The Top 3 Work at Home Productivity Tips

So, you’ve finally decided to leave the corporate office and start focusing on the more important elements of life such as your family, home, or even just your own health and well-being. Whether you are telecommuting, starting an Internet business, or creating a unique product from your garage workshop; the adjustment from office to home life can be an enriching experience for your life.

There are, however, some pitfalls that could hinder your personal productivity and turn working from home into time management chore. Here are some tips on how to avoid the pitfalls and keep a steady stream of work flowing at all times.

How to Increase Productivity While Working at Home

Designate a Workspace

The most important part of setting up your home office is to designate a space that is dedicated to work. Keeping a distinct location for business and home will allow you to balance your professional and personal life. If you have a room that is just collecting clutter, you might want to consider donating to Goodwill or renting a StorageMart facility to clear out space for a neat home office.

Editor’s Note: Raise your hand if you haven’t done this yet or did it once and somehow it got all messed up. Yep, me.

Keep Distractions to a Minimum, Seriously

In an office environment, it is easy to get distracted by gathering around the vending machines in the lunch room. Because there are always other people working beside you, drama and comedy can play out on the stage known as office politics.

Eliminating the extra commotion and gossip that comes with the office might seem like a productive thing, but in actuality, making the transition to working by yourself can become lonely if you’re used to all of the noise. In order to maintain productivity:

1. Don’t get too obsessed with texting or calling friends and ex-coworkers, they’re busy, too.

2. Monitor and limit your Facebook and Twitter communications because your messages will be there later.

3. Check your email regularly if you’re expecting an important message but not out of habit for personal communications.

Take Breaks

According to this MSNBC article, office workers around the country are losing their break time and spending it at their desks answering emails and other office activities. Workers in European and Latin American countries are allowed to take extravagant lunch breaks that can last upwards of 3-4 hours. They might finish work later, but they also have the chance to enjoy the middle of the day in the sunlight.

Part of the beauty of working at home is the ability to maintain your own schedule. This doesn’t necessarily mean taking a siesta, but if feeling overwhelmed, you can always step outside for a walk, run a couple of errands, or cook a nutritious meal. As long as you meet deadlines and keep up with tele-conferences you can work whenever you want.

Image: Stuart Miles

About the author: Susan D. is a internet marketer for 43a.com. In her spare time she enjoys blogging about business and technology.