We’re all trying to meet our personal and business goals this year. Some of us will be doing this while working from home. The way business is conducted has changed dramatically over the years, especially the past couple of years in light of the global pandemic. No longer do you need a dedicated office space if you want to establish a business. Many companies are asking or allowing their employees to work remotely. With all of the increases in technology you can stay connected to anybody at any time. You can work just as effectively lounging by the pool as you can stuck behind a desk all day. Many business owners get started working in coffee shops or at their kitchen table. They have just as good of a chance at success as someone who is spending $1000 a month on rent.
Working from home and away from other people takes a certain skill and discipline that not everybody has. Once you develop it, you can work anywhere without distraction. Here are five tips to help increase your productivity and get more comfortable working from home.
Establish A Work Space
Even though you can work by your pool, it is usually advisable to have a dedicated work area in your home. Ideally you will find a spot in a spare room where you can put a desk and call your own. This would be where you can keep all your work-related materials so that they are readily accessible.
If a dedicated space is not possible, and you’re working at your kitchen table or a chair in your living room, try to make it your own and set it up so that it is a place you enjoy being and can stay focused. Think of this like your own little office inside of your home. When you are here, you know it’s time to work and be productive, and you have what you need without having to search for it, and potentially get distracted on the way. By doing this you will develop a work routine that is essential for success. When you bounce around from spot to spot inside of your home, you end up not getting anything done. Find an area that you enjoy working in and can maintain focus, and set it up with everything you need to get the job done.
Set Specific Work Schedule
One of the reasons new investors enter the business is because of the flexibility of schedule. Even though you may be able to work when you like it doesn’t mean you should. You should treat working from home just like you would working in an office. Hold yourself accountable for when you start and finish your day. You should start your day just as early, or even earlier, because there is no commute when working from home.
You should plan on working a full schedule and establish a consistent time for ending your work day. Also, it is important to remember that even though you may be able to work when you like, the people around you may not. By sleeping the morning away you lose a good chunk of your day that you can’t get back. Consider designating the bulk of your workload to traditional nine to five hours when others are also doing business.
Avoid Distractions
It is ironic how many people say they would get more work done if their co-workers weren’t constantly bothering them. It is only when they work alone that they realize their co-workers were not the problem. Working from home allows you to focus on tasks and get more work done. However this only happens if you know how to avoid distractions. There is no boss looking over your shoulder telling you what to do. If you want to get up and walk around you are free to do so.
What you can’t do is allow little distractions to eat up your productive hours that should be spent on the important tasks of your job or business. Thirty minutes leads to 45 and when you finally sit back down to work you spend another twenty minutes gathering your thoughts. When you work you should turn your phone off, stay away from the TV, and work in dedicated sessions, with planned breaks, until you are finished. The more distractions you face the less productive you will be.
Get Out Of The House
Having a routine is important and improves productivity, but you may find yourself losing inspiration and motivation, or becoming restless due to the extended number of hours in the same place. Even if you are in a good rhythm working from home, you should take at least one day a week to get on the road. Use this time to meet new contacts or develop existing relationships. Try working from somewhere else sometimes just to keep things fresh and exciting.
Stay Organized
Wherever and however you work it is critical that you are organized. You can’t have leads or important papers spread out all over the floor. Even if you think you know where everything is, eventually you will misplace something that is crucial to your business. Take advantage of the increases in technology to store as many items as you can online. If you need to keep track of papers, something as inexpensive as a basic manila folder can do the trick. Find whatever organizational tool works best for you and don’t wait to use it. Without organization you will find yourself scattered and all over the place.
There are many successful investors who have been in the business for years without having an office. They have developed a good routine and know how to organize their business. Real estate success can be found wherever you decide to get work done. Use these five tips to help improve productivity and efficiency.
