Staying Motivated while Working from Home

April 23rd, 2020 | Best Office Furniture

Strange times indeed. As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to threaten the world, offices are forced to close down and employees are encouraged to stay home. 

On the bright side, we have technology on our side in this battle. Many are still able to continue their office work at the comfort of their own homes and businesses are still able to transact online. And with so many online collaboration tools and messaging apps available, it’s like you’ve never left the office. You can get work done even as you lay on your bed.

Before COVID-19, more than 3.9 million Americans were already working from home. In recent years, many professionals have turned to freelancing to save on commute costs, flexibility in work hours, and the overall feeling of being their own boss. However, we can’t deny the fact that it has its challenges too.

While it is fun to work in your jammies all day, eventually, it is inevitable to experience difficulties in staying productive and motivated. Not having a good routine and a designated workspace may leave you feeling discouraged and lost. 

To help you keep going, here are some tips on how you can stay motivated while working from home:

 

Create a Schedule

Planning your day’s activities the night before can reward you in so many ways. Instead of thinking about what to do next on the spot, having a to-do list makes it easier for you to identify and work on priority tasks when it needs to be done. Planning your day smartly can also enable you to multitask and help you achieve more.

Set the right tone for your day. Start your work during the beginning of your normal workday. If you’re used to the 9 to 5 setup, stick to that routine even while working from home. 

 

Take Regular Breaks

Have you ever heard about the Pomodoro Technique? It’s a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s wherein work is broken down into intervals usually 25 minutes long and separated by short breaks. It is said to help increase productivity by 10%. 

Make good use of those breaks though. Best if you leave your gadgets on the charging port. You’ll be thanking yourself later for the much needed pause. Challenge yourself to complete planned tasks so you can earn extra time to reward yourself. Take a coffee break after completing a task or play your favorite videogame. Setting these small daily goals will definitely help you get more things done.

 

Squeeze in a Little Exercise

The office life is known for being sedentary. Squeezing in exercise in your daily schedule will help boost your energy levels and improve your mental health. When your body is active, it releases chemicals that can make you feel more relaxed. It is a great way to relieve stress and reduce risk of depression. 

 

Lastly, Dress Up for Work

While it’s fun to work in your nighties, doing it everyday can lure your mind towards slacking off. You eventually lose motivation to work. Whether you’ve been a freelancer all your life or have been forced to work remote, dressing up for work can help get your mind into work mode. 

 

Another good thing to have is a designated workspace. Instead of turning your dining table to a work desk, investing in home office furniture is beneficial in so many ways. A good office chair, for example, provides good support for your back as compared to your dining chair or your couch. A work desk also helps keep things organized as compared to merely using a table. 

Arenson carries a wide selection of home office furniture in San Diego that fits any residential workspace. Contact us for a quick consultation or quote.