6 tips for working productively at home

The idea of working from home is great, but often the reality is not. It can bring out the worst kind of prevarication since you were a homework-avoiding teenager putting off physics revision.

Here are six tips on staying focused and productive if you’re thinking about ditching the office for a desk at home.

1. Get up and dressed as normal
Just because you work from home, it doesn’t mean that you should stay in bed watching Jeremy Kyle all morning. Get up, showered and dressed as if you were leaving the house and going to work. Otherwise you won’t get much done and won’t know where the day has gone. 

2. Have a designated work area
This is really important if you want to work with no distractions. Your work space needs to be free from a TV and family members. If it’s a corner of your bedroom or an actual office, make sure there’s nothing there that will keep distracting you.

3.  Make sure you have everything you need
If you need to keep getting up from your desk, you won’t get anything done! Make sure you have everything you need to last you the day, like your laptop and any notes, a bottle of water or a glass you can refill and snacks like fruit and nuts. 

4. Set boundaries with your family and friends
Those around you may assume that because you work at home, you’re available to help them out or want to go out for lunch every day. Make it clear to your friends and family that you are actually working and you cannot do everything that they want you to do.

5. Learn how to deal with distractions
The post may come or the dog needs feeding, these distractions all add up to your productivity. So make sure you’re ready to go straight back to work afterwards and don’t find yourself strolling into the lounge for some TV time!

6. Track your progress
It’s a good idea to keep track of what you are doing each day, so you stay organised and know what your day looks like. Try putting a calendar up on the wall and take time to assess your progress at the end of every week.