How to stay motivated when working from home

Our Marketing Recruitment Consultant Elliot, like many people has been unexpectedly plunged into a work from home environment in the last few months. In this article he shares his tips for staying motivated when working from home.

For some working from home has been a relatively straight-forward transition, for some it’s been a well-sought-after benefit and for others it’s been an overdue excuse for an extra 30 minutes in bed.

However, for those who’re unfamiliar with this new found freedom, it can prove quite a difficult adjustment, one that I experienced myself.

Typically, I have high-energy and dip in and out of effective work periods, an office is often helpful for this as with the aid of others you can rely on their energy and keep yourself ticking over. However, when you’re in the confines of your front-rooms four walls, things can be a bit trickier to stay motivated. Those previous walks to the water machine or to make a fresh brew have turned into a ‘oh I’ll just put a wash on’ or ‘I’ll just take the bins out’. Over time though, you can find little parts of your routine that will help keep you working effectively and motivated for another day in your place

Struggling to concentrate at home? View these top tips to work successfully!

1. Lay off the teas and coffees throughout the day. Drink water! Probably the most important in my eyes. Otherwise expect constant in-and-out dips in the afternoon.
2. The obvious one - Take regular short breaks – and follow up with bursts of 45mins – 1 hour of work. For me the expression “you’re not you when you’re hungry” comes to mind, (not in a literal sense of stuff your face until you fancy working…would be ideal though) more, you’re unable to work effectively if you haven’t given your brain a few mins to cool off after long periods.
3. Dress to impress – obviously if you’re normally a suits this isn’t applicable, but I find avoiding your comfy gear and opting for your usual work get-up puts you in the going-to-work frame of mind.
4. Move your home office around – maybe easier said the done for some but moving around the room, or even into a different room just freshens things up and gives you a different perspective to work from…literally.
5. Get outside – sure we’re all guilty or not doing enough of this in recent months, waking up, sitting at the table, moving to the sofa at 6pm and then taking yourself off to bed can be more draining than it seems. Take a walk around the block on lunch, get out on the balcony/garden on your breaks or do some outdoor exercise in the morning.

For someone who’s had to adjust to be able to work effectively from home, these tips really helped me and my mindset – hopefully they help you too! 

Read our latest news here.

Check out all our job opportunities in Technology here!

Check out our digital jobs here.

Learn more about our marketing roles here.

If it’s creative roles that you are after, click here.

Fancy a new analytics challenge? Click here! 

Progress your career with a brand new Contract role? Click here!