Published: Sep 05, 2022 | Updated at: Sep 05, 2022

It's no secret that — even in 2022 — workers still prefer to spend their days at home. In fact, 35 percent of respondents to this survey said they prefer working from home full-time over other alternatives.

When you're first getting started, though, it can be a struggle to stay consistent. If your kids are home all day, it can be even easier for them to whip up fresh distractions. That's why it's important to set up routines to keep yourself accountable from the home office.

Luckily, we're here to help. Read on for six of the best tips to stay productive while working from home.

1. Work Out a Schedule

The first thing you need to do — try to stick to your original routines as much as possible. That can mean setting your alarm to go off at its usual time and making sure you change clothes before you start working.

Getting dressed is going to help your brain understand that it's time to switch into work mode. You also won't be as tempted to take your work laptop into your room to work from bed.

If your family is home during certain points of the week, it can be an even bigger struggle to stay productive while you work remote, but it's not impossible. Working out times for child care with your partner is a great way to accommodate this. Perhaps one of you takes a morning shift while the other takes an afternoon one.

You can also consider getting up an hour earlier to get things done before the house starts bustling. You might be surprised at what some extra quiet time can get you.

2. Create a Designated Workspace

Next, it's important to create a designated workspace. If there's a room you can designate as a home office, that's perfect. If you can't, though, create a makeshift workstation in the dining room or even in your bedroom. If there's a place you can go and shut the door, that's going to be best.

What you will need to do, however, is keep that work area stocked with all your necessary supplies and equipment. Everything from pens, headphones, your computer, a printer, extra paper, and any other supplies you use are crucial here. It's best to avoid getting up repeatedly during your workday to get things you've forgotten, so keeping it all close by is ideal.

If you can't do that, though, then you should make a habit of grabbing everything you need before you sit down for the day. Take one trip around the house with your work bag if it's needed, and then set everything up at your desk. Once you're done, make another trip around the house to put everything back in its spot.

3. Set Your Team Up for Success

If you're a small business owner, it's important to set your team up for success. Utilizing a CRM can be a huge help for your team and their workdays. Some of the best CRM properties to utilize are automation, tracking, and help with nurturing your client relationships.

When your team spends their days struggling to pull everything they need together, it can be difficult to get anything done. That's why it's essential to help them as much as you can.

The Halsell customer relations management software was designed with this in mind.

4. Take Plenty of Breaks

If you think about it, you take a lot more breaks in the office than you might realize. You're often stopping to chat with coworkers or tend to other things, and your attention isn't focused on work 100 percent of the time. You shouldn't expect that to change just because you're at home.

Setting up breaks for yourself throughout the workday is a great way to keep this principle in mind. Get up to pet your dog after a meeting before jumping into your next task, or utilize methods like the Pomodoro Technique that allow you to work for an allotted amount of time while getting breaks.

The way this technique works is simple. Set a timer for, say, 25 minutes, and then allow yourself a 5-minute break. If this isn't long enough, you can utilize 50-minute sessions with 10-minute breaks and so on.

5. Set Times to Check Your Email

Unless you have to be on your email throughout the entire workday, you should set up designated times to check it.

It might not seem like a big deal, but if your inbox is constantly in view, every notification can become a distraction. It can pull you away from the task you're working on, and it can make things a lot harder to accomplish throughout the workday. Tending your emails in chunks, however, can make things a lot easier in the long run.

6. Don't Sit the Entire Time

Finally, get up every once in a while. If you need to take the dog out, make it a 15 or 20-minute walk during your lunch break. Get up to stretch every so often or grab snacks if you're hungry.

You can also invest in a standing desk that allows you to get up and work whenever you feel like it.

If you feel like it, sneak in small tasks while you're up and about. If you're going to refill your water, stop and throw in a load of laundry on the way. Whatever makes things easier for you, take advantage of it.

Use These Tips to Stay Productive While Working from Home

When you have the right system set in place, it's a lot easier to stay productive while working from home. You're not constantly distracted, and you don't have to worry about all the work you're not getting done. Instead, you can work for the hours you've allotted yourself, and then you're free to relax in the evenings.

Setting yourself (and your team) up for success with the right tools is a great way to get started. Contact Halsell today to learn how their CRM products can maximize work hours and optimize productivity.