Welcome to this week’s edition of our Tuesday Top 5, Econ4U’s weekly tips post to help you manage your money in five easy steps.
Whether you’re a small-business owner who works out of the house or a salaried employee who wants to enjoy a corporate perk, working from home is becoming de rigeur for more workers every year. But to make sure you don’t lose your productivity groove once outside the office, try out these tips:
- Start your day as if you’re headed to work. Set an alarm, get out of bed on time, take a shower, put the coffee on, and wear presentable clothes. Looking professional will help your concentration more than if you plop down at the computer in your pajamas.
- Schedule breaks like you would if you had coworkers. Run to Starbucks and go out to lunch on occasion — make opportunities for yourself to socialize so you don’t get bored and lonely.
- Set up your desk somewhere you won’t get easily distracted. We recommend not putting it in your bedroom or near the TV. If you have young kids at home, consider hiring a babysitter so you can focus all your energy on the task at hand.
- Keep a log of hours worked. Even if you don’t have to submit billable hours in your line of work, record every assignment you complete throughout the day and how long you spent on it. It will keep you accountable to yourself (and your boss, if necessary).
- Unplug at the end of the day. After you’ve put in a full day, turn off your laptop and get out of the house, whether it’s running errands or working out or happy hour with friends or just a walk around the block. One of the hardest things can be leaving work behind when you don’t have to physically leave your office; it’s important to find a way to mark the occasion.
