4 Ways To Stay Organised When Working From Home

When the pandemic first started, thousands of workers across the country were forced to leave their familiar offices and had to start working full-time as remote workers. Now in 2022, the pandemic continues to cause disruptions within the business world, so, many businesses have closed their offices for good and have fully embraced the world of remote work.

Remote working comes with many advantages and disadvantages. One huge upside of working from home is that you do not have to spend money on commuting or buying lunch every day. Working from the comfort of your own home allows you to manage your own time and gives you more freedom. However, remote work is not for everyone. Working from home can come with many distractions, and it can be difficult to stay organized and focused. Thankfully we have created this helpful guide of four ways to stay organised when working from home.

Create A Proper Work Schedule

One of the first things you need to do to stay organised as a remote worker is to create a proper work schedule. When working in an office space, you already have a clear structure in place which allows you to manage your time. This means when you are working from home, you need to create a similar schedule, so you always know when your day starts and when it ends. It is likely you will already have to sign in and out from work anyway, so use that as the foundation for your schedule and build your routine around it. You may struggle at first to come up with a schedule that works for you, which is okay. Take the time to create a schedule that fits your day and can help you stay organised and productive when working from home.

Staying focused while working from home can sometimes be a difficult task, which is why creating a work schedule is so important. As a full-time remote worker, you are completely in charge of your own time, so you must make sure you are responsible for how you spend your working hours. Another disadvantage to working from home is that your boss may think you are reachable at all hours of the day. Of course, this is not the case, but your boss might have other ideas and assume they can contact you any time of the day. Creating a strict work schedule is one way to avoid this as you can set clear and concise boundaries with your boss so they do not disturb you on your time off.

Ensure You Have The Technology You Need

Staying organised as a remote worker can be tough, but one way you can help maintain your organisation is to ensure that you have access to the technology you need to do your job. When working from a physical office, it is likely you would have had access to unlimited resources in terms of tools or pieces of software that make it. Once you start working from home on a full-time basis, it is understandable that you concerned you won’t have access to the same resources. If this is the case, it would be good to contact your manager and ask them to ensure you will still have the same access.

Thankfully, living in a digital world means that a lot of helpful tools you need can be accessed from anywhere. For example, take this tool for merging PDFs by Adobe. Having easy access to helpful tools can ensure you stay organised as you will not be wasting valuable time trying to find the right too to help you. Once you start settling into the remote work lifestyle, it could be a good idea to create some sort of folder where you can access all of your tools. Having them all in one place will keep you organised, as it means you can easily find them when needed.

Take A Proper Lunch Break

Another great way to stay organised when working from home is to ensure you take a proper lunch break. Once you have created an efficient work schedule, make sure within that schedule that you include your lunch break. It can be difficult to switch off and take a proper break when working from home. Whilst you were working in an office space, it is likely you had a set break room where you could go and take your lunch. At home, it can be difficult to find time for a break as you are already in your home. However, although it may be difficult, you must ensure that you take your full lunch break to ensure you give yourself a rest. The last thing you want to do is burn out

Breaks play a very important role within the working day. Even as a remote worker, you cannot be expected to work non-stop, you are still entitled to a full break, even though you are not in a physical office. When you are working from home, make sure you get up from your desk and take a break from your work. Not giving yourself a break will likely cause you to burn out, so it is so important you give your mind and body a rest from the working day. Having a break and eating some good food will provide your body with the fuel it needs to recharge and keep going.

Have A Set Office Space

Another way to improve your organisation when working from home is to have a set office space. When you used to work from an office building, you likely had access to your own desk, and you could be productive in your set working area. As a remote worker, you need to create a similar environment at home, so set up a corner of your room or your spare bedroom as your new office space. If you are able to, it could be a good idea to collect all of your belongings from your old desk and have them on your desk from home. Surrounding yourself with familiar items can help you get into the work mode and can help settle you into the remote working lifestyle.

The great thing about remote work becoming so popular is that it has led to an influx of trendy office desks and desk organisers. One of the main concerns for so many workers was that they might not have the space or spare room for an entire office. This is, of course, an understandable concern, but thankfully there are plenty of desks designed for small spaces, so, you can create a working environment, no matter the space you have. Having a proper office space can be even more important if you are sharing your home with other people, whether it be roommates, your partner, or even children. All of these can cause use distractions during the workday, so having a set office space means you are physically away from them and are less likely to be distracted.

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