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Working from home is becoming more common these days for a variety of reasons. While it can be challenging for some, others find it to be very rewarding and satisfactory.

It’s essential that you feel prepared and ready to have a positive experience when working from home. You can improve your chances of getting off to an excellent start by implementing the following tips.

It can take some getting used to so go easy on yourself as you adapt to your new situation. Your goal is to maximize your productivity and get the same amount of work done, if not more as if you were in a physical office. Manage your time and projects wisely, and you’ll be on your way to succeeding in your role.

1. Eliminate Distractions
One step to have a better work from home experience is to eliminate any distractions. You’ll be able to enhance your career and professional development when you remain focused and dedicated to getting ahead.

If you’re working on an essential assignment, then turn off your email notifications and phone so that you can concentrate. Monitor how much time you’re spending scrolling through social media so you can reduce it if necessary.

It can be tricky to work from home and take care of your kids, so have someone watch them if you know it’s going to be too much for you. Putting on some quiet and relaxing music in the background may help you to relax and concentrate better.

2. Choose & Decorate an Office Space
It’s best to choose a designated office space in your home where you can work instead of trying to work from your couch with your computer in your lap. Select a room or space in your home that you can call your own and decorate.

You want your office to be a professional area where you can go to concentrate and get your work done each day. Invest in comfortable furniture and the right equipment to complete all your tasks from your home office.

You may want to create a vision board to remind yourself of the big picture and achieve what you ultimately want in your career.

3. Use Technology to Improve Efficiency
There have been many recent advancements in technology lately that will make working from home easier on you. You can improve efficiency by taking advantage of some of these programs and shortcuts so that you’re not wasting any time.

For example, it’s worth teaching yourself how to screenshot on Mac so that you can share information quickly without having to fumble around.

You can also use technology as a communication tool to help you remain connected to colleagues and clients as you work from home. You’ll want to invest in a good pair of headphones and ensure that you’re staying vigilant against any security risks.

4. Maintain A Schedule
Another step to you having a better work from home experience is to maintain a schedule. You should treat each day like you would as if you were going into the office.

For example, wake up early, take a shower and get dressed and then focus on your tasks at hand. Choose which hours you’re going to work each day during the week and then stick to it so that you’re not spreading yourself too thin.

It may help you to get off on the right foot if you similarly begin each day with a morning routine.

5. Take Breaks
You’re going to be more productive in the long run and feel less stressed when you take regular breaks throughout the day. Work hard, but then allow yourself to decompress and let go of any pent up stress.

You can improve your work from home experience when you take the time to eat lunch and stretch your legs. Give your brain a rest from thinking by stepping outside for a few minutes and breathing in some fresh air. Try your best to eat healthily and drink water during the day so that you have a lot of natural energy.

6. Stay Connected
You’re going to have a better work from home experience when you avoid isolating yourself. Therefore, use technology tools to help you stay connected to others throughout the workweek.

If you have coworkers, then it’s wise to connect to a chat platform so that you can stay in the loop about what’s going on within the company. You may also want to schedule a lunch or coffee meeting every so often.

It’ll allow you to get out of the house and have some face-to-face time with others. Pick up the phone, send a chat message, or set up a video-conference to help you maintain contact with important parties.

7. Make To-Do Lists
You’ll likely get more done on any given day when you organize your workload and stay on top of what needs your attention. Know what you’re going to tackle each day and how much time you’ll need to spend on each to-do so you can plan out your day accordingly.

Create lists and put your tasks in priority order so that you’re knocking off the most vital responsibilities right away. It’ll also help to keep a planner nearby and diligently track the status of each project you’re juggling.

Checking items off your to-do list as you go is a great way to stay motivated to continue achieving more.

8. Practice Work-Life Balance
Finally, you can have a better work from home experience when you’re good about practicing work-life balance. It can be especially tricky to do when you have a home office and can pop in and work anytime you want.

Try your best to stick to your schedule and only work during set hours to avoid burnout. Close your door and eliminate distractions while you’re working, but then give your full attention to your family members and personal life when you’re not in your office.

While you want to work hard and be productive most days, you also want to maintain a rewarding social and personal life.