For a lot of people, getting more accomplished during the day is extremely important… especially if you work from home. If you work in a traditional workspace, then you often get to go home at the same time each day. However, if you work from home, then you usually have a set amount of work to get accomplished… whether it takes you until 5 pm or 10 pm! (Yes, I have been there… I have had those days that lasted until 10 pm and they are NOT fun at all!)
That is why, for people who work at home, getting more accomplished can mean the difference between having a life after work or not. If you get done at 3 pm, you have all afternoon and evening to do what you want! But if you don’t get your work done until 7, you might not get to do anything at all.
So how do you solve this problem? How do you get more done in less time? This is the golden question, and to be honest, there’s really no set answer. A lot of people find answers that work for them, and many don’t. In the end, solving this problem could mean the difference between you staying in your home office, or going back to a traditional 9 to 5 job at the bank or insurance office. In truth, a lot of people get burned-out trying to get everything done, and eventually opt for a job where they have more structure. (It is interesting to note that most of us start working at home so that we have more flexibility!)
So what can you do to make a difference? How do you go about getting more done and saving time?
Here are a few basic ideas that will help you in this area, and understanding the key concepts is going to help you a lot as you think of new ways to increase your productivity.
Identify the Problem
The first step in solving any problem is discovering it. So take a minute to think about your average work day. Answer these questions. If you would like, go ahead and write down the answers.
- How much time do you spend working without leaving your desk, on average?
- What causes you to leave your desk while you are working?
- On average, how much time do you spend away from your desk each time you leave?
- What are the top 3 distractions in your average day?
- If you eliminated these distractions, how much time would you save?
Answering these questions will no doubt shed some light on the problem. There are a lot of possible answers for these, but in answering them you will probably realize exactly how much time is wasted doing unnecessary things! If you can eliminate these problems, then you can cut down the amount of time that is spent on things other than work.
For example, some people are more at risk for back or neck pain than others. One example of this would be someone who had been in an auto accident or had suffered some other type of injury. If you find that you get up often to stretch out your back, then this time spent away from your desk might definitely be playing a big part in your longer work days.
There are a few options for problem like this. For one, you could buy an office chair with more support that could keep you comfortable for longer periods of time. You could also adjust your computer monitor in an attempt to make looking at the screen easier on your neck.
Find a Solution
After identifying some areas where you might be able to increase productivity, it is time to make changes. There could be any number of options available for you to choose from. Here are just a few things that you might be able to do to increase your productivity…
- Take a typing class
- Get faster internet
- Get a new computer
- Buy a new office chair
- Rearrange your office
- Buy newer, faster software
The most important thing is that you eliminate your biggest problem areas. By just saving a few minutes per hour, you will be able to get a LOT more accomplished during the week.
Josh Sigafus is a freelance writer who works from his own home. He has written hundreds of articles for dozens of websites, spanning many different topics. He often utilizes websites like http://westbendchiropractor.com when he is doing research and looking for interesting facts to pass on to his readers. He is also an aspiring novelist, a father, and a husband.