7 Tips To Increase Productivity In The Home Office

Tips To Increase Productivity In The Home Office : Alternative work models, such as the Home Office or Telecommuting, are becoming more and more important. One is tempted to think directly of more free time and more independence. According to current surveys and studies, productivity in the home office can even be significantly higher than in the office. However, you need more self-motivation and better time management at home.

Good to know: Most of us understand that “home office” means working within our own four walls. Remote work is always used when professional activities are usually carried out outside the office, for example, in a cafe, in the park, or on vacation.

If you want to be productive at home or remotely, there are a few things to consider. In this article, we give you 7 valuable tips to increase productivity of your home office.

Create A Quiet, Relaxed, And Ergonomic Work Environment

Many people underestimate what sounds banal. To be productive at home, it is important to ensure a calm work environment. Any unnecessary interruption can seriously disrupt your “flow”.

If possible, set up a small office, organize your work utensils, and give family members or roommates your work hours when you don’t want to be disturbed. You can also use small devices like the MuteMe button or the Joan Home Office calendar.

Don’t forget to make your workplace as ergonomic as possible. For maximum comfort, you should have your own office chair, a table with enough space, and a large enough screen with an external keyboard and mouse (if you work from a laptop). A good alternative to this could be a standing desk because sitting too much can be detrimental to your health.

Create And Follow Your Own Routines

Regardless of whether your workplace is at home or in an office, you should also stick to your daily home office routines. Getting up on time, a hot or cold shower, and a balanced breakfast are the perfect starts to the work day. Dress appropriately for your job and avoid baggy looks and sweatpants. Therefore, you are well prepared in case a video call is called spontaneously.

Keep Work Schedules Fixed And Take Breaks

Even if people working from home are often assumed to do less than in an office, the opposite is often the case. So make sure you take predefined breaks and get some exercise regularly.

Work blocks of 40 to 50 minutes with subsequent breaks of 5 to 10 minutes are ideal (this pace is also known as Pomodoro technique). Your workday should start and end at set times. This also helps to better separate the professional and the private from each other.

For better time management, we recommend that you track your time. This way, you can keep track of what you’re spending and how long. There is also a variety of free software such as Togoland and little gadgets like TimeFlip2 that make it easy for you to track your time.

Don’t Get Distracted

Your productivity in the home office (but also in the office) will increase dramatically if you avoid any form of distraction from the start. In particular, the private smartphone can become a real efficiency killer. If you keep checking Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and the like for new messages, at the end of the day you will have done less than you originally planned. It is better to switch your smartphone to silent during the work phases. 

A TV running in the background also has a negative effect on your work performance. Music is allowed as long as it has an inspiring or motivating effect on you. Try to separate home and work as much as possible so, for example, really only leave the dishwasher after work.

Reliable Broadband or Fiber Optic Internet

A stable internet connection with high data speed is the digital link between you and your employer. If you transfer large amounts of data and often have to participate in video conferences or virtual meetings, then a fast Internet connection and a powerful router are essential.

A wired LAN connection is less prone to interference and is generally preferable to a WLAN. In order to be able to work remotely productively, you will occasionally need to turn to mobile internet. Your mobile also can act as a mobile hotspot. But always keep an eye on your data volume if you don’t have a flat rate plan.

Router Location And WLAN Optimized

If you rely on WiFi because there isn’t a router outlet near your workplace, there are a few simple tricks to optimize your wireless Internet.

Try to choose a central location for the router in your apartment or house. This allows you to better distribute your WLAN signal strength to individual rooms. The basement is the worst possible place. Thick walls, walls, and ceilings significantly weaken the signal.

Of course, you can achieve the most stable WLAN connection in your home office if the router is placed directly in your office or study. The fewer obstacles there are between the router and the receiving devices, the better.

Use Repeaters or A Mesh Network

If the signal strength of your WLAN is still too weak, you can significantly increase the range of your router with the help of a so-called “repeater”. The signal booster can be plugged into virtually any free socket and easily connected to your WLAN. You will get the best results when the repeater is halfway between the router and the end device. Mesh networks are even better than repeaters. This allows you to build a strong and complete WiFi network throughout the house.