Working remotely can be a great way to have more flexibility in your work schedule, but staying focused and organized can also be challenging when you're not in an office environment.
Not organizing your day properly can have two dire consequences: burnout and loss of productivity. Both keep you away from your goals in different ways.
In this blog post, we have listed nine pieces of advice on how to plan your day while working remotely.
1. Get Dressed For Work
It can be tempting to work in your pajamas, but getting dressed for work will help you get into the right frame of mind. Choose comfortable clothing that you would feel good wearing in an office setting, which is vital when learning how to plan your day.
There are a few reasons why getting dressed for work is essential when working from home. First, it can help you get into the right frame of mind to focus on your work. It can also help you stay motivated and productive throughout the day. Additionally, dressing for work can make you feel more professional and connected to your colleagues.
2. Set Up a Dedicated Workspace
When you work from home, it’s crucial to have a dedicated workspace separate from your personal space.
A dedicated workspace doesn’t have to be a separate room in your house. It can be a corner of your living room or bedroom that you clear off for work. Make sure your workspace is comfortable and has everything you need to be productive, such as a laptop, printer, and supplies.
There are a few reasons why having a dedicated workspace is helpful when you work from home. First, having a designated space for work will help you stay focused and avoid distractions. Second, having a separate area for work can help you stay organized and productive.
3. Set Regular Hours and Stick to Them
One of the benefits of working from home is having a flexible schedule. However, it’s important to set regular hours and stick to them as much as possible. This will help you stay focused and avoid burnout.
How to set regular hours:
- Decide what time you want to start and end your workday.
- Make sure to consider any commitments you have outside of work, such as childcare or errands.
- Build-in time for breaks throughout the day.
- Stick to your regular hours as much as possible.
4. Take Breaks Throughout The Day
Most of us have been in a situation where we can't seem to break away from work. We're so focused on our tasks that we don't even realize how much time has passed. Or, we're so busy that we feel like we can't possibly take a break.
It may seem counterintuitive, but taking breaks can help you be more productive. When you take a break, you're giving your mind and body a chance to rest and rejuvenate. This can help you return to work feeling refreshed and ready to tackle your tasks.
Remember a few things when you're taking a break from work. First, make sure that your break is a break. This means that you shouldn't be doing work-related activities during your break. Instead, use this time to do something that you enjoy, such as reading, taking a walk, or listening to music.
Second, don't feel guilty about taking a break. It's important to remember that everyone needs a break from time to time. If you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed, then taking a vacation can be a great way to relieve some of that pressure.
Finally, make sure that you get back to work after your break. Once you've had a chance to relax and rejuvenate, it's time to get back to business. Please give yourself a set amount of time for your break, and then stick to it. This will help you stay on track and avoid getting too far behind.
5. Eat Healthy and Stay Hydrated
When you work from home, it’s easy to forget to eat healthy and stay hydrated, even when you plan your day correctly. However, eating healthy meals and staying hydrated will help you stay focused and productive.
Prepare healthy meals in advance, and ensure plenty of water and snacks on hand. Avoid sugary drinks, which can lead to a sugar crash, and instead opt for water or unsweetened tea. Also, if you have the time and energy, meal prep makes life so much easier in the long term.
How to meal prep:
- Decide on the meals you want to prepare.
- Get all of the ingredients you need.
- Set aside time to cook and include time for cleanup.
- Store the meals in containers, so they’re easy to grab and go.
6. Avoid Distractions
There are several potential distractions when you work from home, such as the TV, household chores, and browsing the internet. It’s essential to avoid these distractions so you can stay focused on your work.
How to avoid distractions when working:
- Turn off the TV and put away any household items that could tempt you to take a break from work.
- If you need to be online for work, use a tool like Freedom to block distracting websites.
- Take breaks in between tasks to avoid getting overwhelmed or burned out.
- Get up and move around every few hours to avoid getting stuck in one position.
- Make sure your workspace is comfortable and has everything you need to be productive.
7. Stay Connected with Your Colleagues
Working from home can be isolating, so staying connected with your colleagues is important. Set up regular check-ins via video chat or phone call, and make an effort to socialize outside of work.
If you live near any of your colleagues, arrange to have lunch or coffee together once in a while. You can also join professional networking groups or online forums related to your industry.
8. Make Time For Exercise
Exercise is vital for both your physical and mental health. When you work from home, it’s easy to forget to make time for training. However, even a short workout can help you stay energized and productive.
If possible, schedule a time for exercise in your day. If you can’t fit in a full workout, try to do some quick exercises throughout the day or take a brisk walk during your lunch break.
Some possible home workouts you can do:
- HIIT workouts: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a type of exercise that alternates between short bursts of intense activity and periods of rest. HIIT workouts can be done using bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, or even household items like buckets of water.
- Yoga: Yoga is a great way to stretch and relax your muscles, and it can be done in the comfort of your home. There are a variety of yoga apps and online classes available so that you can find one that's for your level.
- Pilates: Pilates is a type of exercise that focuses on strengthening the core muscles. Like yoga, there are a variety of Pilates apps and online classes available.
- Weightlifting: You don’t need a gym membership to lift weights. Several at-home workouts use bodyweight exercises or household items like soup cans to provide resistance.
9. Take Time For Yourself
Working from home can be stressful, so taking time for yourself is essential. Make sure to schedule some leisure time into your day and do something you enjoy outside.
This could be taking a yoga class, reading a book, or spending time with family and friends. Taking time for yourself will help you relax and recharge, so you can be productive when working.
Skip this for long enough, and work stress can build into burnout. The World Health Organization describes burn-out as an occupational phenomenon, not a medical condition: a syndrome that results from chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed. WHO describes it in three dimensions:
- Feeling exhausted or drained of energy
- Feeling more mentally distant from your job, or negative and cynical about it
- Feeling less effective at work
If that sounds familiar, take it as a sign to look at your workload, your hours and how much recovery time you’re getting, and to talk to your manager about what could change.
Some feelings that often come up alongside stress, like ongoing low mood, sleep problems, changes in appetite or feeling hopeless, can also be signs of other health conditions. If they last, talk to a doctor or a mental health professional.
Bonus Tip: Use MagicTask
While working, it is really important to have a clear view of what you want to achieve on that particular day, so it is important to use a task management tool.
MagicTask is a gamified task and project management platform that helps you declutter your mind and see exactly what today needs. Here’s a simple way to plan your day with it:
- Capture tasks as they come up. Create a task the moment something lands on your mind, or paste in a whole list at once.
- Size and date them. Give each task an S, M, L or XL size, and add a due date, or start and end dates for longer work. Break big tasks into subtasks.
- Pick today’s few. In My Tasks, work in List or Board view, whichever suits you. Create a section for today (you can create as many sections as you like) and move in only what you’ll realistically finish.
- Block the time. Use Time Blocking to give each of those tasks a slot. It syncs with Google Calendar, so your meetings and focus time sit side by side.
- Automate the routine. Set up recurring tasks for things like weekly check-ins, so they show up on schedule without you re-adding them.
- Look back. At the end of the week, check your Individual Analytics to see where your time actually went.
What makes it stand out is how it gamifies your task management. Pick a Realm, and every task you finish fills your progress bar and moves you through your Dungeon toward the next chest. Take on the boss to win skins, pets and backgrounds for your avatar, and keep your daily login streak going to earn MagicTokens.
Start your 14-day free trial, with no credit card required.
Conclusion
Working from home can be a great way to have more flexibility in your work schedule, but staying focused and organized can also be challenging when you're not in an office environment. These nine tips for staying productive while working from home will help you stay on track and avoid distractions.
