How to make your Work From Home day more productive

Two friends, Naina and Sheela, both hold an MBA degree from the same college. They worked as HR professionals in the same organisation for a few years, before calling it quits to enjoy motherhood. Today, both of them work as freelance recruitment consultants, but from home.

However, that’s where the similarity ends. Naina is very successful in her work, earns a handsome amount every month and has more projects than she can possibly take on. Sheela, on the other hand, has far less work trickling through her mailbox. Needless to say; she’s quite frustrated with her work situation.

This is a situation which most Work From Home mothers find themselves in. They want to work from home to balance the professional and personal aspects of their life, but often lack the motivation to do so. The question that arises is what does Naina do differently to Sheela to make her more successful?

Actually, not much. The difference is the level of MOTIVATION that Naina has. Naina is highly motivated and it reflects in her work and in her relationships with her clients. She has the drive to turn tables in her favour, while Sheela doesn’t.

It’s not difficult to go from Sheela’s shoes to Naina’s. Here’s how.

Set your schedule: Amidst professional demands, a WFH mother’s life typically revolves around attending to household chores, kids, hubby, maid and of course, the doorbell. You’ll often feel you’re working the whole day and still accomplishing nothing. So, set a schedule where you get large chunks of uninterrupted working time. For example, early mornings when the kids are sleeping, the house is quiet and no one’s woken up yet, or when your kids are in school or taking their afternoon nap. Don’t shy away from taking help from your family members and if possible, hiring extra help.

Get off social media: There is always this urge of taking a sneak peak into facebook. Make sure, you don’t log onto  social media handles, other than for professional reasons during your working hours. If your nature of work doesn’t involve frequent telephonic calls, then it would be a good idea to keep your device notifications switched off. That way, you won’t be distracted by the constant pinging.

Get outside: Staying cooped up all alone in the house the whole day can get on your nerves and reduce your willingness to work. Get out of the house for a touch of sunshine, some fresh air, gossiping with neighbours or exercising.

Break your routine: Routine reduces productivity. Just for a change of environment, pack your laptop bag and head to the nearest coffee shop or even a park. A change of scene helps boost productivity. Or just take a break from work that day (if there are no immediate deliverables). The world won’t come to a halt just because you took a day off, and you’ll come back to work rejuvenated.

If you’re a WFH mother and would like to share your back-to-work experience with us – just mail us.