5 ways Ive increased productivity while working from home

5 ways Ive increased productivity while working from home5 ways Ive increased productivity while working from homeOver the years Ive been employed in different industries in different environments.From postproduction studios and administrative offices to retail stores, I toiled away on the clock, and, under my boss watchful eye, for much of my working life I always felt moderately productive.It wasnt until I began working from home as an editor and writer nearly a decade ago that I realized how little I was getting accomplished in a traditional work environment, compared to performing my duties while in my own space.Im now more productive than ever, and I attribute much of that to following these productivity tips.1. I exercise first thing in the morningIve always found exercising at night to hype me up too much instead of winding me down, so I prefer to do my workouts in the morning. I hit the gym early to get in some hardcore sweat sessions before heading home to have a quick showe r, grab a coffee, and sit down to work.I find that getting my body moving first thing also gets my brain in gear so that Im awake, focused, and ready to conquer my day. Even if youre not doing cardio or weight lifting, just taking the dog out for a brisk walk can help get you ready to seize the day.2. I stand up at least once an hour and walk away from my computerMaybe you have a fitness tracker that reminds you when youve been sedentary too long (typically once an hour, at least on my Apple Watch). If not, you can set your own timer on your phone or even online to remind you to stand up and get your blood flowing again at regular intervals. This is not only good for your body but also your brain.I find that when I stand up at least once an hour, I can sort of shake off the haze that comes over me when Im focused on one task for a long time. When I sit back down, I feel refreshed and ready to get back to it. Bonus tip The better hydrated you are, the more often youll have to get up and use the bathroom, so that might be helpful here, too.3. I lock myself out of social media during periods of heavy workloadSocial media is a time suck during my free time, and I cant afford to have it ruining my work hours too. While its fine to take a little break now and then to browse the web, I try to ensure Im using that time wisely - say, to catch up on the local nachrichten or look up a recipe to make for dinner that night. I know if I get on Twitter or Facebook, I can kiss goodbye to valuable time.I now have enough self-control to just avoid going to those sites while Im trying to accomplish a particularly large or pressing task, but if you dont, you could always use a plugin or website to do it for you. (I recommend the Google Chrome add-on StayFocused to keep you on task.)4. I create my own business hours, if possibleWhether you can do this depends on your profession, your companys policies, and how timely your work is. The standard 9-to-5 isnt for everyone, and if you re working on projects that dont adhere to those hours, theres no reason you should have to, either.Maybe youre a morning person and love getting up at 6 and cracking on with the days tasks bright and early. Or maybe youre a night owl who works best in the later hours of the day. Im the former and, thankfully, my boss doesnt seem to mind. As long as my works done that day, it doesnt matter what time it happens.If you can swing this, itll make you way more productive.5. I work ahead instead of playing catch-upWhen Ive finished a given days tasks, I dont simply close up shop, even if Id prefer to wartezimmer in front of the TV. Instead, I look into the week ahead and see what else I have coming up and if I can make a dent in the workload starting now. Doing so means I have much more wiggle room if things come up the next day or later that week and I dont get too far behind.Again, this isnt possible for all jobs, but if it is for you, I highly recommend it. Its way better than getting stressed when you fall behind later down the line.This article first appeared on Business Insider.