking your leads and profits, then you should be opening up communication lines with your existing customers to ask for their ideas and suggestions about new ideas that you could implement to increase your profits.
One of the most common ways of getting this is through the use of surveys. This will enable you to have a large amount of feedback on how you could improve your business.
Once you have this information, you can use this as a guide on how to better achieve your goals in the future.
Having an idea of how to better improve your home business is what will help you achieve your goals faster and easier. When you have this, you will always know where you are heading.
25 – Reward yourself for your own efforts and for your success
This tip is self-explanatory…
Conclusion
People love to work from home and the more that they work from home the better they are going to be organized and get at it. The reason is simple: the more time you spend working on your own schedule, the more time you will have at home.
This means that you can spend more time with your family, save more money and spend less money on things you would buy if you had to go out for work.
You are also saving money because when you work from home you are working for yourself and not for a company or a boss. You can set your own hours and your schedule does not have to accommodate a certain number of hours every week.
When working from home, you will find that it is quite easy to be productive but as I told you, to achieve the success you must be well organized.
Not only will you find that you are saving money and time, but you will find that you are also happier because you’ll have a better lifestyle.
No longer will you have to spend your day sorting out paperwork. You will have already done this part for you and you can now spend your time and energy working on other important tasks.
When you do not have to be accountable to anyone else you will have more energy and you will find that you are able to work faster and better. You can work as much or as little as you wish.
But working from home does not mean that you can’t have a social life. Even when working from home, it’s possible to meet other people at the same time.
The internet makes it possible for people to meet each other. You can find like-minded people from all over the world who are experiencing the same thing that you are experiencing with their work from home jobs.
They can become great friends and really help you grow in your business and in your personal life.
I hope that you liked this article and that it brought you value. My goal was to give you a few tips to help you get better organized so you can achieve great success with your home-based business.
If you think that this article can help someone, please make sure to share it.
Also, don’t hesitate to live us a comment below if you would like to give us more tips on how to be more productive while working from home.