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In this post, we'll review 8 proven tips on how to stay motivated working from home and dive into the details of what makes us want to work and perform at our best.
When we talk about work, many of us perceive it as something mandatory. Working is what allows you to provide food and basic necessities, go on vacations, and have the standard of living you would like.
However, very few people truly think about why all this is necessary and what the deeper and hidden reason for working is.
We know we're supposed to, but sometimes we're so tired that reality slips through our fingers and we just want another work day to end.
How to Stay Motivated Working from Home: Tips for Newbies
Today, I want to dig deeper into remote work motivation and see why it is so important when working from home is concerned.
TOP TIP: Determine your reasons and goals behind working from home. Knowing the "why" will push you forward in achieving your dreams.
What is Remote Job Motivation?
The motivation to work from home inspires you to pursue this lifestyle. The reasons we have are individual for everyone.
In most cases, people are attracted by the benefits they will receive. I mention some of them in the post about the advantages of working from home.
In all cases, however, we strive for what makes us feel good. What makes us useful to ourselves and others.
For example, part of my personal motivation is to be able to have my full concentration and be many times more productive. Something that I would have a hard time achieving in an office filled with conversations and noise.
Another part is being able to allocate my own working hours in a way that fits my personal commitments.
This way I can avoid situations where it becomes impossible to complete additional tasks due to the busyness of my schedule.
Independence and Flexibility
Remote work allows for a lot of independence in how you do your work. There is no direct control from your manager.
In your home, you are usually alone and the only thing that matters is the result of the work done. As long as you meet deadlines and complete tasks reliably, your customers will be happy.
Flexibility means that you can, for example, break up your working day into parts. One hour in the morning, three more in the afternoon, and a few more in the evening.
Of course, this will lead to reduced concentration, but if you have other appointments (such as with a doctor), then you will be able to combine and get everything done.
Work-Life Balance
Another equally important motivator for working from home is the balance we can create between work and personal priorities.
Employees work 20% better when motivated.
These statistics from Gallup prove the importance of the meaning workers find in the work they do. Accordingly, the positives are there when the employee is fully dedicated to the cause he believes in.
Not having to travel to and from work has a huge impact on the time we have. For example, if you live in a big city and your workplace is an hour away from you, that's two hours saved per day.
Time you can use to spend with your family or rest. In addition, at home, you have the opportunity to create a cozy home office to your liking.
Yes, this ends the daily arguments about who gets the comfiest chair or the window seat. Plus no one will borrow your pen anymore.
Achieving Personal Goals and Dreams
Sometimes people settle for "participating" in a job they don't like because of the money. But the truth is that money is a bad motivator.
We can be truly useful when the values of the company we work for match our own. Then we are inspired, and productive and look forward to every next working day.
Working from home provides opportunities in many and varied fields. You can work with clients, for a company, or create your own brand. What's more motivating than that?
If you decide to do an online business, much of the type and way of working is entirely up to you. You could easily bring the principles you follow into the workplace.
How to Stay Motivated Working from Home: The Tips
Having discussed what motivates us and why, let's see how we can maintain this feeling at a good level, especially on difficult days.
When you start working from home, you'll notice that there are days when you won't be as motivated, and you might even want to give up. Fortunately, there are methods to help you overcome these feelings and deal with the challenges of each day.
1. Social Contacts
The first thing you might feel like you're missing when you start working from home is your relationships with people.
I have talked to people who have told me that they prefer working in an office precisely because of the opportunity to communicate.
Just because you can spend more time at home working doesn't mean you have to cut out your friends.
Not only is it advisable to keep communicating, but you will have more time to do so. Your meetings will not be in a working environment, which will multiply the benefit of your conversations.
Working from home can feel isolating, but not if you make an effort to stay in touch with your colleagues and organize meetings. That way you won't lose touch with your motivation for work and you'll be able to stay positive.
2. Find Support
Sometimes we need someone to push us in the direction we want. Take the time to surround yourself with the right people to guide you.
You can join groups with similar interests, and have a psychologist to turn to when you encounter difficulties.
If you work with large companies, they usually have personal well-being programs that you can take advantage of to keep your motivation to work at a good level.
Regardless of which option you choose, the important thing is to feel that you are not alone in this endeavor. Many other people, just like you, are trying to cope with daily challenges and find the best balance while working from home.
3. Use Technologies
Technology has developed increasingly over the years, and you, as a self-insurer, can take the best of it and apply it to your work.
There are now so many options for productivity tracking that choosing the right app becomes complicated.
Technology is also a source of knowledge - courses, educational games with level tracking, etc. Another useful option I use is setting alarms for events that I might forget.
Useful software that you can look into is the one for saving passwords, contacts, emails, or the so-called personal information manager. It will increase your motivation to work by creating a sense of control and self-confidence in the organization of the work process.
4. Make your Health a Priority
In our super busy days, it's easy to forget that health is most important. When working from home, if you work as a freelancer, you will not have additional health insurance provided by the company.
All examinations that you need to perform will be agreed upon only with your doctor. However, it is important to follow the standard rules and undergo full examinations at least once a year.
A well-motivated person at work is equally healthy and responsible about self-care.
Apart from physical health, how you feel psychologically is also of great importance. At the first signs of concern, it is good to do a routine check-up and contact a specific specialist.
If you ignore a problem for a long time without taking measures, you risk the disease escalating, which will hinder you in your further work.
5. Set Goals and Reward Yourself
The rewards don't have to be big. Even small pleasures like a favorite dessert or an extra day off can do wonders for your positive performance.
If you haven't found a job yet, your goal could be to apply for one position a day for a week (including a cover letter and resume).
If you're working, a goal might be to improve your accuracy by a few percent. The benefits of goals are many.
On the one hand, you will feel satisfied with the rewards received, and on the other hand, you will grow by achieving better and better results.
6. Get Moving
No doubt, telecommuting is mentally tiring, but physically quite a lazy activity. You work on a computer all day, and your fingers are the most active.
In this situation, it is necessary to introduce physical movement. An option is to walk outside, as the fresh air will help you shake off the tension.
Practicing sports is also not to be underestimated. If you have a favorite activity, find time to include it in your daily life. When you are physically active, motivation to work also increases.
During the work itself, stretch, move, and walk from one room to another. These seemingly small exercises can provide much-needed variety and help you focus better.
7. Determine When You Are Most Productive
Productivity manifests itself in different ways for different people. Some of us like to sleep late and are more active in the late afternoon and evening.
Others get up early, but are tired in the evening and go to sleep almost immediately after dinner. Depending on what regime you have, it also depends on how you will allocate your working time.
You don't have to have a strict schedule. But if you notice that work goes easier at certain times of the day, organize your tasks in that interval.
We usually have the most energy in the mornings, and in the evening we get sleepy and, accordingly, our concentration is lower. To increase your motivation for work, it is good to follow your most active periods.
8. Make a Cozy Home Office
To make it easier for you to distinguish work from household duties, it is good to have a specially designated corner for work commitments.
Fortunately, the investment in a home office is not large. You need a comfortable chair, a desk, a laptop, and a lamp (if you work at night).
It is good if your office is near a window where you will have more access to daylight. In addition, think about additional extras according to your preferences, which will make your experience even more comfortable.
Putting energy into furnishing your home office is a great way to increase and keep your motivation to work at a good level.
Conclusion
Finding the formula for working from home success is not a one-time process. It takes courage, a lot of experimentation, and observing which action works and which doesn't.
To be successful we need a reason. Without the right motivation for work and the corresponding attitude, our attempts become meaningless.
When figuring out how to stay motivated working from home, think about it in depth. What is the real reason you want to work from home?
What will such a lifestyle provide you and why do you want it? If you answer these questions honestly, you'll be able to use the answers to build a successful remote career.
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