Habio Blog

Can Working from Home Make You More Effective and Productive?

Whether you were working in a traditional office or from home, chances are that 2020 has made some changes to your working style. Read this Habio article to find out how to stay as productive in a work-from-home office as a traditional one.
Working from home comes with different requirements and needs, especially if you work with clients. Your team or your clients may want to see you on a video call, requiring a microphone and webcam. Other situations may require you to download WhatsApp, Slack or Microsoft Teams.
a man in bed working from home with his laptop and cup of coffee in hand
Your individual situation will vary, and it could even be different from project to project. However, no matter the scenario, there are a few things you'll definitely need for a functional work-from-home setup.

  • Laptop or PC: Chances are, you won't be able to work from home if you don't have this. Furthermore, you'll likely need a reliable internet connection in order to stay on top of communication with your team and/or clients.
  • Table or computer desk: Having a suitable table or desk can make a big difference in your productivity. Working from your bed might make it harder to sleep at night, so try to avoid it if possible. Having a table or desk helps you to be mentally conditioned for work.
  • Chair: If you're going to be at a desk all day, you'll need to find an ergonomically friendly chair to avoid muscle strains and pains from sitting.
  • Headphones or earphones: Whether for a video or voice call, having a pair of headphones can make sure you don't miss a word.
  • Webcam: Some meetings are best via Zoom or Google Meet. Having a good webcam for meetings can help you put your best face forward.
  • Microphone: If you are using your laptop, the microphone may already be built in. Make sure it works well or consider buying an add-on.

Benefits of working from a home office

Improves your work–life balance

Working from a home office gives you more freedom to handle your time. That means you can manage your time for work, recreation, family, hobbies, and all the other important things in your life. Working from home often means you can better prioritize your time so your tasks can be finished on time — or early!
a working from home office with table, chairs, flowers and bookshelves

Makes you independent from location

Working from home actually means you can work anywhere with Wi-Fi or a cellular connection. You don't have to commute if you don't want to. You can hang out in a local coffee shop or stay inside the comfort of your house.

Saves time and money

Another great thing about a working-from-home setup is that you don't spend lots of time commuting or money going out for lunch. Instead of getting ready for work in the morning and driving to the office, you can use those hours to do something productive.

Gives you more flexibility

A working-from-home setup can also offer more flexibility, especially with when you start and stop work for the day. It's up to you to decide your schedule, giving you the freedom to manage projects and tasks.

Tips on how to organize a perfect remote-working life

1. Schedule your working day

Scheduling is vital and will help you stay organized. If you don't have a schedule, it's easy to get distracted because there's not a clear path to follow. Look at your week and identify the best days and times for work.

2. Take breaks

Don't forget to take a break now and then! You might be tempted to put in long hours, but working without stopping will eventually deplete your energy. Healthy working habits include rest.
a man working from home dressed in a shirt sitting on the sofa with his laptop

3. Create a restorative morning or evening routine

Depending on what works for you, develop a routine for your mornings and evenings. This might include meditating for 10 minutes when you wake up or drinking a cup of tea before bed.

4. Go for a walk

Sitting all day and looking at your computer screen is not good for your eyes or body. Take a short walking break for a few minutes for a change of scenery and much-needed exercise.

5. Enhance your home office workspace

Having a lot of clutter around you can be distracting and won't push you to be productive. Instead, clutter might urge you to procrastinate rather than focus on your work. Keep your workspace clean and tidy, and make sure you have all the home office essentials to make it easy to work hard. For example, put a whiteboard on the wall to remind you of your to-do list or brighten up the space by adding plants around the room.

6. Dress as if you're going to the office

Dressing like you're going to work can make you feel more confident and cue your mind that it's time to work. You can add this to your routine to make yourself look and feel better during meetings. Dressing for work can be an important factor, even if you're not in a traditional office setting.

7. Use productivity apps and tools

If you don't have a supervisor or manager keeping track of your time, it's up to you to manage your productivity. You can keep yourself accountable by using productivity apps and tools that record your habits or accomplishments for the day. These tools will keep you on track with your deadlines and schedule.

8. Invest in comfortable furniture and gadgets

It might be worth spending some money on comfortable furniture and gadgets that enable you to work from home successfully. Searching for home office ideas can give you some inspiration.
a woman in pyjamas working from home with a laptop on her knees

9. Take a lunch break

Remember what we said about taking breaks? Make sure to take care of yourself and include a healthy lunch break in your day. Your health should always be a priority.

10. Avoid overtime

It can be tempting to finish everything all at once, but this won't be good for you in the long run. Schedules are important and can help make sure you don't go beyond working hours for things that aren't urgent. Stick to the schedule, and when it's time to stop working, stop working!

11. Eliminate distractions and reduce
social media time

A functional work-at-home office takes discipline because you may be more tempted by distractions. Checking your social media, playing with your pet, or finding things to do around the house that aren't related to work will all pull you away from being productive. Eliminate those distractions, and focus on what needs to be done.

Summary

A work-from-home office can come with a lot of perks. It challenges you to be responsible for your time and smart about prioritizing and managing your tasks. There are a lot of advantages that can go along with this. It might take some time to adjust, but working from home can push you to be productive and effective!
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