Here are some ways to stay focused while at home:
- Set up a routine. Get ready for the day as if you were going to work.
- At the beginning of every day, take five minutes to schedule your workday. Start out with the list of things you need to accomplish, people you need to call, etc.
- Set up your workspace in a place that is pleasant to work and that is uncluttered. If possible, designate a spot where you will be able to leave your unfinished projects for the next day.
- Be sure you know what expectations your boss has for you. How will productivity be measured?
- Communicate as often as possible with people in your organization. Skype or FaceTime can make people who are working from home feel more connected to their teammates.
- Take a break. Set dates to meet people for lunch or to get out for a walk. Working at home can be lonely and isolating.
- Make sure your friends and family know that you are WORKING from home. I have a friend who has a pottery studio at home where she works all day. She has a neighbor who expects that because Jane is home, they can ask her to watch their children in a pinch or visit during the day. Someone I know who works at home and is occasionally surrounded by her family actually puts a sign on her back that says, “I’m working” to remind the family that she really can’t watch a movie until after her work is done.
- Know that if you are working from home for a company that isn’t located near where you live, you might not get as many promotions as the person who is actually in the office everyday unless you find a way to connect and network effectively with people in the company. Make it a point to have as many conversations and team projects as you can.
- At the end of each day schedule five minutes to review the progress you made on your to do list.
- If you are working at home and you feel like you are losing energy get out of the house and take your computer with you to a coffee shop. If that gives you your energy back it’s a sure sign that you need to be around people to work effectively; some people are just wired to be social and need to be around people.