How to Stay Focused and Organized When Working from Home.

How to stay focused and organized when working from home - Know your rhythm. We could simply end here since knowing that is key in determining how you do anything. Does your rhythm work for you or work against you? Do you need adjustments in your rhythm?

On this subject of working from home, we address your rhythm by first determining what WORK is for you. Are you self-employed and working from home? Are you employed by someone but can work from home on a full-time basis or occasionally? Understand that requirements for each work situation are different and may require an adjustment in your personal rhythm to stay focused and organized.

Your Availability: If you are self-employed, you make your schedule and determine your availability to your clients. Are you available at all hours, after work hours, on the weekends, or only at specific hours during the week? If you are employed by an organization, you must be available as required by your employer. Or at least make yourself available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as the standard for most 40-hour week employments.

Productivity: Determine when you are most productive. Most entrepreneurs say they are highly productive in the mornings and there are many who say they are most productive at night. Determine which one you are and use this time effectively. If you are working for someone, however, train yourself to be productive when you are needed to be by your employer.

Responsibilities: What other responsibilities do you have at home? Do you have family members at home with you? Do you have children that you care for at home? Do you have a nanny or help with the children or do you do it all by yourself? You should determine how that factors into your work schedule or make arrangements as necessary.

Staying Organized.

Your Work Space: Have a separate workstation if you do not have a full-fledged home office. If feasible, have separate electronics i.e., computers, cell phones, phone lines, etc., designated for work only. If you are employed by someone, it is highly advisable and for security reasons to have a separate work computer. Ensure that you separate your personal Internet activities from your work computers and other electronics.

Boundaries: Set boundaries with family and friends. Separate family and friends' time from work time. Along those lines, keep your business dealings discreet from third parties. If you have guests or workers at home who are around during your working hours, find ways to separate your work - be it taking a business call or working on a presentation. Ensure that you do not accidentally disclose your clients’ confidential information to third parties.

Projects: Always have a to-day list for work projects as well as for personal projects in order to stay organized in all aspects of your life. Alright, to stay fairly organized, we know things can and do fall through the cracks sometimes, we are all only human. Use notebooks, calendars, Apps, or whatever helps you stay on top of your activities and projects.

Physically & Mentally: Be fully prepared for work, that is, getting up, getting dressed, and being ready for work. It mentally prepares you to be fully engaged. However, if you are a writer who gets jolted from bed at 3 a.m. with ideas and finds yourself working in your pajamas from then until noon every day, this may be your rhythm. If it is working for you, stick with it.

Flexibility: It is easy to feel some form of cabin fever when working from home especially when you are so engaged that you work straight through lunch all the time. Remember and make it a point to take breaks during the day and do something outside the home. By most state standards, you are allowed a one-hour lunch break with two 15-minute breaks for a 40-hour workweek. Use it even if you are self-employed, you probably work more than 40 hours a week anyway. Get out; run a quick errand, meet up with a friend or a colleague, take the kids to the park, etc. Fill it with whatever your lifestyle or personality dictates and remember to eat. It is good for your health and can increase productivity. If you are employed by someone, always be cognizant of your employer’s policy about breaks and follow them.

Connect & Network: Get physically connected. It is easy to get inundated with work and lose sight of this aspect of your business or work life. If circumstances allow it, make time to go to your clients’ worksite for a meeting. Have a lunch meeting with your clients, employees, or business partners. Attend business networks and trade shows. While online training is convenient, try to attend onsite or location-based training and skill development sections facilitated by a person. Staying connected can lead to engagement that will generate future business and growth.

Always remember to get back to the task at hand. Share your progress information and feedback frequently with your internal stakeholders i.e., colleagues, team, employees, or employers as applicable.

While these are not hard and fast rules, the key is to know yourself and incorporate what works best for you and your situation.

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