How to Work From Home: 13 Tips From People Who Know How to do it

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2020 is a year of change for a lot of people around the globe. Australian’s in particular have been hit quite hard, weathering bushfires, drought, floods and now the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, there have been many changes to the way we work.

Luckily, Australian businesses are flexible and ever evolving, which has created the ‘work from home’ culture, which has allowed many Australians to keep their businesses afloat and allow for employees to keep their jobs. Working from home is not without its challenges, so here are 13 tops from experienced remote workers who know exactly how to get the job done while working from home. 

1. Develop a "work from home mantra"

My best tip to be super productive and successful while working from home is to develop a "work from home mantra".Create a short mantra for the mornings, telling yourself it'll be a great day and praise the fact that you're healthy. Then ad sentence about how you'll rock today's work day, what you'll achieve and how fantastic you look and are. Ideally, add a thought about the future, like how working hard now will buy you the house of your dreams or how you'll afford an unforgettable vacation. Say that mantra out loud while in the shower or while getting dressed. It'll make you tons more productive throughout the day! Chris Kaiser from Click A Tree

2. Dress the part

Don’t wear anything for work at home that you wouldn’t be happy to leave the house in. Being in your slippers, pyjamas or undies whilst on a Zoom call is sending the wrong message to your brain. The problem with these super comfy clothes is that they are the clothes you would slob about it, not necessarily be as productive as you need to be. Get changed and send a message to your brain that you have left your chill out mode to a more productive, work mode. If in doubt, ask “Would I wear it out?” Simon Banks Keynote Speaker, Emcee and Author in Australia

3. Stay connected

Have daily phone or video meetings to connect with partners, co-founders or other businesses to stay connected and avoid feelings of loneliness or isolation. Prolonged isolation can have an impact on your productivity and motivation.

4. Track your mental health and regularly check in other remote workers.

Working from home can be very isolating, and can take a toll on your mental health. It's important to prioritise your mental health and happiness, as these directly impact your productivity and performance. 

5. Minimize distractions.

Turn off or put anything away that is likely to distract you from deep work tasks. Staying focused can be really difficult, especially with distractions like Facebook, children or piles of laundry sitting around. It's best to remove yourself entirely from anything that will likely distract you. If this means going to work in the basement, then don't hesitate to do it. Jamie-Lee Kay from The Other Straw

6. Have a routine.

My #1 tip for staying productive while working from home is to have a routine. For me this starts with getting dressed and doing my hair and makeup, just like if going into an office. I work better and am more successful when I do this.I show up for myself differently than if I am in yoga pants and a t-shirt. I see myself in the mirror and like what I see. Plus, I am available to jump on a zoom call or do an impromptu livestream, without delay. Just like smiling comes through in a phone conversation, I feel that people can hear the confidence and professionalism in your voice. Tiffany Yelverton from Entice Me 

7. Eat Well

My biggest tip for staying productive is to keep healthy food within your workspace. You can quickly grab a banana, apple or something else that's ready to eat to satisfy your hunger while staying focused on your work.

I make sure to buy plenty of fresh fruit along with a few non-perishables. Usually, I just buy the fruit, but because of the situation, I added the non-perishables to try and limit my shopping trips to once every two weeks. Adam Lumb EN Site Manager at Cashcow Ltd 

 

8. Set Up A Work Area

If you’re able, set up a separate work area away from your living spaces, a place where you can leave your work at work.

9. Stay as focused as possible using web browser extensions

I've been working from home since 2013 and I run an online business that focuses mostly on creating content for my niche. One of the best (and simplest) tips that I have is to stay as focused as possible. To do this, I use Google Chrome extensions to help get rid of the Facebook newsfeed, as well as hide all videos on YouTube (unless I search for them). I know that these websites can be a huge distraction, so if I need to use them, then it will save me a ton of time by blocking out what's unnecessary. James Canzanella from Isolated Marketing Nights

10. Focus on the Mornings

 My number 1 tip for staying productive while working from home is to create yourself a morning routine. The majority of people, when given the free time to stay at home, usually spend most of the day either sleeping or watching TV.

Waking up in the same hour in the morning, every day, to dedicate some time for self-reflection, reading, working out and preparing yourself for your daily tasks is the number one method to stay productive throughout the day. "Own your morning and elevate your life". Lior Amar from Journey Born

11. Be picky when choosing a workspace

Choose a specific place in your home for work. If you have a spare dining table or a room you can convert into a home office, great! But if you don't, even setting up in a rarely-used armchair is helpful. The trick is to choose a spot you don't use for relaxation.  Our brains strongly associate particular places with particular activities (for example associating your bed with sleep, and the couch with watching TV), so picking a particular place in your home for work will help you to stay focused throughout the day. Christina Majoinen from Project TGL

 12. Clean your workspace 

Have a quick spring clean – Give your office and desk space a tidy up by decluttering, taking out the rubbish, have some fresh flowers and colour and maybe even try re-arranging the furniture. It’s a great way to remove any unwanted, stagnant energy that seems to be weighing you down. It enables you to power on with a clearer vision, increase your productivity, plus the bonus is your space looks nice for all the virtual meetings that you are conducting! Jessica Ritchie from Jessica Ritchie.com

13. ‘Walk to Work’ 

A nice stroll around the block before you start and after you finish can be an awesome way to transition from home time, to work time, and back again. Nikki Hamilton from Seedling Digital

You can create the ideal environment and mindset to work from home by following these useful tips and tricks. They can enable you to not only survive these difficult times, but also to thrive and grow. We hope this inspires you to create your dream work environment, from home and all!

 

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