Working from home can be liberating. At the same time, it can be stressful if you’re not careful.
Unlike working in a traditional corporate job, there’s no distinct line that separates your work from your personal activities.
The moment you wake up, your tasks are already waiting for you. And when your “office” is also your bedroom, you tend to get overworked more than when you were working in a corporate setting.
Also, since you don’t have a boos keep you in check or co-workers to interact with, you’re on your own. If you lack discipline, it’s hard to be productive.
And this can result in a lack of motivation.
When that happens, try these tips to regain your motivation.
Start the day right
Resist the urge to check your phone or computer.
Meditate or pray for a few minutes. Have your breakfast and coffee. Do something you love like exercise or read a book or go out for a walk.
Breathe.
Self-care first before the hustle.
Dress for work
Some people are comfortable working in their pajamas. That’s totally fine.
But getting refreshed before starting working like taking a bath, brushing your teeth, wearing clean clothes or even putting on makeup and wearing shoes can make a difference. It could be fun to treat your job as if you have an outside office to go to.
It’s like adding a little spice to your usual work mood.
Work somewhere else
It is always best to separate your office from your bedroom.
When you see your bed, it’s hard to focus on work because all you can think about is going to sleep. Or worse, when the time you need to sleep you can’t because you’re thinking about work.
Create a workplace ideally outside your sleeping area where you can focus on working.
Take advantage of the fact that you can work from anywhere, not just in your home. You can also try working at a nearby cafe, library, or a coworking space. You can even try renting out your own office space to completely separate your work and home environment.
Expect some distractions
There’s a lot of distractions at home especially if you have kids. Plan for these factors and find a way to work around them.
Also, if you’re distracted by social media, consider installing app blockers on your web browser.
Take a break
You’re not a robot. Just like when you were working at your corporate job, give yourself break times. Take a walk in between breaks or do a quick stretching. Giving yourself a 15-minute coffee break won’t hurt, too. Just make sure you step away from your computer so your eyes can rest.
Reward yourself
Have you completed a task? Reward yourself!
Get that massage or allow yourself to watch an episode of your favorite TV series.
This is an effective motivator especially if you’re the type of person who loves rewards.
Or, try the reverse. Punish yourself if you don’t finish a task. For example, you’ll have to pay your friend a certain amount of money if you don’t finish your project within your deadline.
Learn something new
When you’ve been doing something for so long, it gets boring. You feel unchallenged.
Why not explore or learn something new? You’ll be surprised when you find a new hobby that excites or nurture your creative side.
You can take advanced courses to take your skills to the next level.
Socialize
Working from home can make you feel isolated.
Even if you’re an introvert, human connections are important. Make sure to catch up with friends. Find friends online. Sometimes hearing others’ stories can motivate and inspire you.
Remember your whys
Why are you here in the first place?
What are your goals? Do you want a new car or a new house? Do you want to double your income so you can finally pay for your debts and become financially free?
Write your goals and post them in a place where you can always see them. Like a mirror or a board right above your computer screen.
Working from home can be fun and rewarding. But it can also be hard.
I’ve given you tips on how to stay motivated, but it’s also important to remember that you can’t rely on motivation all the time.
Be relentless and self-disciplined. You’ve got this.
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Joy
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Great tips on maximizing personal productivity 🙂
Very helpful tips and useful in this pandemic. Loved it. Thank you.