Comments on: 6 Tips to Stay Productive and Engaged While Working From Home

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:35:00 +0000

Great feedback and tips, thanks!!

By: Cedric

Cedric — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:35:00 +0000

Great post Noel, these tips will surely help me a lot to improve productivity while working from home. I also read time management write ups of David Allen (Getting Things Done). What I do to stay productive is I use this tool that helps me manage time efficiently. Using this tool I list my entire tasks on it, break large tasks to bits, organize each task depends on priority and set an estimated amount of time when working on each task. This is how I keep myself productive while working from home. The key that I can effectively follow scheduled task and finish it on time is with discipline. This way I can ignore work distraction and helps me stay focus to work. At the end of the day I feel great each time I see finished tasks.

By: Dimitrihouse

Dimitrihouse — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:25:00 +0000

If you are alone, I find that screaming at yourself hysterically usually helps.

By: Elizabeth Saunders

Elizabeth Saunders — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:14:00 +0000

Excellent points!

Here are some pointers for setting (and keeping) your work-at-home schedule:
-Plan morning meetings or calls that will ensure you start on time.
-Track your start and stop times on a daily basis (you can do this very easily in Excel)
-Schedule social activities after work so that you have an incentive to stop.
-Make activities like exercise or eating lunch a social activity.
-Decide in advance on what are acceptable activities during work hours and personal time so you’re not tempted to do laundry during the day or check business e-mail at night.

Your time coach,
Elizabeth Saunders
http://www.ScheduleMakeover.com

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:05:00 +0000

Thanks Roz! I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who felt that way. My friends were envious that I could work from home, but the loneliness really got to me. Now I split my time between home and office.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:04:00 +0000

So true! Even an hour or two outside your house can help you reconnect with the world.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:20:00 +0000

All simple advice; all true. Take the laptop to a café, it will save your sanity. Even for just an hour; it helps.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:38:00 +0000

Cameron, very true. You do need a great chair and desk, or even a set up where you can stand and work for part of the day (which is the set up I have at home). I explored this option after reading this article about how sitting all day is really bad for you: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_19/b4177071221162.htm

By: Cameron Plommer

Cameron Plommer — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 04:48:00 +0000

Really good tips. I’ve always sucked at working at home.

One overlooked thing is having a decent desk and chair. Basically have an adequate environment to get into the work mindset is super important.

By: Roz Bennetts

Roz Bennetts — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 21:02:00 +0000

I can really relate to point #2 (the lonliness factor). I was running my own business for quite a while and one of the things I missed the most was the social interaction that comes from working in an office and being part of a team. Some good advice here.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:21:00 +0000

That’s a great idea! Especially because so many bars and restaurants do week day specials during happy hour, which are perfect if you’re on a budget!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:21:00 +0000

So glad it was helpful!

By: Mili

Mili — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:24:00 +0000

i’ve been working from home for a year now on my own start-up – which means no budget for co-working spaces and no alternative office to go. one thing i’ve found to be helpful (and easier to do in the warm summer months!) is to schedule lunches with friends or colleagues once a week and/or happy hours. this can really break up the routine and make you feel normal

By: Matthew Robbins

Matthew Robbins — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:07:00 +0000

This is a great article – I’m in this situation myself and have tried a couple of the suggestions here however some of the others give me food for thought! Thanks

By: 阳光

阳光 — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 05:58:00 +0000

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By: Morgan Barnhart

Morgan Barnhart — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:13:00 +0000

Excellent advice, Noel! I admit, I’d rather email or text than pick up the phone, but at times when I yearn for that human interaction, I’ll try to set up a face-to-face meeting instead of over the phone.

Also, studies have shown that actually getting dressed and ready for the day, will get you in the mind-set of ‘ready to work’ and you’ll have a more productive day.

Great stuff!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:44:00 +0000

That site, and the concept, is awesome! (Especially because pomodoro sauce is my favorite.) Thanks for sharing!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:44:00 +0000

Thanks Rebecca! I’m really interested in trying one of those co-working opportunities too!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:43:00 +0000

I agree with Kristen! You don’t have to spend a lot. I prefer to stand and work, so I literally prop my lap top up on an old U.S. Post Office mail bin that works with my height and the height of my desk. I think the key thing you want is to try and and be facing straight at your screen (so you’re not looking down or up, which strains your neck) and so you’re elbows aren’t angled up or down when you’re typing.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:41:00 +0000

Thanks! I also had a hard time in the beginning; especially because it was winter and I was shut up in the house. Having a mix of telecommuting and in-office days definitely works best for me right now.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:40:00 +0000

Thanks Athena! Is there anything in particular you’d like to hear about?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:39:00 +0000

Third time to comment … yes, when I started telecommuting I had no idea that there would be a downside, but over time, I’ve gotten a lot better at adjusting!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:36:00 +0000

Third time to respond to your comment! Tech fail on my part. Anyways, yes, when I first started telecommuting, I was SO excited. I didn’t anticipate but downs, but over time, I’ve adjusted my schedule and planning so I have more ups.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:35:00 +0000

Hi Whitney! I’m trying for the

By: Athena

Athena — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 08:06:00 +0000

Very well written blog! Everything is well said. I like the ideas very much. Keep posting good articles. =)

By: popzy

popzy — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 05:19:00 +0000

I’ve been telecommuting for the past 2 years and during the first 6 months I swore that I had Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. I could hardly focus at home, yet in an office setting I was detail-oriented and focused. I wish I had read this article last year! Great material! I will definitely be visiting this site again.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 03:42:00 +0000

Thanks for the comments guys! I found a leather ergonomic chair for $5 on Craigslist, when a Beverly Hills office was going out of business. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars!

I’m not 100% sure on the desk and stand, but I recommend a separate mouse and keyboard for the best setup.

By: ariekusumaatmaja

ariekusumaatmaja — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 23:11:00 +0000

Thanks for the great article! Can you recommend me the best elevated laptop stand, ergonomic chair, and the desk?

I use Macbook Pro 15 inches, my body height is 175cm (5′ 8.9″). My back, neck, hand and wrist strain injuries have gone so bad. I must exercise regularly.

I once bought a comfortable chair and that only lasted for a year, it’s broken already. I guess that’s the price for “only” IDR 2m (USD 234.27), I bought it when I was in Jakarta.

By: Rebecca Thorman

Rebecca Thorman — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:29:00 +0000

I totally agree with the loneliness and back issues bit! I really wish I had a fancy ergonomic chair at home and a coworker I definitely need to get out to the coffeeshops more and some of the remote/freelance groups. I agree that it helps to talk with your coworkers and boss often. I have a weekly scheduled call with my boss and talk to one of my coworkers daily on gchat and phone. Great post, girls!

By: Rachel Howe

Rachel Howe — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:21:00 +0000

Very nice article. In the past I’ve had issues staying focused and on task working at home as an Milwaukee SEO and digital media business owner, http://yoursocialresource.com, so I knew I had to change something around.

I recently came across an interesting website, http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/. The “pomodoro technique” is a supposed to be a good way to get the most out of time management. I’m going to try and implement it as much as I can into my work schedule.

Your advice will surely help as well, thank you!

-Rachel

By: Whitney Parker

Whitney Parker — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:12:00 +0000

This was great advice! As someone new to telecommuting full-time I’ve found it has some interesting challenges that I didn’t expect!