In light of today’s pandemic, a lot of people are getting sick. Although some recover, there’s a lot of difficulties. Those who already have pre-existing conditions are more at risk. Due to a lot of people getting quarantined, jobs and outside activities are now limited. 

Because of this, people are now staying inside their homes, trying to avoid the spread of COVID-19. If you go to large cities all over the world, chances are you might notice that the streets are close to being empty. As much as we don’t like being crammed inside our homes, life has to go on. The quarantine is the reason why most people nowadays are now working from the safety of their homes.

Ideally, people who work in offices are often laser-focused on their tasks. Being focused at work means that they are efficient and making the most out of their day. In the ideal working conditions, there are close to zero distractions. Working in ideal conditions makes employees more focused and concentrated on their jobs.  

When you’re at home, however, it’s a whole different story. There are tons of distractions at home that can severely affect the productivity of home-based employees. For one, most home-based jobs need a fast and secure internet connection. 

Not only that, but people also need a mobile device, a laptop, or a desktop pc. These two tools are essential for home-based work, but they can also be a distraction. Compared to working at the office, working at home is indeed a challenge. Here are some ways to help you get the most out of your day.

Plan Your Tasks

Before starting anything, always plan what you need to do for the day. When you’re working at home, we all have to accept that distractions are typical, and there’s little you can do about it. For example, most people often skip working because of a TV Show or some other task. 

When you plan your tasks, always make sure that you work on it without any long breaks, such as a TV show. When you suddenly shift your focus from work to some other tasks, you might get tired and abandon your work. Most of us call this strange behavior as procrastination. Procrastination is never healthy and should always be avoided, regardless of where you are working.

Time Management

Whatever article you read about working at home, you’ll always encounter time management. Time management is the single most effective way of getting the most out of your day. To manage your time better, it’s suggested that you have a way of timing tasks. 

You can try out the Tomato Timer or Pomodoro method, which times each of your tasks into 25 minute periods with 5-minute breaks. After the 4th 25 minute period is over, you can take a more extended 15-minute break. Having a conscious outlook on your tasks and the time to do it makes you more efficient. You also don’t have to worry about burning out as the 5-minute break is more than enough to relax you.

Avoid Working Late Hours

Avoid cramming all your work into the late hours of the evening or the early hours of the morning. People who have home-based jobs should get all the sleep they want without compromising work. To do this, try to finish all your tasks before sleeping time. 

If you’re working for a client in a different time zone, make sure you finish everything within your shift. When you wake up from a disorganized working setup, you’ll quickly get tired and may end up not doing anything at all.  

Eat Right

Aside from sleep, eating right is also another way to make the most of your tasks when you work from home. Typically, most people wake up around 7 or 8 am and go to work around 9, or 10 am. When you’re at work, you don’t have to deal with travel and traffic. Make the most of the time by waking up early and eating your breakfast as well.

Although eating is an essential way to make you healthy, overeating may have adverse effects. For one, eating food such as turkey, ham, or any protein-rich meals can make your body fatigued. Always go for healthy alternatives such as fresh veggies and fruits. You can still eat protein, although you should do so in moderation.

Rest Days

Even if you’re working from home, do remember that you still deserve rest days. You might want to allocate essential activities you want to do on this day. For example, on your rest day, you can go out with your family, exercise, play video games, or just plainly relax. Always plan your rest days accordingly as these crucial days are a must if you want to avoid stress and burnout.

Takeaway

Nowadays, a lot of people are working at home. However, a lot of them aren’t used to working with a ton of distractions. The tips mentioned will help those coping with a new working environment.