Successfully Working from Home without Iron Discipline

There are more people working from home than ever before due to our current circumstances. This is why I feel the need to share some tips to help everyone all over the world survive this new challenge of getting work done amidst the chaos of their home life.

Continue reading below for some tips to help you successfully work from home without iron discipline.

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As a result of the global COVID19 pandemic, an unprecedented number of people around the world have been working from home throughout the past year – and for many jobs, and in many industries, there appears to be a new norm being established where remote working will become far more routine.

But whether you are working from home remotely due to quarantine and lockdown regulations, or because you are an entrepreneur trying to make a success of your own business venture, remaining productive and effective when working by yourself in your own home office is often not easy.

One way of remaining successful in this regard is to have iron discipline, and to force yourself to stick to your schedule no matter what.

Fortunately, though, that’s not the only way of getting things done. Here are a few tips for successfully working from home without iron discipline.

It’s all about habits, and you need to start them small

According to various commentators on the art of habit formation and the psychology of habit – including Charles Duhigg, author of the book “The Power of Habit” – the core feature of any habit is that it entails turning an action that would normally require some degree of willpower into a routine and barely conscious act that requires far less willpower.

Establishing good professional habits, therefore, can allow you to stay consistent and productive without exerting a lot of discipline on a daily basis.

The key is that you need to build these habits small so that you can ensure they stick and so that you don’t become demoralised.

If you struggle with procrastination, for example, building a habit around short bursts of work – such as by using the Pomodoro method – can be particularly effective.

Utilize powerful third-party services wherever possible

In any professional endeavour, you’re bound to find that there are certain areas where you thrive, are particularly knowledgeable, and generally feel more “motivated” as well.

At the same time, though, there will always be things that need to get done in your professional life that you are not particularly good at, knowledgeable about, and that seem to inordinately sap your energy, mental resources, and time.

Utilising powerful third-party services wherever possible, and outsourcing strategically, can be an excellent way of overcoming this hurdle and allowing yourself to focus on your core competencies, without requiring an inordinate amount of discipline.

Business IT Support services, for example, can be particularly useful.

Understand the impact of your environment on your actions and mindset

Discipline implies exerting your will from over the other parts of your psyche that want you to do something else.

In the field of psychology, though, it’s well known that a person’s environment will tend to have a dramatic impact on their actions and mindset, without them even being necessarily aware of it.

So, structure your environment in a way that reduces distractions, optimises focus and consistency, and holds you accountable.