Some of us are fascinated with the idea of working from home, especially when it means we get to have more free time.

The global pandemic has led us to embrace remote work as our new normal. But here comes the crucial question: Is it the home or the office which delivers greater productivity?

However, the question is immaterial if you are the type of person who gets distracted easily because that would be a problem wherever you work. In the office, your colleagues will engage you in a conversation. Meanwhile, in your home, perhaps your children will often interrupt you.

Read on to discover the 6 tips which enable productive home working.

1. Clarify expectations with everyone in your home.

Although you are working from home, you might still have people around you. Whether they are roommates, family members, or pets, make sure they respect your space during working hours. Remember, working from home means you still have to get the work done, but at home instead of in an office.

You can take one action to clarify your working hours at home or display clear signs that you are working, such as putting on headphones and sitting in front of a work desk. This will let anyone in the house know that they should not interrupt you.

2. Take breaks.

Don’t feel bad about taking breaks, regardless of the usual distractions while working from home. Take a few well-deserved minutes to relax.

Getting away from your desk during your break is recommended. Go for a walk, enjoy some fresh air, or socialize with others who are in the house.

Taking breaks can recharge you to perform better. You don’t need to be working all the time to be more productive at home.

3. Socialize with others.

Your casual social interactions with colleagues are reduced while working from home. The unique small talk that energizes your work at the office is no longer there.

But this doesn’t mean that you should be bored and lonely. Try reaching out to your workmates virtually via Zoom or with any other apps your company might use to communicate.

You can interact with anyone, and they do not have to be your colleagues. So, use your breaks to interact with others; it keeps you sane.

4. Prepare meals in advance.

Don’t consume precious time making your food when you should be working — cook it the night before.

Preparing meals in advance enables you to eat at set mealtimes and avoid doing non-work-related activities when your employer should be your priority.

5. Allocate a definitive time for work.

Working from home might cause you to get so caught up in your activities that you lose track of how many hours you are working.

Regular remote working can allow your working life to bleed into your personal life, so maintaining a boundary is important for securing a healthy work-life balance.

Remember to set the alarm for the end of the working day to remind you that it is time to stop working. You don’t have to adhere strictly to that time, but acknowledging that you can finally call it a day can relieve the mental pressure.

6. Eat and sleep.

The biggest advantage of working from home for some people is probably the complete and direct access to the kitchen, where all joy resides.

Store some healthy snacks in your kitchen, and grab some of them during your breaks. Keep in mind that an unhealthy diet can affect productivity and drain energy. On the other hand, a healthy diet can make you function better and get the most from your various tasks.

Other than diet, it is also vital that you stick to a proper sleep schedule. You want to eat the right food to keep your energy levels high and sleep soundly to refresh your body and mind. With this regime, you can rock your remote working.

In a nutshell

Keep these 6 tips in mind to increase your productivity while working remotely.

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