The virus that shall not be named has confined most of us to our houses by now. Work that was once only able to be done in an office environment is now being done in our homes. Let’s face it our homes are not very good for getting work done. Why? Because it is full of stuff to distract us from that work! It’s why it’s all at home and not in the office! I have been writing from home for over a decade now and yes, it takes a lot of work to get work done. We are going to take a small break from this month’s topic to give you a few pointers on how you can work more effectively from home.
If you want to get crack-a-lacking on the pile of emails you will need to be able to focus. Start by finding a space in your home that you can get things done in. When I first started writing I would write on my living room couch, curled up with my laptop and the TV on low volume. Yeah, I didn’t get a lot of writing done in that situation. I had to learn to carve out a physical space in my environment. I have tried to write on the floor, on my bed, the couch, the kitchen table. Eventually, I had to just give up and put a desk in a corner and call it my office. I did not play games in this space, or watch TV, or play video games, it was for reading and for writing only. This physical separation (even if it is just in a corner) helps our brains to settle down and focus on the task at hand.
Just because it is a work environment doesn’t mean it needs to be drab. My favorite places for my desk are usually areas with windows I can look out of. That and copious amounts of books from my library. Something about having books in my writing space gives me the courage to put words down on the page and go for it! My desk areas usually have inspiring quotes and other objects that make me happy and excite my imagination. What it doesn’t have? A TV within easy view, a game console, or other little toys and items to play with. This is a workplace after all, it should be treated like one.
Ok, there is one thing I have mentioned that is a slight distraction that is always in my desk area. Headphones. More accurately music. I love music. It inspires me, sparks my imagination, keeps me focused on the task in front of me. My friend who is a graphic artist has her podcasts; other friends do audiobooks. Still, others must have silence and have a pair of noise-canceling headphones at hand when they need to work at home. Having access to the things that help you focus is key to getting anything done.
Finally, one item that seems a bit counter-intuitive. Take a shower. I know. When we first start working from home we imagine hijinks where we all roll right out of bed and just stay in our jammies and slippers all day. This is a mistake. I don’t know why, but whenever I do this I feel lethargic and uninspired all day. By the end of the day, I just feel gross. Take a shower. Brush your teeth. Put on normal clothes. Do all the things your normally do to go to work. Then get to work.
All of this is about controlling your environment, whether you are looking to begin on your dreams or just working from home temporarily, the key to success is controlling your environment and focusing on the tasks at hand. Leave the bag of chips in the cupboard. Don’t sit in sight of the TV. Don’t write where you nap. Find a place that you feel productive, and shape that environment to fit your needs. Working from home can be burdensome, it can make a home feel like a stagnant cage but it doesn’t have too. Set aside a place for getting work done and you will boost your productivity in no time!