Tips for staying motivated while working from home

By Camden Mondeaux on April 1, 2020

Working from home can be a challenge. Stay motivated with these easy tips. 

By: Cami Mondeaux

There are a lot of advantages to working from home. Saving gas money, not having to get dressed, etc. But, there are also a lot of challenges associated with it.

It’s hard to stay motivated and in “work mode” when you’re lounging on the couch or making breakfast during your 9 a.m. meeting. But with these tips, you can stay motivated to get your work done.

1. Make a home office

You can’t get yourself into “work mode” if you’re relaxing on the couch in front of your TV. As great as that sounds, it just won’t work.

If you try to combine home activities with your work activities, you’ll end up getting nothing done. You need to create a dedicated work space that is 100% free of distractions.

Try your best to make it look like an office. Make sure you have access to work-related items you would have at your office: printer, pens, highlighters, etc.

But the most important thing to remember: Do not work where you sleep. It’s too tempting.

If you begin to work where you sleep, you may justify a power nap or “just a five minute break.” Don’t do that.

2. Wake up early

Yes, working from home means you could get that extra half hour of sleep, subtracting the time it takes you to get ready and commute. But, waking up on time is the first step to maintaining your set schedule.

Waking up early can be linked to more productivity, according to some studies. You’re more likely to identify with the idea of being in charge of things happening.

But, don’t worry if you’re not a morning person. Night people are shown to have more creativity.

If you know you’re not a morning person, shift some responsibilities to later hours where you are more productive. Know yourself and schedule things accordingly.

3. Create a routine

One of the downsides of working from home is losing structure. You’re no longer required to be in places at a certain time, or working on an assigned project with specific people.

You might think this is the perfect opportunity to introduce some spontaneity in your work routine.

A word of advice: Don’t.

Working off of the last piece of advice, know the times of day when you are most productive and work around those. Create a routine that incorporates everything you want to accomplish.

This can include waking up early, exercising, making a healthy breakfast and reading the news — all before beginning responsibilities.

Or maybe that all comes after your shift. Whatever works for you.

Get a set routine and stick to it — it will increase your productivity.

4. Take regular breaks

Work can pile up. When you’re working from home, it’s hard to separate yourself from your responsibilities. It’s easy to get caught up in assignments and work past your regular hours.

It can be tempting to work through breaks. But, don’t do that.

Studies show that taking a good amount of breaks actually increases productivity. Taking short breaks for your brain can help you make connections and improve brain activity.

Even though it seems counter-intuitive, taking breaks can help you stay focused. Taking those breaks helps you reevaluate your goals and stay on track to completion.