5 habits that help improve work from home effectiveness

There are many ways of improving effectiveness and productivity when running a work from home business.  Things such as goal setting, time management strategies, prioritising and so on. There are other factors often overlooked for boosting your effectiveness too.

Creating work from home efficiencyHere are five to experiment with:

1. Create a commute.

This helps shift your mindset from personal life to home business owner. Now, I am not suggesting you jump in the car and drive round the block a few times and then come home. Pick something that you enjoy doing that will become part of your daily routine. For example, a brief walk, some stretches, a wander round the garden. Do it for at least ten minutes immediately prior to starting work. By the way, running round like a lunatic stuffing the dishwasher and washing machine doesn’t count!

2. Change location.

A change of location gives fresh inspiration. Take your laptop or a pad and pen and go somewhere that you really like. For example, a local coffee shop or hotel. If the weather is good work outside in the garden, at the park or in the countryside. I do my business strategy work in the lounge at a local hotel that overlooks a beautiful beach. It really helps with the creative thinking and reduces distractions. Do business activities that are not dependant on working at home such as business planning.

3. Get connected.

Isolation and lone ranger syndrome has a negative impact on effectiveness, productivity and business success. Make sure your week is broken up to include connecting with other people. Build a support team of people also running a business from home and meet regularly to share ideas and support each other. Works wonders.

4. Create space.

Scheduling time in your diary every week with no business activities is a great way to let your mind just wander and get creative. It is amazing how many great business ideas can just pop up if your mind has some space. Make this a “must do” activity every week.

5. Walk away!

If you are feeling overwhelmed or things seem a bit of struggle, trying to push through is likely to make you less effective. Stop. Walk away. If possible get some fresh air.

Do you already have habits and rituals that you find boost your effectiveness in your home business? If so, I would love to hear them. Please share them in the comments section below.


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  • http://twitter.com/coblyn Christine Livingston

    Hi Ali,

    If I'm working at home, as I do most days now, I make the effort to get up at a set time, dress properly and go out for coffee first thing.

    When I first started spending more time working from home, I could find it easy to wear gym pants and trainers all day every day. That might be okay for lots of people. But, one of my interests is style. So it was doing nothing for my moral to be wearing the same old kind of thing every day. For me to be in work mode it's important I dress comfortably, yes, but well put together too!

  • http://alidavies.com/ Ali Davies

    Christine, it is funny how dress can affect how we think and feel. I never do my business development stuff, strategy and board meetings in my scruffs as, for me, it does affect how I think and feel in some way. Instead I will get myself smart/casual (don't do suits any more). Having said that, when I am just doing admin stuff I do allow myself the odd joggie day. After years of conforming to the suit brigade it, on occasion, feels good to work in my joggies!!!

  • http://twitter.com/coblyn Christine Livingston

    Hi Ali,

    If I'm working at home, as I do most days now, I make the effort to get up at a set time, dress properly and go out for coffee first thing.

    When I first started spending more time working from home, I could find it easy to wear gym pants and trainers all day every day. That might be okay for lots of people. But, one of my interests is style. So it was doing nothing for my moral to be wearing the same old kind of thing every day. For me to be in work mode it's important I dress comfortably, yes, but well put together too!

  • http://alidavies.com/ Ali Davies

    Christine, it is funny how dress can affect how we think and feel. I never do my business development stuff, strategy and board meetings in my scruffs as, for me, it does affect how I think and feel in some way. Instead I will get myself smart/casual (don't do suits any more). Having said that, when I am just doing admin stuff I do allow myself the odd joggie day. After years of conforming to the suit brigade it, on occasion, feels good to work in my joggies!!!

  • http://twitter.com/Sue_Mitchell Sue Mitchell

    What these tips all share is the idea of separating your work space (physical and mental) from the physical and mental space where you relax and lounge. I know someone who puts lipstick on at the start of her work-at-home day just as an act of delineation between her at-home and at-work times, even though no one will see her for hours. Love that!

  • http://alidavies.com/ Ali Davies

    Sue, it is all about creating mindset shifts that help you in the mode you are in at that time at home – whether that be work, rest or play.

  • http://twitter.com/timokiander Timo Kiander

    Ali,

    Great list!

    I try to work before going to office (early morning hours). In weekends, I tend to wake up earlier than my family. Yet, I’m able to get stuff done during those quiet hours.
    Also, a workout in the morning will do wonders to my productivity too.Cheers,Timo

  • http://alidavies.com/ Ali Davies

    I am totally with you on the early morning thing Timo. It is my fave time of day for cracking on with some work or just having some time and space to think about stuff. So quiet and peaceful – love it.