Stay Motivated While Working From Home

You may be someone who is working from home during the pandemic. Perhaps you have been doing this since March, which may make it difficult to stay motivated. Many people may consider this a blessing others a curse. It certainly depends on your working environment and what you do.

You may love that you get to work in your pajamas, or just throw a work shirt on if you have an online meeting. Perhaps you get to skip the morning commute and have extra time in your day.

On the flip side, if you are a people person, extravert or learn best while in person, you may be struggling with this dynamic. Some people thrive when around others and wilt if they don’t have that stimulation or interaction.

Whether you are happy with your current working situation or not, it can be very difficult to stay motivated while working from home. There are so many distractions that make it difficult to concentrate. The doorbell may ring, your pet comes begging for food or attention, and you get texts or phone calls. Then there is a load of wash you could throw in or empty the dishwasher. Then add in some online meetings. Perhaps you are tired of staying at home and long for the way things used to be. Some people find it extremely difficult to stay engaged. All these things can decrease your motivation for working.

Here are some tips from a site called Between Sessions on helping you to stay motivated while working from home.

Structure in your day

Having a plan to stay productive increases your motivation for work. It may also help stave off depression. Set your working hours, whatever those might be. Be sure to have normal sleep and waking hours. It helps to eat your lunch and snacks at your normal times during the day.

Stay away from media

If you jump on your phone or read the paper, you may be pulled in. It is easy for a half hour or hour to go by while doing so. If you typically don’t do this on a workday, don’t do it now. It will not only delay your day, but also zap motivation

Exercise or meditate

Engaging in one of these activities can get you in the best state of mind for your workday. Most people feel calm or invigorated after exercising or meditating.

Get out of your pajamas

There is something about being in pajamas that says comfort and relaxation. You might be surprised how different you feel if you put on your normal work clothes, or something different than pajamas. Groom yourself as you would on a workday. Doing so will get you into work mode.

Take breaks to stay motivated

This will help prevent burnout in your day. It may help to go outside and soak in a little sunshine, or walk around a little bit. Maybe you want to grab yourself something to eat or a cup of coffee. If your breaks tend to be too long, you may want to set a timer.

Have a specific workplace

Having a designated work area can make a big difference. If you are lucky enough to have an office, that is great. If you don’t have a home office, perhaps you want to find a way to segment off the room vs. just sitting on the couch. Maybe you want to get some room dividers, or save that specific chair for your workday.

Work time vs. kid time

It can be extra challenging if you also have children at home. Perhaps they can have set activities or do their school day while you are having your work hours. You may want to get some outside help if possible. Perhaps with school starting, it will make things easier for you, as your children will have a set routine. I also know that having kids in school may make it even more difficult for you.

These are just a few suggestions on how to make your workday more productive. I know none of this is ideal, but sometimes it is just 1 day at a time. If you are struggling with work or motivation, please give me a call at 713-304-6554 and we can come up with a plan that works for you.

Take care,

Debbie