Working From Home - 12 Tips To Be More Productive in 2022

Working from home can be a challenge for some. These are tips from industry experts to avoiding burnout, zoom fatigue and work life balance.

Create a Dedicated Home Office Space for Working From Home

Initially, many of us did not have any home office space to work from home and instead found ourselves sitting at the dining table or hunched over on the sofa. While this may be OK for the short term, as the pandemic wears on, it's definitely time to create a dedicated home office space in which you can work.

This should be in a room that is not only comfy but free from distractions from other people or pets. It should be somewhere you can enter in the morning and leave after you finish work. It is important that you can physically leave the area once you are done. This psychologically makes your brain switch off from work. If you work on a table in the living room and slide over to the sofa when you finish work, switching off at night is far more challenging. If you live with others, it's crucial to set boundaries and communicate your work schedule to avoid interruptions during your work hours.

We've all seen remote workers sit on dining room chairs, bar stools, bean bags, and deck chairs for daily work. However, these chairs are disasters for your back and long-term health. So, if you still need to get a decent office chair, investing in one is important.

Invest in Better Tech

We've all seen from interviews on the TV what a difference a decent webcam and microphone make. The microphone built into your laptop probably could be better, so you're giving your colleagues and clients the wrong impression when you are working from home. Consider upgrading to a headset with a built-in microphone (I recommend the Corsair HS70 Wireless Headset as that's what I use) as it will give much higher quality and clearer audio for those listening. To stay connected with your colleagues, consider scheduling regular video calls or virtual team meetings.

Also, take some time to look at your internet connection and see if that needs upgrading. Slow connections make you less productive and can lead to frustrations in having to wait for resources to download. As a developer, I know that TFS can be a pain on slow connections and often causes Visual Studio to hang. After upgrading my connection, I did not experience any problems with TFS. Suppose you use Zoom calls or Teams calls. In that case, a faster connection leads to better quality and audio both for incoming and outgoing calls, so everyone benefits.

Start the Day Right

If you're working from home, then enjoy the lay-in. There's every chance your total commute will give you a few precious moments in bed. Please make the most of them. You deserve it. Once you're up and about, have a good breakfast. Remember, you don't have to rush to catch a train or a bus or hop in a car. Fuel yourself until lunchtime, so you're not tempted to snack during the day. To stay motivated and focused, consider setting daily or weekly goals for your work and rewarding yourself when you achieve them.

Plan Your Day and Workflow

Create a plan for the day. Decide on what you want to accomplish and create a list of tasks for the day. Set yourself targets. This aids productivity and provides motivation each time you cross something off the list. Even if you only want to accomplish one item, that feeling of crossing it off the list can provide a mental trigger that the day is done and allow your brain to switch off at the end of the day. Keep the tasks realistic, and don't be too ambitious. To manage work-related tasks and personal tasks, consider setting specific times for each type of task and avoid multitasking.

Background Music to Assist Working From Home

Have the radio or music in the background, as you might do at work. Of course, if you have a busy household, you might be looking forward to peace and quiet, so make sure everyone around you knows when they can and can't disturb you.

If you don't want to listen to music but don't want to be silent, there are plenty of background sounds on YouTube and Spotify. Ambient sounds of a library, office, call centre, seaside, rain, or waterfalls are all available. They can provide stimulation and help alleviate any feelings of isolation or loneliness. Consider scheduling virtual coffee breaks or team catch-ups to stay connected with your colleagues.

Stay Hydrated When Working From Home

It's very important to remember to stay hydrated! Good water intake not only helps the brain function but can also bolster your immune system. Staying well hydrated at home may be trickier, especially if you're used to having access to filtered and sparkling water while you're at work. Try keeping a water bottle by your side throughout the day as a reminder instead of fetching a glass at a time. Set an alarm or reminder each hour to drink water.

An easy rule of thumb for how much you should drink daily is eight glasses of 8oz water.

Take Lunch Breaks Away from Desk

It is important to step away from the desk and the home office now and then, and lunchtime is especially important. There's no need to queue up for a sandwich or make small talk with people at your desk. Move away from your laptop, sit down, and enjoy whatever you fancy. Put your feet up and relax. It's your break, so do what you like with it. Spend the time with your family and share a meal. To stay physically active, consider incorporating short exercise breaks or stretching into your work routine.

Keep Regular Work Hours when Working From Home

One of the most essential and fundamental things you can do is create a regular schedule. It's tempting to give yourself total flexibility when you get started, take breaks, and call it a day. Setting regular hours for yourself keeps you accountable to yourself and your boss. It makes you more likely to get all your work done and makes it easier for people to get in touch with you. To manage work-related stress, consider incorporating regular breaks, exercise, and relaxation techniques into your daily routine.

Separate Work Time and Personal Time

Just as it is important to work when you say you will, giving yourself time for home life when you need it is essential. It's very easy to fall into the trap of extending the work day little by little, working later and later, and in the end, you'll burn yourself out. Keep your work and personal lives compartmentalized, as it helps you stay productive while you're at work and reduces stress when you aren't.

Leave the House

To the extent that it's allowed according to your local COVID-19 restrictions, get out of the house and be active. If you can, you can maintain social distancing, of course. The same advice applies to everyone who works in traditional office settings, too. Still, staying fit and healthy is more important than ever. Leave the home at least once daily, walk, run, or even get outside and have a coffee in the garden. Your body needs to move. Plus, the fresh air and natural light will do you good, both physically and mentally.

Clean Your Work Area

We've all gotten into the habit of washing our hands thoroughly. But what about your keyboard and screen? Laptops are a breeding ground for bacteria, so you must clean them thoroughly. You can get special wipes specifically for cleaning screens and keyboards. Clear the desk once in a while and wipe down the surface. Vacuum and empty the bins. Open the windows and let in fresh air. These things sound simple, but it's incredible how many people need to pay more attention to them and let their office space stagnate.

Turn Off and Switch Off

After you've done your work for the day, tick off the items on your daily planner, pack up - whatever you need to do to finish. Leave no trace of work that will tempt you to return. Ideally, you will have a dedicated area just for working in, so physically leaving the room and closing the door is a psychological trick to help switch it off. If you don't have a dedicated area, unplug it and put the laptop in an out-of-sight storage bag or drawer.

Have you got any extra tips for working from home? Productivity boosters for home working or work-from-home life hacks? Let us know in the comments below!