Photo by Jeff Sheldon on Unsplash
Organisation
Being organised has to be one of the most significant ways in which you can really get your work completed in the quickest time. Even if you aren’t particularly organised as a person, there are ways in which you can get yourself organised and make sure deadlines are met on time. The first thing you can do is to organise your time. Be realistic and sit down and consider your ‘work hours’ it can feel as though you have all the time in the world and then none at all when you work at home, especially if you’re working around the children! But be honest with yourself and set working hours and breaks, this way you know you only have a limited time to get work done and will push yourself to get it done.
Also don’t forget to keep all of your files, physical and digital, organised and tidy from the beginning. There’s nothing worse than wasting time searching for things that you need when everything is messy!
Digital Tools
There are a million different tools you can choose from that will be able to help you with your new working from home journey. Unless you know any of the top android app developers or are an IT wizard, then you might want to check out the app store for apps, such as Buffer for your social media management. Or an excellent Pomodoro app that will help you keep track of your time when working on big projects. There are even apps for managing your accounting now as well.
Don’t forget to look up everything you need in the beginning. It’s not easy to get everything in place from the start, but doing your research will put you in a great position a week, months, even years down the line.
You can also use social media to network from your desk (but be careful you don’t end up wasting time on there!), email apps to keep on top of your communications, and the latest news and updates are right at your fingertips.
Environment
Clear house, clear mind. This applies to your situation, first of all, you need to make sure you have a set workspace. But if you’re workspace is cluttered and unkempt, you’re not only going to waste time searching for pieces of paper all the time, but you will also feel much more disorganised. Keeping a clear desk and workspace will make everything a lot easier for you. If you get yourself some cabinets with dividers and keep a filing system that is easy to use, that way when you need to find something important, there is little time and stress wasted.
You can even get a little creative with this new space, hang your vision board, put some colourful artwork around your area to lighten your mood, and do whatever you like and whatever works for you in your workspace. No more arguments about the AC or lighting situations, you can do whatever suits you!
Do Not Disturb
Just because you’re home doesn’t mean that everyone you know can stop by without even asking first, make sure you set boundaries so that you get time and space to get your work done. Of course, if you have a gap in your schedule then there’s no reason you can’t meet a friend for a coffee, just be careful your home and work life don’t end up bleeding into each other. It’s too easy to burn the candle at both ends and end up needing to work until 1am!
Ultimately working from home is potentially a brilliant thing for you, but if you’re not careful, the everyday distractions and lack of routine may make you come unstuck. However sticking to a method, making sure you have a specific area that is personalised to you and works, plus using all the tools available to you will ensure you have the best chance of success.
