Working from home is often considered challenging, particularly in the beginning, as there are numerous distractions such as piles of laundry and daytime TV. Additionally, wearing pajamas and sitting on a comfortable sofa might not inspire the same level of motivation one would typically experience when wearing a suit and sitting in an office chair.
When you are in a situation where you are alone at home and the atmosphere is too quiet, or when you are at home with your family and the children are behaving uncontrollably, you may face challenges in remaining focused, completing your tasks, and feeling productive. However, there are strategies that can assist you in maintaining motivation and productivity while working from home.
1. Create a Schedule
When there is no organization in your workday, it is easy to lose track of time. You may notice that you begin pushing your workdays progressively towards a later time as you consume an additional cup of coffee. As a result, your work hours get extended and you end up staying awake later at night too.
If you don’t think step by step, you may discover that you tend to lose focus or get easily distracted during your work. Suddenly, tasks that used to be completed in 20 minutes are now taking 2 hours. Hence, it is crucial to have a well-defined schedule. Set a specific time to start and finish your work, and make an effort to adhere to it as closely as possible.
2. Emphasize a Great Work Setup
Having a designated workspace is a vital factor in figuring out how to stay motivated when working from home, as it prevents employees from succumbing to the temptation of staying in bed or on the couch.
To enhance productivity, promote the idea of your team having a designated workspace. It is not necessary for them to have a complete office setup, but even allocating a specific area at their kitchen table can create a more suitable working environment compared to using their bed or couch. By having this dedicated space, it will help them maintain the right mindset and stay focused on their tasks throughout the day.
There are numerous advantages to this suggestion. The act of working from bed can have a direct influence on the quality of sleep of your employees, hence making it an important reason to encourage them to set up a more formal workspace.
3. Share Scheduling Tips
When learning to stay motivated while working from home, it is crucial to create a schedule.
To prevent wasting long hours, it is recommended that your team plans their day in a logical manner. Along with determining when to begin and end work, they should also allocate specific time slots for completing tasks. This approach will minimize the chances of a lunch break stretching into a two-hour-long session of scrolling through Instagram or doing laundry. By following a schedule, your team will be motivated to stay focused on their daily tasks.
4. Encourage Them to Dress for Work
Although pajamas, sweatpants, and athleisure may be more comfortable than traditional work attire, they do not contribute to productivity. To increase motivation while working from home, it is beneficial to change out of pajamas and into appropriate work attire, suitable for online meetings.
If you roll out of bed wearing last night’s t-shirt, it’s easy to make a quick change that will help your team feel more awake and prepared for the day, just like they used to when working in an office. By establishing this expectation with your team, everyone will be on the same page and prepared for the workday, even though they may not physically see each other. Remember, when you look good, you feel good, right?
5. Manage Their Workload
Just because you are working from home does not imply that there is a decrease in the amount of work, and an excessive number of tasks can easily overpower the team in a manner that may go unnoticed in a remote environment.
To maintain the motivation of your team while they work remotely, assist them in handling their workload. Recommend that they organize their tasks for the entire week and then divide them by day, making them more feasible to accomplish. By breaking down the tasks, time management can be improved, which ultimately leads to increased productivity.
6. Discuss Limiting Distractions
Getting on a roll with daily tasks can be challenging, while getting distracted is relatively easy. Small interruptions can take up a significant amount of time, so it is important to encourage your team to minimize these interruptions. But how can you do this?
It is advisable to suggest to your team to silence their phones (postponing activities on Instagram and Twitter!) while they are working.
For parents with children at home, it is suggested that they establish specific times to periodically monitor their kids, ensuring they have uninterrupted time to focus on their work. It may not be easy to minimize distractions, but it is crucial in order to learn how to stay motivated while working from home.
7. Share Time-Blocking Tips
With time blocking, you can immediately implement one of the best work from home motivation tips with your team. It involves encouraging them to allocate small periods of time to specific tasks and projects, effectively dividing their day into more manageable chunks.
To break down daunting tasks into more manageable feats, instead of team members committing to reaching out to 50 clients by the end of the day, have them break it down by the hour. By transitioning the thought process to “I’ll reach out to 5 vendors in one hour,” you can help your team maintain the same goal but with a step-by-step approach.
8. Check-in Throughout the Day
Check-ins can be a helpful way for your team to figure out how to motivate themselves when working from home, which can be a challenging task.
Keeping in touch with staff can make a significant difference in helping them feel connected and informed while working from home. Whether it’s through regular updates or casual conversations, team leaders have the ability to combat feelings of isolation and ensure that employees remain connected to the broader team.
Doing this can be a delicate balance, as you don’t want to constantly monitor your team and give them the impression that you lack trust in their abilities. It is crucial to keep your check-ins limited and not excessive, conveying that your intention is simply to provide assistance and support.
9. Promote the Importance of Breaks
Encourage your team to take short breaks throughout the day to boost productivity and maintain motivation when working from home. These breaks can involve going for a quick walk or making lunch to refresh and recharge between tasks. By incorporating these breaks, not only will it improve team morale but also foster trust between managers and employees.
To ensure that no team members are unsure why they are not receiving a response, it is important to inform your team about breaks and encourage them to communicate when they are taking one. Unlike in an office setting, it is not possible to visually determine if a coworker is away from their desk, hence the need for additional communication.
10. Practice the “10-Minute Rule”
Convincing yourself to begin working on an undesirable task can be difficult, whether it is due to the expectation of boredom, frustration, or an overwhelming challenge.
One effective method to initiate action on a task you are hesitant about is by applying the “10-minute rule.” Convince yourself that you merely need to devote 10 minutes to the task. Subsequently, once the 10-minute threshold is reached, you are entitled to take a break if desired.
In most cases, you will probably discover that after 10 minutes, you will decide to continue. Typically, starting is the most difficult aspect, but once you begin, it becomes simple to maintain the progress.
11. Reward Yourself
Having an incentive can enhance productivity. For instance, you can motivate yourself to complete your tasks by promising to watch your favorite show at 6 p.m. or enjoy a cup of your favorite tea upon finishing the report.
Having a small motivator can frequently be highly beneficial in assisting you to complete tasks effectively, and it will also provide you with an understanding of your potential achievements.
12. Challenge Yourself
In order to get yourself going, it can be beneficial to take on a small challenge. One of these challenges could involve attempting to write a specific number of words within the span of 30 minutes. After determining the number of words you can write in this timeframe, you may strive to surpass that amount in the following 30 minutes.
By thinking step by step, you may discover certain things about yourself. For example, you may find that you type more quickly when sitting at the kitchen table, or that your concentration improves right after lunch. Being aware of these aspects about yourself can assist you in organizing your day in a manner that maximizes your accomplishments.
By having a greater awareness of your time, you can effectively utilize it. Additionally, by setting challenges for yourself, you can find the additional motivation required.
13. Practice Good Self-Care
To perform at your best, it is essential to have a healthy diet, ample rest, and effective self-care strategies rather than relying solely on caffeine and sugar while experiencing exhaustion.
However, ensuring that your physical, social, and emotional needs are met at this moment will prove to be slightly more difficult than usual. Following a nutritious diet may pose a greater challenge when you are reducing your visits to the grocery store, and conversing with friends through video chats lacks the same experience as meeting them face-to-face.
Occasionally, pause and consider what additional measures can be taken to enhance your self-care. As your stress level rises, it is important to increase your self-care accordingly.
14. Experiment With Different Strategies
There is a wide range of online advice available on effectively working from home. However, individual preferences vary, and what may be effective for one person may not be suitable for someone else.
It is crucial to try out various strategies in order to determine which ones are effective for you. You may realize that you are more motivated during the evenings, or that you have increased energy following a morning workout.
15. Practice Regulating Your Emotions
Research indicates that when we experience uncomfortable emotions, we have a tendency to delay or postpone tasks. For instance, if you are feeling anxious about a medical appointment, you may lack the motivation to make the necessary call. Similarly, if the thought of studying makes you fearful of encountering frustration, you may end up indulging in binge-watching Netflix instead.
When it comes to these situations, the reason for having no motivation is based on your wish to evade discomfort. Moreover, when working remotely, there are constantly numerous chances to participate in activities that are more enjoyable than the tasks you are expected to complete.
When considering what emotion(s) you are trying to avoid feeling, it can be helpful to think step by step. Acknowledging the emotion may help lessen its intensity, making it feel less frightening. It is important to remind yourself that you have the ability to cope with feeling uncomfortable.
By considering each step, also keep in mind the positive emotions you will experience once the project is completed, in contrast to the negative emotions you will experience if you neglect the work. This can serve as a motivation for you to take necessary actions even when you lack the desire to do so.
