Working from home has become desirable not just because of the recent pandemic, but also because of the freedom and more relaxed environment that remote work creates. While remote work can increase your productivity in a variety of ways, your remote work habits can also decrease your work productivity if you’re not careful. Here are three habits you should avoid while working from home.
Cluttering your desk
If you have a habit of haphazardly placing objects in drawers, you should avoid doing the same thing when using your work desk. Lucy Lyle, entrepreneur and founder of Perch, put it this way, “If you’re working from home, you have to be intentional about how you organize your desk and materials. A messy desk just results in more confusion and lost focus.” Lucy Lyle continued, “Organizing your desk and keeping it clear of clutter is a way to show respect and dedication to your work.”
Having a TV on in the background
Watching TV while working is a form of multitasking. Multitasking naturally divides your focus, makes it harder to remember things, and increases your stress and exhaustion. Lucy Lyle also gives this advice, “It’s not enough to just tell yourself you won’t turn the TV on while you work. The layout of your home office plays a large role in what draws your attention. The temptation to turn on the TV will be there unless you keep it out of your home office.”
Not taking breaks
This one is fairly simple. Your body and mind will suffer if you work too hard for too long. Make sure to stretch and give your body enough nourishment to take you through the day. Too much stress will cause burnout, which will hinder your productivity more than any other bad habit. Take care of yourself, even as you work from home.