Alternative work models such as homework or teleworking are becoming more common. New surveys and studies show that we are more productive when we work at home than in the office. But it can still be good to plan your time in the home office and do exercises to increase your motivation and become more productive.
Good to know: Home office and homework means work that takes place within our own home. Teleworking is used as a term when work is generally performed outside the office – for example in a café, in the park, or on holiday.
If you want to be able to work productively at home or remotely, there are a few things you can think about. In this post, we give you 7 valuable tips that will maximize the productivity of your home office.
Table of Contents
Create a Quiet, Relaxed, And Ergonomic Work Environment
What sounds banal is often underestimated by many people, but it makes it no less true and important. To be productive when you work from home, it is important to ensure a quiet work environment. All unnecessary interruptions can disrupt your ” flow “.
If possible, you can set up a small office with your tools and accessories and give family members or others you live with your working hours when you do not want to be disturbed.
Do not forget to ensure as ergonomic a workplace as possible. For maximum comfort, you should have your office chair, a table with enough space, and a large screen with an external keyboard and a mouse (if you work from a laptop). A good alternative to this can be a standing desk, as too much sitting can be detrimental to your ergonomics.
Stick To Routines
Whether your workplace is at home or in an office, you should try to stick to your daily routines when working from home. Getting up at a certain time each day, taking a hot or cold shower, and eating a balanced breakfast is the perfect start to a working day. Dress properly for your job and avoid soft clothes and training pants. Then you are always well prepared if you need to jump into a video call spontaneously.
Stick To Fixed Working Hours And Take Breaks
Although people who work from home are often assumed to perform less than in an office, it is often the opposite. Therefore, make sure to take breaks and exercise regularly.
Work blocks of between 40 and 50 minutes with subsequent breaks of between 5 and 10 minutes are ideal (this technique is also called the Pomodoro technique ). Your working day should also start and end at set times. This also helps to better distinguish between the professional and the private.
For better time management, we recommend that you track your time. This way you can keep track of what you are spending your tip on. There are also several free programs like Toggl and gadgets like TimeFlip2 that make it easier for you to keep track of your time.
Avoid Distractions
Your productivity in the home office (but also in the office) will increase significantly if you avoid all forms of distraction. In particular, the private mobile phone can be a real efficiency killer. If you continue to check Twitter, Facebook, and the like, by the end of the day you will have done less than you originally planned. It is best to put your mobile phone in silent mode during the working day.
A TV that is on in the background also hurts your productivity. Music is allowed, as long as it has an inspiring or motivating effect on you. Try to separate the household and the job as much as possible. For example, leave the dishwasher empty after work.
Reliable WiFi And Internet
A stable internet connection with high data speed is the digital link between you and your employer. If you transfer large amounts of data and often have to attend video conferences or meetings, a fast internet connection, and a powerful router are very important.
A wired LAN connection is less prone to interference and is generally preferable to WLAN. To be able to work remotely, you also sometimes have to use mobile internet – your mobile phone can act as a mobile access point, but always keep track of your data so that you do not run out of it immediately.
Router Location And Optimized WiFi
If you are dependent on WiFi because there is no socket for the router in your computer, there are some simple tricks to optimize your wireless internet.
Try to choose a central location for the router in your apartment or house. This allows you to better distribute the signal strength of your WiFi to the individual rooms. The basement, for example, is the worst possible place to place your router in. Thick walls, walls, and ceilings significantly weaken the signal.
Of course, you can achieve the most stable WiFi connection if the router is placed directly adjacent to your home office. The fewer things between the router and your device, the better.
Installing Repeater Or a Mesh Network
If the signal strength of your WiFi is still too weak, you can significantly increase the range of your router using a so-called “repeater”. The repeater can be connected to practically all available sockets and easily connected to your WiFi. For optimal results, the repeater is approximately halfway between the router and the enclosure. Mesh networks are even better than repeaters. With a mesh network, a strong and extensive WiFi network is built throughout the house.
