Working from home is not easy for those who never tried before. As relaxing as it sounds, there are a lot of obstacles and distractions keeping you away from focusing on work. Below are 8 tips for you to get started and stay focused on your work.

1. Making  A Permanent Workspace

The most important step in starting your “work from home”  station is to define your home area, specifically to get the job done. Set an area in your home where you will be committed to working in this space on a daily basis. Make sure your workspace is quiet and calm so you can focus on the tasks assigned. This could be an empty space or a spare space that you turn into a home office. If you do not have enough space, you can set up a desk for your computer and office supplies in a designated corner away from noise such as a kitchen or washing machine. Make sure your place has enough lighting and proper ventilation.

2. Reduce interruptions and set schedules for home chores

Avoid thinking about outside interruptions such as chores and worrying about family members or pets, and planning your work around it can help you focus more. Many factors beyond your control may also be the cause, for example, noise may be an issue in the home. Set a schedule to tell your family, “I’ll work from 8am until noon, then rest for lunch.” This helps ensure that you can focus without having anyone waiting for you. In addition, you may need to set some structure for your family to do some activities so they wouldn’t disturb you or work with your spouse together.

Are you hungry? Determine the designated snack time. Laundry not washed? Plan to do your chores before and after work, then decide how much time you will dedicate to these tasks.

3. Avoid procrastinating with social media

If social media like Facebook or Twitter is a distraction, download the social media blocking tool and set it up on our phone or laptop. When you feel tired and in need of rest, limit your use of social media to less than 10 minutes per break.

If you work with social media, use the browser tab that logs in to your work email to post without using your own social media page. Use different ‘themes’ for this work tab so you can distinguish and feel that this ‘space’ is a working space instead for personal use.

You may also need to invest in ergonomic furniture if you haven’t already. Depending on the amount of space available, consider buying a large desk, bookshelf and comfortable office chairs. Working from a couch or bed may sound comfortable but without the right posture, it can bring more damage to the body. Make sure your position does not cause muscle spasms and retain postures that are not burdensome to the bone.

5. Exercise and relax

Exercise naturally promotes the release of endorphins, which increases the level of happiness, calm and interest that are all important for productivity. Often stretching helps you maintain a strong position at least 3 times a day so you don’t get sick or slow down your life. Stretching can also make your body physically and mentally less stressful and make you feel comfortable working longer.

6. Dress up for work!

Although you will not interact with others throughout the day, it is important to dress neatly for success. This includes bathing and brushing your teeth! This will tell your brain that it’s time, not time to relax and then your brain will be thinking about working with more energy. Sweatpants and T-shirts may be more comfortable, but you may also feel lazy, drowsy or not motivated.

If you have a hard time motivating yourself to get ready in the morning, try picking your clothes the night before or earlier during the day to get dressed.

7. Make A Schedule

Make a daily schedule of work to be done on a daily basis to manage expectations are ready so you don’t miss out on work. More effectively, you can also schedule your work throughout the week so you can predict the time for work, self and chores. Writing activities in the ‘planner’ diary is also recommended, and it is always easier to write your weekly work reports when you have a reference.

8. Treat Yourself

Make time to surf social media or eat your favourite snack as a reward when you get the job done. When you get off work early, it’s easier for yourself to relax and spend more time watching tv or social media, right? You can also enjoy this free time without being tangled in your head about work.