Time Management Tips - Working from Home

More and more people are working from home nowadays but while a lot of people may view this as an 'easier' option, who wouldn't want to start work while still in their pyjamas, working from home can make it harder to switch off and could end up becoming more stressful than going to a workplace everyday. 
Think about it. When you go to a workplace, you have set hours, a schedule. You know what work you need to get done by the end of the day and when clocking off time comes around, you can just walk out the door. When you work from home, there is no set clocking off time. It can be tempting to work on for hours in an attempt to get a jump start on the next day, but you may soon find yourself working constantly and ignoring your own needs.
I recently started working from home. It's not a choice, I have a disability, so going out to work is no longer an option for me. It is a difficult adjustment to make. In the beginning, I did everything wrong. I would work with my laptop, sitting on the couch and find myself working on one thing or another from the moment I woke up until I went to bed. It is a fast way to burn out, believe me. Finally, I decided that I needed to make a change or I wouldn't be able to get my work done.
The tips below are what I have changed to structure my work day and to make it more efficient. 

• Make a to do list. It seems like an obvious thing, but the problem I had in the beginning was to write down items like 'Finish x project' knowing that it would take more than a single day to finish it. This meant that it was constantly there, added onto the following day and so on. It can get disheartening after a while. I realized that I needed to break it down into more manageable tasks. By changing to 'Write intro to x project' 'Write first five pages of x project' and so on, it made it more manageable and I was able to strike the item off my list.
• Set up your own work area. As I said above I was sitting on the couch with my laptop to work, but by doing this I could just carry on working and not take any breaks. I changed this by buying a small desk and chair which I set up in the corner of the room. Having your work area creates a clear divide between your work and home life. Once you are in your work area, that is what you concentrate on and when you leave, you can 'clock off' and forget about it for the rest of the day. 
• Set firm working hours and stick to them. This was the hardest one for me. It is easy to think I could get this project finished if I spend one more hour on it. Maybe you can, or maybe it will take more than an hour. Unless you are on a deadline, set it aside and work on it tomorrow. That way you can face it with fresh eyes and you have time to relax. Everyone is different, but the best way is to pick hours that suit you. If you have children they may be during school time or you could keep standard office hours - 9 to 5.
• Remove distractions. While working, try to avoid distractions as much as possible. Don't scroll through Facebook, or have the TV on. It is easy to lose track of time and then you will have to work that much harder to get things done by the end of your day.
• Make sure you take regular breaks. Rest is very important. If you were working you would get a break for lunch and mostly likely a coffee break too. Don't ignore them. Make sure you eat properly and stay hydrated. It will improve brain function and your productivity overall. Also be sure to schedule at least one day off for yourself, but ideally two, per week.

​These changed may not sound like a lot, but by utilising them, you can separate your work and home life, while making sure you take adequate time off. Working from home can be an exciting prospect, hopefully these tips can help to make it a little more enjoyable.