Recently we have told you how you can make yourself work at home. Now we want to give you some practical tips that will make your workflow more productive and at the same time dispel the longstanding myth that work consists of deadlines and rigid schedules.
Lunch Break
Your working at home does not mean that your work is your pleasure. Be sure to allow yourself an hour or so for having lunch in a relaxed atmosphere with no computer and no e-mail. Do it by all means! A break will invigorate you and put your thoughts in order. This is one of your advantages over office clerks. During your lunch break, you can not only have a snack, but also have a nice walk, do some shopping, walk the dog, etc.
Scenery Change
In contradistinction to office clerks, you can change your locations as often as you like. For this, you need not go to tropical countries. In your home town you can find a few comfortable places to work in: quiet cafes, coworkings, food courts and even parks. Just a change of scenery is vital for inspiration and finding new solutions. Consider your schedule carefully for maximum effectiveness. "Take away" only those things that require no more than a notebook and an Internet connection. Otherwise your working day may turn into a truancy!
Having Fun
Like it or not, your Home-office deprives you of the everyday communication most people have. On the one hand, it allows you to focus on really important things, but on the other hand, there is a risk of missing a new trend. Therefore, have fun during your free time: go to the cinema, theatre, enjoy a meal in a good restaurant, a workout in the gym, meet friends, do shopping etc.
Regular Breaks
According to the law, those who work at the computer should have a 10-15 minutes' break every hour. However, few employers encourage such labor hygiene. As "you are your own man", you have a good chance to work without doing harm to your health. Have mini-breaks devoting them to your favourite occupations and hobbies. Play the piano, read an interesting article (in the paper version, and its topic should have nothing to do with your work), make yourself a nice cup of coffee etc. This will not only give your eyes a rest, but also fill you with strength and energy. There is one thing to remember: before having a break, do not drop your work at a random place, bring at least some of its stages to completion.
Once again, your work at home requires much self-discipline and self-control, which may be rather hard to achieve. It takes time to develop good habits. But if you do things in the right way, it will bring you a world of good. See above!=)
