5 Ways to Instantly Increase Productivity When Working From Home

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One of the best ways that you can maximize how much you earn from your business is to increase your productivity.

Ever since I was a college student, I’ve always calculated the amount that I earned per hour from selling items online. For example, if I made $300 one week for doing five hours work, I would divide $300 by 5 (the number of hours I spent earning that money) to figure out my hourly rate (which would be $60 per hour, in this case. Not bad for a 19 year old student!).

Admittedly, one of the main reasons I did this calculation was to make sure that I was always earning more than I could if I chose to do a ‘normal-person’ job to get me through college, like waiting tables. Not only did I have a great time bragging to my dorm mates about how much I was earning (I was 19, cut me some slack), but it also forced me to make sure that I was always productive with the time I spent on my business.

Why productivity means better profits

After all, if I was mucking around and I spent 10 hours earning that $300, my hourly rate would plummet to $30 per hour, rather than the $60 per hour I earned if I did the work in five hours.

So for me, productivity means more profits and in order to help you be as productive as possible, I’ve listed my top 5 ways to increase your productivity when you work from home. These tips are useful for both part-time and full-time sellers. If you have your own productivity-increasing tips, make sure you share them in the comments section below.

1. I’m going to start with the most crucial. Get yourself set up with a second monitor.

If you only take away one tip from this blog post, I suggest you implement this one. In a study by Microsoft, it was found that dual monitors could increase your productivity by 41%. I’m not at all surprised by these statistics - I use a dual screen here at work in the SaleHoo office and at home when I am working on my own projects.

And if anyone ever tried to take away one of my monitors, I would tackle them.

Last weekend, I took my laptop with me on a weekend escape to the mountains and when I sat down to do some work, I missed my second screen like crazy!

Productivity aside, having a secondary monitor makes life so much easier. For example, you can have emails from buyers up on one screen and your PayPal account open on another to make checking order payments a lot easier and faster.

You can buy a secondary monitor from anywhere – it doesn’t need to be a special one and there are always some great deals on eBay. If you are a little fussy like me, though, you might want to make sure that your secondary monitor matches your primary. Unmatched screens can cause obsessive compulsions to flare!

2. Cut down on the number of questions buyers ask

While buyers asking questions is definitely a good sign that they are interested, answering the same questions over and over again is hardly efficient! A great way to pre-empt buyers from having to get in touch with you when they have questions is to setup a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs). You can do this on any marketplace such as eBay or Bonanza or, if you sell on your own website, you can list your FAQs there.

 Here’s an example of a website that has done a really good job of answering their buyer’s frequently asked questions:

When you click on the questions on the right, the page automatically scrolls down to the answer which is very handy for buyers. But you don’t need any nifty coding to make your answers effective and user friendly: Just lay them out nicely with bold headings for each of the questions and the answers cleanly spelt out underneath.

At the very minimum, make sure that your FAQs answer questions about:

  • Shipping costs and deliveries (such as how long it will take for the item to be delivered)
  • Your return policy
  • Payment methods available

And anything else that customers consistently ask you about the products that you sell.

3. Dress up for work

This one is really important.

 I know that a few of you heard about the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, where SaleHoo’s headquarters’ are. Well, for about two weeks after that horrible earthquake, we Christchurch SaleHoo staff worked from home so that we could get back to normal as soon as possible, as much as we could.

During that time, friends of mine were surprised that, every morning, I would get up and shower, do my hair, put on some makeup and dress in regular work clothes for the day. A few of them talked about how they were working in their pajamas.  For me, this would be hugely unproductive, as I just would never get into “work mode” if I was wrapped up in my robe with my slippers on at 2pm in the afternoon!

There are a lot of articles and studies that confirm that you are much more productive if you dress up when you work at home. While wearing a full suit and tie or stiletto pumps isn’t really necessary, it’s important to wear something that you wouldn’t be embarrassed by if a friend stopped by to visit you. It will make you feel like you are ready to work.

4. Schedule your time

I see a lot of at-home business people struggling with this one, but creating a schedule for how to work will really help you get everything on your to-do list ticked off and in a much more time-effective manner.

For example, you might have ongoing everyday tasks like replying to emails, re-listings items and dispatching sold items, but you should allocate time for other important tasks. For example, you could make a plan to do your bookkeeping on a Monday and researching new suppliers on a Tuesday afternoon.

You’re sure to deviate from your plan somewhat, just like you do in a regular job, but at least set something in stone and try to stick to it!

5. Take regular breaks

I bet you’ll like this one: Take regular breaks throughout the day, just as you would if you were in an office or regular job. Make an effort to get up and away from your computer, even if it’s just for 5 minutes. At midday, try to get away from your desk and eat lunch in the kitchen or dining room and limit your lunchtimes spent in front of the computer to three per week!

Taking breaks gives you time to reflect on your to-do list and prioritize tasks and also just gives your brain a rest from all the work! Breaks away from the computer are also really important for your eyes.

 

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Rhea Bontol

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26 Comments
  • Kanute Fleming 24th of May
    Really nice and wise! I didn't even know that you can have two monitors on one computer! Kanute
  • William Li 24th of May
    Hi Alice, I totally agree with you! Having a 2nd monitor makes ALL the difference in the world. At least you have a laptop, my netbook drives me crazy :)
  • Melvin Hunter 24th of May
    Great post! Being productive is number one in my book. Don't waste your time lolly gagging when that time could have got you closer to your goal!!! Never thought about the two monitors but seems very smart to be honest I could definitely understand how it could make things much simpler!!! I love the post once again and plan on putting some of these tips in action!!
  • Cecilia Rueda "ceraf1" 24th of May
    Thanks for such interesting information.
  • Ken Soszka - EasyAutomatedWebsites.com 25th of May
    Great post Alice! I couldn't agree more about having two screens. Once you have two, trying to use only one is torture. I have never tried dressing for work at home, but it makes sense. I'll give it try! Thanks for the ideas, Ken Soszka EasyAutomatedWebsites.com
  • Christine 25th of May
    I for one have a hard time sticking to a schedule. It takes a lot of self discipline for me to make myself sit down and it's late at night by the time I get to sit down and write more blogs for my new website to get some links built slow but sure. Money is very tight as I clean houses during the day while I struggle to get my website noticed without spending money that's not there to get it noticed. From what I understand, blogs really work faster that site maps and SEO etc.
  • Omer Sabic 25th of May
    IBM has conducted extensive research into workplace optimization for increased productivity, you should google about that study, can't remember the correct title for it just now. Though I personally have found that the crucial point was to rent premises (I am a programmer - freelancer), or if some of you are lucky, you could use a room in the house and dedicate it to work. Optimally it would have direct entry from the outside. Good luck everyone!
  • PANKAJ KUMAR 25th of May
    Excellent idea of using two monitors in one time. Really Great !!!
  • Akira Higuti 25th of May
    Hello, Alice! It's very interesting working with two monitors. I noticed this in one of the photos of Mark Ling, in his desk. I had two monitors, but recently one of my monitors burned. I found it interesting too, the rest intervals. Congratulations for the article!
  • Hi Alice, I love the idea of working with two monitors regularly on one computer. I have a large wrap-around desk setup and have two computers/monitors which I occasionally use at the same time when I have a lot of HTML work to do and still want to work in eBay or with emails. The only drawback is two computer fans can get noisy and the heat buildup in the summer can sometimes be quite noticeable in my home-office with no air conditioning. My personality type is 100% geared for working at home. And yes, I’m guilty of working in my wooly PJs in the winter and a slip nightie in summer LOL. For me it’s not what I’m wearing but walking into my office that puts me in work mode. My office equipment, work binders, and music are all within arm’s reach so the only distraction is having to remind myself to get up and stretch or stop for lunch. Although this doesn’t work for everyone, the main tools that keep me on schedule are my prioritized to-do list and a monthly calendar. Usually at the end of every week I make a new list of things that need doing and simply just dig in. So during the week no time is wasted figuring out what to do next or what’s more important, it’s all on the list or been slotted for a certain date on the calendar. Plus once the tasks on the list are completed it feels great to cross them off one by one. If all the tasks get done early, then it’s play time with a good book or gardening or a movie . . . :)
  • Alice Delore 25th of May
    Great to hear that so many of you are in agreement with the second monitor.

    I cannot recommend this enough!

    If I owned a computer monitor store, I would offer a money back guarantee on all secondary monitors and promise that if buyers didn't increase their productivity, I would give them their cash back.

    @Christine: I found it hard to work late at night sometimes too, especially if I am writing - in the morning when I read over it, it can look like a real mess! I've tried doing a few morning work sessions before I come into the office and that has worked well (when I can drag myself out of bed). I always feel like I've got a head start over the rest of the world when I get up early and have a good 60-90 minute works done when others are only just getting up.

    Maybe you could try the same thing? Most people who aren't night-owls work well in the morning.

    Another thing I do is set myself fairly strict hours of when I do and don't work at home. That way, I don't need to feel guilty if I am having a night off or not doing anything, I just think - I'll do it tomorrow when I'm "at work". Maybe you could look at setting some hours in stone like that too?

    And yes, blogging is fantastic for your site's SEO. Search engines love when your website grows as it tells them that the site is being looked after and that it hasn't just been built and left on the web as it is.

    A blog also gives people a reason to come back to your website and this is really important for e-Commerce websites because, obviously, it increases your chance of making sales, but additionally, Google tracks how long people stay on your site. So if you have people come and look around a few pages and read a blog post for 3-4 minutes, this tells Google that your site is worth being on, so they rank it higher than a website that has visitors arrive and leave instantly.

    @Akira Higuti: Yes, definitely take breaks and get up from your computer. This stretches your body and rests your eyes. If you work near a window, looking out into the natural light every 30 minutes or so is good for your eye health.

    Another great tip is to invest in the best chair you can afford. We're lucky here at SaleHoo that we get so spoilt and all have one of the most ergonomic chairs that money can buy. It makes such a difference and I never go home with a sore back or neck (Thanks, boss!).

    We've all heard about how sitting at a computer all day can be bad for us, so treat yourself to a decent chair when you can. Make sure you search Google for reviews of any chairs that you are considering buying so that you can check out how good they are.
  • Alice Delore 25th of May
    @TopCat2x2 :

    Yes, good idea about using a calender to help keep you on track. For anyone who wants to try this, the Google Calender is a great one and it's free to use - just sign up for a Google account or a Gmail account.

    Here's some info about the calendar:

    http://www.google.com/intl/en/googlecalendar/about.html
  • Katina Ms 26th of May
    I never knew about the two monitors. I will work on implementing this. I struggle with being productive especially since my son is home all day with me & I'm trying to also teach & entertain him as well. What I've thought of doing is setting days for each thing. For example I'll work on his educational things M,T W & then focus on my business the rest of the week. Should I maybe split my days because most times by the time I can update my website w new product or hit the social networks I'm exhausted. Does anyone have any suggestions? Esp if you're running a successful business.
  • Ted Fairchild 26th of May
    Hi Alice, I read your post and the responses with great interest. I would be tempted to set myself up with a secondary monitor if I really could understand the great benefit everyone seems to see in this. I use Google Chrome which has a system of tabs that allows you to have many sites open at once, stretched across the top of the screen, and all you need to do is click on the tab and you have access to the site in about the same time it would take you to move your gaze from one monitor to the other....maybe less. Maybe I'm missing something, but I really can't see the benefit in spending the money for another monitor.
  • Angela Love 27th of May
    We use dual monitors in our office, they make life much quicker and easier when you are using multiple programs, spreadsheets etc. Great Post!
  • Mollyd 28th of May
    Alice, well done on all the valuable information, it has certainly helped me and from reading other comments it has benefited many others too.
  • Emmanuel 28th of May
    Am challenged on my un-productive attitude, so now decided to follow the 5 tips on productivity.
  • Alice Delore 29th of May
    @webizzness

    I use tabbed browsing too (in FireFox 4 primarily but I do use Chrome for some sites that are a bit slow-loading as I find Chrome a little faster than FireFox, but I love all the plugins I can use FireFox) but I still find a secondary monitor SO much more productive.

    For example, the other day I was on a bit of a niche hunt and I had a spreadsheet open with names of products I wanted to run through the SaleHoo Research Labs. So on one screen, I had the spreadsheet open and on the other screen, I had my web browser open with the SaleHoo Research Labs up.

    So all I had to do to test our my product niches in the Lab was copy and paste from the spreadsheet into the Lab, rather than copy + flick open the browser window + paste + run the Lab then flick back to the spreadsheet again.

    This is just one example. Our developers here at the SaleHoo office love how they can write code on one monitor and then run live tests on the other and see the results side-by-side without having to flick through windows.

    Hope that helps :)
  • Eddie Sanders 3rd of June
    I really like the tips that were given and it made me think about how I am using my time. I see that there is room for improvement starting with planning a schedule for daily activities. The biggest problem I have is not being able to stay focus and checking off what I want done at the end of the day. I will reorganize my time, Thanks!
  • S I 15th of June
    Thanks. I just get up and get to business with my coffee. I like to work when all is asleep. I must live in bubble, but I did not make the connection with the earth quake in New Zealand and SaleHoo, until I looked at the address area again. Hope you all who live and work there are fine...
  • Charlie 25th of June
    Good post. I've found one of the best ways to increase productivity is to use the 'Vertical Tabs' plugin for Firefox. I often have over 25 tabs open at the same time, and horizontal tabs don't cope very well with more than about 10 (without having to constantly scroll left and right). I would never be able to go back to the old way!
  • Roger Bunch 26th of June
    Hi Alice, Wow, two monitors. I never thought about that or that you could even do that to one computer, but how would you connect two monitors to one computer anyway.... I have a Dell desktop computer and a Dell 17" monitor. Does this method work with any computer and monitor. I have several 17" monitors just laying around in my basement. Thanks So Much For This Tip Alice.
  • Jan Dirk 27th of June
    I love the mac monitors idea! I'm a money freak and always struggle to multitask on my computer. I learn from video and it's dam hard to switch between windows all the time. I like to read to relax my brain and while I read some new ideas may pop up in my head and I will write them down, because that ideas are wow ideas always!
  • Mike 10th of July
    The idea of having two monitors is great, But imagine having three monitor hook up to one pc. That is what I have been using for the past 2 years and I will never go back to single monitor computer. One monitor is dedicated to emails, the one in the center is for web browsing and the monitor on my left is for my notepad++ and sometimes other things. it is great!. What I do with my notepad is what ever I see that interest me I take note straight away before I forget. Thanks
  • abdul shukur 30th of July
    Yes Alice, the question from Roger Brunch is same with me - how does one laptop or one net book can be plugin with two monitors for different task, can you show us Alice?
  • Irene Vallejo 1st of August
    @shukur4: You can easily get instructions online, and you can search depending on your system specifications. An example on how to do it is here - http://www.tech-faq.com/how-to-set-up-dual-monitors.html