Whether you’re working remotely by choice or necessity, working from home has its benefits, like avoiding your rush hour commute and being able to set your own hours. However, working from home also requires you to motivate yourself and get as much out of your time as you would at the office. To help, here are four tips to help you hold yourself accountable, stay productive, and prepare to work from home.
1. Create a designated home office space.
When it comes to working from home, creating a productive and motivational home office space is one of the best home improvement projects for remote workers. To get started, think about the kind of work that you do and consider the space you’ll need to work efficiently. For example, if you’re a graphic designer, you might need a desktop monitor to build templates more efficiently. Meanwhile, if you’re running your own business, consider investing in a dual copier-printer.
Without a designated home office space, it’s easy to jump from spot to spot in your home and get distracted by clutter and other home responsibilities. Creating a dedicated work area isn’t just crucial to your success as a remote worker—it’s also the key to separating your personal life from your professional life.
2. Update your lighting situation.
According to Atomic Toy’s home improvement guide for first-time homeowners, your home’s lighting situation can make or break your home’s aesthetic. While low-quality lighting can create a dingy look, bright harsh light can make your rooms feel sterile. To create a comfortable home office space, you’ll need to find a middle ground with adjustable lights that are both functional and match your personal style.
In fact, studies have shown that the right lighting not only boosts your work performance but also reduces the short-term effects of reading, including eye-strain and headaches while making your workdays more productive and comfortable.
If you’re looking to light a bigger space, many floor lamps have flexible heads, allowing you to adjust your lighting situation as needed. Alternatively, as a more lightweight option, many desk lamps have flexible arms and necks, offering an adjustable light source within closer proximity to your workspace.
3. Set your work hours.
Now that you’ve set up your home office or work area, you can focus on setting yourself up for long-term success. If you’re planning to make working from home an everyday commitment, you’ll need to set specific work hours for yourself.
One of the best parts of working from home is the ability to set your own hours. For example, if you’re more productive in the morning or if you need to run errands at the end of the day, you might want to set your work hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with short breaks every two hours. Be sure to communicate your work hours to your coworkers, teams, and boss.
At the end of your workday, enforce a hard limit. Distancing yourself from your work area can help you relax, de-stress, and can take your mind off of work.
4. Invest in income protection insurance.
Especially if you’re the sole earner in your household, investing in income protection insurance is essential. If you have other people—such as your spouse or children—relying on your income, income protection insurance helps reduce financial stress in the event that you become ill or injured and are unable to work.
To find the right income protection insurance plan for your individual needs, start by determining the level of cover you’re looking for. With comparison services like iSelect, you’ll be able to compare a wide range of policies from different providers, enabling you to find the plan that works best for you. With income protection insurance, you’ll be able to rest assured knowing you have the financial protection to ensure you and your loved ones can maintain the lifestyle that you’ve worked to achieve, even if you’re unable to work.
Above all else, taking the time to prepare to work from home is essential to keep your productivity in check, stay motivated, ad prevent work from taking over your personal life.
