Best way to achieve time management for working from home is to create a dedicated workspace. This isn’t just about having a desk and chair. It’s about designing an area where your mind slips into work mode the moment you step in. That’s a great thing for people who struggle focusing on the job at hand. Imagine starting each day in a space which is tailored for you and your professional tasks.
Create Yourself A Dedicated Workspace
You may be asking, “How can I make this space work for me?” Start by choosing a spot in your home with the least traffic. A quiet corner or a spare room where distractions are minimal. Then add the essentials you need: a comfortable chair, decent sized desk and good lighting.
Once your desk is fully setup, focus on keeping it clutter free. It’s very easy to keep throwing and piling things on top. One moment my desk is completely clean. Minutes later piles of receipts among other things are scattered all over.
Focus on finding a home for the things which end up on your desk. One important thing I have next to my desk is a paper shredder to get rid of all those receipts. Other than that you can use shelves, organizers and folders.
Having a clean, tidy, organized desk can help you feel more relaxed and focused on the job. And with a clean tidy desk it’ll be easier for you to structure the rest of your day.
It’s all about setting clear work hours and understanding how to prioritize your daily tasks.
Create Structured Schedules and Task Mastery
Time to walk you through how setting clear work hours is a lifeline to maintaining sanity in a world where home and office blend together. Establishing specific start and end times for your workday is like setting the boundaries of an invisible office. This signals to both you and those around you that it’s money making time. Plus having structured work hours helps safeguard your evenings and weekends for personal time.
Identifying your most critical tasks each day and tackling them first thing can be a game-changer. Eliminating the big tasks right away also means you’re leveraging your peak energy levels making you more productive.
You can start by using a planner or digital tools to keep track of your deadlines, meetings and appointments. I keep track of everything using the notepad app on my phone. It can be incredibly empowering to see your tasks laid out. Think of it as a road map to success you created for yourself.
Now, let me touch on a strategy I like to leverage – time blocking. It involves allocating blocks of time for different tasks or projects. The beauty of this technique is that it dedicates specific hours to specific activities and you won’t have to keep asking yourself what’s next. This allows you to dive deep into the task at hand without thinking about the others.
Maintain Discipline and Take Breaks
It’s very convenient when you have to get ready for work. And your commute involves going from just one room to the next.
Minimal travel time makes it easy to start early and get a head start with accomplishing your tasks. Sitting and working at your desk for the full day can decrease productivity. That’s why you need to take breaks and stepping away from your desk can actually boost productivity. It’s about giving your brain a moment to reset. Schedule your breaks like you would a doctors appointment and stick to them.
Minimizing distractions can be a tough task, especially in your home. Make sure the people in your home know your working hours and be sure to eliminate the extra tabs from your internet browser. Meaning don’t go visit different websites while you’re working.
Keep Your Digital Life Tidy
Your physical workspace may be nice and clean. But you must do the same with your digital workspace. On the computer you use for work. Be sure to keep it clean.
We tend to save lots of files, documents included on the desktop. One day the desktop appears clean. Next day can be cluttered with files. I am victim to this.
One method I use is create a few folders on my desktop.
- Documents
- Images
- Other
Whatever files I end up saving there or in my Downloads folder, I end up deleting if it’s not important. But if it is important I transfer the files into one of my created folders.
Once the digital workspace I use is clean and tidy, I get the same sense of relief, calmness and focus as I do working on a clean desk.
Adopting these strategies isn’t a one-and-done deal. Your life and workflow are changing constantly, which means your time management skills will need to evolve as well. Consistently evaluate what is and isn’t working. Make adjustments that suit your changing circumstances, and don’t worry too much about getting it perfect the first time around. The goal is a continual improvement, so be kind to yourself and your productivity will follow!
Thanks for reading my post on time management for working from home. I hope you learned a few ideas you can start using right away. Keeping a clean workspace I feel works wonders in being more productive and staying focused on the job.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to post them below.