Many of Y-Not Tech Services’ clients have a home office. Some work for companies that allow them to telecommute (and with Covid-19 running rampant some companies are insisting employees work from home to slow the spread) and others run their own business from their home. Either way, they all find a need to be productive when working from home. In this post, we’ll look at ways to increase productivity from the comfort of your own home. Unlike, most posts on ynottechservices.com, this post won’t focus solely on technology.

Dress for Success

Cliché, I know, but getting dressed helps you get in the right frame of mind for work. If you dress too casually, you might find it hard to focus. That’s why it’s important not to try to work in your pajamas, as tempting as that might be. No need to get dressed up to the nines either. A good rule of thumb would be to dress like you would if you were going to the office.

Create the Right Workspace

One of the best things about getting to work from home is the ability to set up your workspace exactly how you want it. This can be a double-edged sword though. When creating your home office be sure to make it comfortable, but distraction-free. It should probably be away from distractions like televisions and even other family members. This might take some trial and error to see what type of work center works best for you. Are you most productive in a cluttered workspace or neat and tidy? Is a standing desk a good choice or do you need to sit in order to get things done? Whatever the case, it’s likely best to have a specific spot in your home set aside for working from.

Distractions

Chances are, you’ll be using a computer connected to the World Wide Web to get your work done. The internet is full of distractions! Facebook, Twitter and YouTube alone can eat away your working time before you know it. So unless you specifically need to be on these sites and platforms for your job (like if you are a Social Media Manager) then you should avoid them. It’s so easy to fall down the rabbit hole and the next time thing you know you just spent 3 hours watching cat videos. There are some tools that can help here. For example you can use a browser extension to help you stay on task with built-in breaks. For more information on one technique to help get things done get out Pomodoro.

Have a Plan

If you head into your Home Office without a clear plan in mind, it’ll be hard to be productive. Suddenly those cat videos might seem like a good way to spend your time. On the other hand, if you have a path laid out already, you can dive right in! Many people find that a To-Do List is all they need to stay on track. Personally, I like to use Microsoft To-Do. It has the right mix of features and simplicity for me. Plus, I like that I can use it on my laptop, desktop and phone and my list stays up to date. That isn’t to say that you have to use Microsoft To-Do. There is a myriad of applications with various different feature sets. Or you can go old school with a pad of paper or a stack of sticky notes. Whatever method you choose, the important part is to get started and plan your day. Some people find sitting down in the evening and creating their todo list works for them, while others like to do it first thing in the morning. Again, you’ll need to experiment to find what works best for you.

Make your Tech Work for You

Ah, my favourite subject – Technology! You won’t be able to be productive if you’re trying to work on a slow computer. This might mean that you’ll need to invest in the technology that powers your home office. Your current computer might need a tune-up or upgrade so it performs well enough for you to be productive. You might benefit from adding a second monitor to your computer setup to increase your productivity.

You might be used to having an IT department take care of computer problems at the office, but they probably aren’t going to show up to your home office when you have trouble. For this, Y-Not Tech Services offers a Managed Service Plan that will help keep you up and running. We can also assist in getting all the applications you need for work installed and configured. It’s like having your own personal IT department!

If you require assistance with any of the technology needed for your home office contact book an appointment: