Today's open plan offices stop many people from getting their work done. The constant noise, phones ringing and colleagues interrupting can drive anyone to distraction!
Many people would dramatically boost their productivity if they could spend some or all of their working week out of the main office and join the thousands of small business owners who work from home.
However there are a few rules you need to follow to do this successfully:
• Establish a Routine
• Decide on a starting and finishing time. Include breaks.
• Plan Your Day
• Prepare a 'to do list' each day and action it.
• Clean out the Clutter
Keep your work area clean and tidy. You'll work far more effectively and reduce the stress levels.
• Organize Your Work Area
Have the right tools and systems to work with - an appropriate chair, desk, computer, filing system.
• Group Tasks Together
Divide your day into similar activities. Make all phone calls in the morning and work on important tasks. Do errands later in the afternoon after the lunch-time rush or when you go to pick up the kids.
• Learn How to Say NO!
Inform your family and friends of your working hours and that because you're working from home doesn't mean you're 'available'.
• Take Time Out for You
It can be easy to lose yourself in your work. Take time to smell the roses…and make human contact.
• The Final Word
Not everyone can work successfully from home - some need the daily discipline and people interaction encountered in the office.
However, for many others, working from home has greatly improved their productivity and enhanced their lifestyle.
They have more flexibility, more time and the opportunity to work much more effectively without all the usual distractions encountered in the traditional office environment.
So next time when you become overwhelmed with with the distractions at work and feel like you are going nowhere and getting nothing done, see if working from home for some of the week is a viable option.
After all, what's the point of just showing up at the office if you cannot concentrate and work effectively.
Coping with your workload isn't about being busy, it's about being effective and working smarter, not harder.
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