20 tips for working from home

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By Philippine de Tinguy, Espresso

Are you an entrepreneur, freelancer, or simply seeking more flexibility at the office? Working from home has many pros, but also its share of cons. Here are 20 tips for being more efficient when working from home.

Strike a good work-life balance

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One of the keys to working efficiently from home is to strike a balance between your professional life and your personal life. Creating a space dedicated to work—and only work!—is an essential step in being able to completely disconnect at the end of the day, but also avoid constant disturbance by the rest of the household while you’re trying to work. 

Set up a suitable workspace

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To create a workspace tailored to your job and how you work, you first need to determine your needs. Do you prefer to work in a bright room, near the action, or in a smaller, more peaceful setting? Don’t forget to make sure your workstation is as ergonomic as possible, and of course, nothing’s stopping you from mixing things up during the day and sitting on the sofa to check your email or finishing that daunting article at the kitchen table!

Invest in the right tools

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Dedicating a room to your work also keeps all your tools at your fingertips, making you more efficient. Invest, as well, in the right equipment, like a good internet connection, computer, printer, cloud backup system, and accounting software. There’s no need, however, to break the bank if you’re just starting out. Many companies offer a range of subscriptions, sometimes at very little or even no expense.

Determine your peak work times

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It’s unlikely you’ll be productive every minute of the day. All the more reason to determine the times when you’re most likely to move mountains! Are you highly productive first thing in the morning but doze off during the afternoon? Then, start your workday at eight and reserve your afternoons for easier tasks. Or are you a night owl? Nothing’s stopping you from working at night!

Schedule your workday

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Flexibility is one of the top perks among freelancers and other self-employed workers. Setting your work schedule—and sticking to it!—is an effective way to disconnect at the end of the day, but also to set boundaries with your loved ones, who many assume that working from home isn’t really working.

Create a morning routine

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We won’t lie—getting out of bed when no one’s waiting for you at the office can be tough. To start your day on the right foot, you need to put in place a solid morning routine that will help you get into work mode. This could mean working out, reading the paper while eating breakfast, or listening to your favourite radio show. The best tip we can give you is to set a regular schedule for waking up and going to bed to feel good and be efficient throughout the day.

Get dressed

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Any worthwhile morning routine should include taking a shower and getting dressed in something other than your pyjamas. Why? Because the clothes you wear can affect your emotions and how you feel about yourself. It stands to reason that you’ll feel more confident if your hair is clean and your pants aren’t more suited to the gym, especially if you have to be in contact with your clients or coworkers during the day.

Take real breaks

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Working from home lets you organize your day as you see fit. The problem is that you’re likely to forget to breathe a lot of the time. Taking breaks is essential to your mental and physical well-being, not to mention boosting your productivity. Several times a day, be sure to step away from your desk to stretch, go for a walk, meditate, or scroll through social media.

Keep in touch with your coworkers

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Working from home means fewer unplanned coworker interruptions, but also fewer interactions—you may start to feel isolated. Whether you’re an employee or self-employed, feeling like you’re part of a team boosts morale and improves engagement, so it’s important to stay in touch with the people with whom you work. That could mean visiting the office in person for a meeting or social event or chatting via instant messages, phone, or video. No matter which method you choose, stay as accessible and reactive as possible, just virtually.

Avoid distractions

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In one survey, one in three employees said they’re more productive when they work from home. That said, your home is filled with temptations that could affect your concentration. Start by identifying any distractions that could pull your attention in the wrong direction. Are social media a time sink for you? Mute your notifications for a few hours! Set times to check your email, and if you’re still struggling to stay on task, it might be time to turn to tools like Cold Turkey to help you procrastinate less.

Use apps to boost your efficiency

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There are many apps that can help you be more efficient and get your work done. Some are good for collaborative projects, while others can help you steer clear of distractions, create to-do lists, and organize all the information you need to do your work.

Learn to get organized

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Prioritizing tasks can help you stay focused on what’s important. First, make a list of everything you need to do and then distinguish between urgent tasks that need immediate attention and important tasks that can wait a bit. Next, assess the important tasks in order of difficulty, with the most difficult taking priority. Furthermore, since your list is likely to change throughout the day, try to stay focused on the ones you’ve committed to getting done. Take a deep breath—you can do it!

Use a planner

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In addition to your to-do list, get in the habit of putting all your appointments, meetings, and project deadlines in a planner. It’s a great way to keep track of these events, but also to give you a better overview of your day, week, month, and year!

Reward yourself

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Planning small rewards can help you stay motivated and make progress on projects that you’d prefer to forget about. Take your to-do list and set goals. Then, for each goal, allocate a reward. Treat yourself to an ice cream after you accomplish three tasks, an episode of your favourite show if you get through your entire to-do list for the day, or dinner out if you had a highly productive week. It’s also a great way to celebrate your small wins!

Use visualization techniques to stay motivated

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After a few years, work can become a bit boring and you may feel the need for something new. This feeling can decrease your efficiency. Before you begin hating your job, take a step back and reassess your career objectives. A vision board is a great tool for this. Visually displaying your aspirations and inspirations through photos and meaningful objects can give you a second wind. Hang your vision board in a prominent place where you can see it often to help you visualize your objectives.

Find playlists

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Working in front of the TV is clearly a bad idea. At the same time, you might find your workspace too quiet for your liking. Whether you’re looking for some white noise, a coffee shop vibe, binary rhythms, classical or instrumental music, or something more upbeat, adding a soundtrack to your day can give your productivity and creativity a boost. Several studies have shown that listening to classical music improves concentration. Here are a few playlists to get you started.

Take care of your mental health

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According to a study by Epson, “25% of freelancers have experienced depression at some point and 21% have had suicidal thoughts linked to feelings of loneliness.” This research highlights the link between lifestyle habits and mental health issues. To prevent problems, be proactive by leaving the house at least once a day or joining a networking group to chat with others who work in your field.

Adopt healthy lifestyle habits

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Adopting healthy lifestyle habits can reduce the risk of developing mental health issues. Eating well by including plenty of fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods in your diet improves concentration and gives you the energy you need to keep going all day long. Exercise can also increase your productivity. Physical exertion stimulates endorphins that, in turn, increase your levels of happiness, pleasure, and interest—another good reason to incorporate some exercise into your morning routine.

Learn to say no

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All too often, the word "no" is missing from freelancers’ vocabulary. Typically, they’d rather take on too much than turn down a project, always afraid of those “famine” periods. That said, it’s crucial to determine which projects are worth the required time and energy to avoid delivering poor-quality work. Be sure to ask yourself if you have enough time for the project, if it pays enough, and if you’re excited about doing it.

Build your network

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Freelancers are used to going it alone. But it’s in their best interests to build a community where they can share ideas, find resources, and support one another when dealing with work-related challenges. Building a network of freelancers is also a great way to stay motivated and maybe even expand your client base.