As a single parent, juggling the responsibilities of working from home and virtual learning can be overwhelming. From staying on top of your child’s instruction as well as your own tasks and meetings, you’re likely struggling to keep up with the pace you previously had. And while you can’t pull your child out of school for the remainder of this global crisis, there are ways for you to improve your current working conditions. You can start with these three ways to improve productivity while working from home.
Create and Respect Your Schedule
Working from home can make you feel more casual than you would in the office. If starting fifteen minutes early no longer exists and rolling out of bed has taken over, you’re going to want to switch things up.
Rather than treating your work schedule as a casual occurrence, create a schedule you can respect and stick to. Consider starting your workday after you have woken your child up and given them breakfast. This will prevent any unnecessary breaks or interruptions in your morning workflow.
This is an example of how you can alleviate the disturbances you typically deal with by planning ahead and creating a schedule that incorporates these events. This will help make your day go by as swift as possible as help keep you focused throughout the day.
Design the Perfect Layout
If you’re currently working on the couch, bed, or wherever you find space to sit with your laptop, take the time to design the perfect work layout. Treat your home as if you’re back at the office. Find a place where you can set up an area that reflects your desk or cubicle.
Start with the perfect home office desk. Do your research on the options available to ensure you’re purchasing the right fit for your work needs. Then, consider your lighting. Do you need additional lighting sources? Or is there a way for you to incorporate more natural light? And lastly, make sure you have enough space for all the items you use throughout your workday. Such as a printer, desktop, and any hard drives or other technological equipment.
Having the right space and environment is key to being productive. These suggestions will allow you to create the area you need.
Keep a Balance Between Work and Life
If you’re feeling unproductive, it’s likely because of the overwhelming imbalance you currently have between work and life. Draining yourself with work can ultimately lead you to become unproductive. For that reason, it’s important for you to keep the balance between your work and personal life.
Once you have established a work schedule for yourself, stick to it. End and begin your workdays in a way that allows you to physically step away from your job and focus on the other important aspects of your life, such as being a parent or indulging in your own personal interests and hobbies.
Don’t let the pandemic stop you from prospering in your career. These three tips are the key ingredients you need to improve your productivity while working from home.