Hacks for Getting Work Done at Home
Motivation Meets Productivity
Let’s be honest—working from home sounds great until you’re actually doing it. Suddenly, the freedom to work in your pyjamas doesn’t feel so liberating when the couch is calling, the dishes are piling up, and your motivation is nowhere to be found.
Staying productive at home isn’t just about setting up a workspace; it’s about mastering the art of self-motivation.
This blog is here to tackle exactly that. From clever hacks to rewire your brain to motivational tricks that keep you moving, let’s dive into how you can actually get things done without losing your sanity.
Productivity Hacks: How to Motivate Yourself to Work
Motivation doesn’t just appear—it’s something you can cultivate. The key is finding strategies that align with your personality and habits. Below, we break down simple yet effective ways to kick-start your day and sustain your energy.
Setting Yourself Rewards
Rewards work because they create positive reinforcement. Whether it’s a treat after a task or a bigger reward for long-term goals, this strategy taps into your brain’s reward centre, motivating you to stay on track.
Main Points:
· Use small, immediate rewards like coffee breaks for completing tasks.
· Set weekly goals and reward yourself with something larger, like a favourite meal or a movie night.
· Tie rewards to specific tasks to make progress feel tangible.
· Mix intrinsic (personal satisfaction) and extrinsic (tangible) rewards for balance.
Rewards work best when they’re meaningful to you. A simple snack might motivate one person, while another might need a shopping spree to feel rewarded. It’s also crucial to associate the reward with a specific action—this helps train your brain to crave task completion.
Over time, the task itself may become intrinsically rewarding. However, be cautious not to over-reward yourself, as it could dilute the effect.
Another key point: delayed gratification can amplify the joy. For instance, saving a favourite show for the end of a productive workday makes relaxation feel earned, not stolen. This emotional payoff fuels sustained motivation.
Leaving Work Unfinished
It might sound counterintuitive, but leaving a task incomplete at the end of the day can actually motivate you to pick it up quickly the next morning. The Zeigarnik Effect—our tendency to remember incomplete tasks—works in your favour here.
Bullet Points:
· Stop work at an engaging point to create anticipation for the next day.
· Avoid completing everything in one sitting to maintain momentum.
· Write a brief note summarising where you left off to avoid forgetting.
· Use this technique for creative or complex projects to sustain flow.
Leaving work unfinished triggers your brain to keep thinking about it subconsciously. This can lead to fresh ideas or solutions popping up when you least expect it, like during your morning coffee or a walk. The anticipation of finishing what you started can be a powerful motivator to dive back in.
However, it’s a balancing act. Leaving too much undone can feel overwhelming the next day, so pick a logical stopping point. For example, writers often stop mid-paragraph to maintain flow, while coders might leave a commented line of code reminding them of the next step.
Overcoming Writer’s Block
Whether you're a writer, a designer, or a programmer, creative blocks can grind your day to a halt. The key is learning how to bypass or even embrace those moments.
Bullet Points:
· Switch tasks temporarily to reset your mind.
· Write (or create) poorly on purpose to break the pressure of perfection.
· Use prompts or brainstorming exercises to reignite creativity.
· Step away completely—sometimes the best ideas come when you’re not working.
Writer’s block isn’t just about writing; it’s about fear—fear of not being good enough, of making mistakes, or of falling short of expectations. The fastest way to overcome this fear? Allow yourself to create something bad. Starting poorly often leads to refinement, and before you know it, you're back in the zone.
Sometimes, creativity simply needs a change of scenery. Moving to a different room, working outside, or even adjusting your lighting can shift your mindset. Alternatively, physical movement like a brisk walk or stretching can get your brain unstuck, activating areas that boost problem-solving.
Prepping Your Work
A solid plan can set the tone for your entire day. Prepping your work the night before eliminates decision fatigue and lets you start with clarity.
Main Points:
· Review and organize your to-do list at the end of the workday.
· Lay out necessary tools and documents in advance.
· Prioritize tasks by difficulty or importance to tackle in order.
· Create a quick morning ritual to ease into your first task.
When you prep your work ahead of time, you’re giving Future You a gift: a smooth, stress-free start to the day. There’s nothing worse than spending your first hour figuring out what you need to do instead of actually doing it. By organizing tools and jotting down a quick outline of your priorities, you set yourself up for a productive morning.
Morning rituals can enhance this further. Whether it’s brewing coffee, lighting a candle, or reviewing yesterday’s achievements, rituals signal your brain that it’s time to transition into work mode. This creates a natural rhythm that improves focus.
Creating Accountability
Accountability might be the most underrated productivity hack. When someone else knows what you’re working on, you’re more likely to follow through.
Main Points:
· Share goals with a friend, mentor, or colleague.
· Use apps that track progress and allow others to check in.
· Schedule regular check-ins to discuss milestones.
· Join a remote work community or group for shared motivation.
Humans are social creatures, and accountability taps into our desire to maintain good standing with others. It’s why we’re more likely to show up to a workout class than exercise alone. By sharing your goals or tasks with someone, you create a subtle but powerful pressure to deliver.
Apps like Asana or even simple shared Google Docs can make this easy. Alternatively, work buddy systems—where you and a friend check in on each other’s progress—can be surprisingly effective.
Knowing that someone else is rooting for you (or gently nudging you) makes procrastination harder to justify.
Conclusion
Motivating yourself to work from home doesn’t require herculean willpower—it’s about finding the right tricks and systems for your personality.
Whether you’re rewarding yourself, leaving tasks unfinished for next-day momentum, or creating accountability through a buddy system, the goal is the same: keep moving forward without burnout.
The best part? You don’t have to implement every strategy at once. Pick one hack, try it out, and see how it works for you. Motivation, after all, is like a muscle—the more you work at it, the stronger it gets.
Actionable Steps
1. Start Small: Pick one motivational hack (like rewards or accountability) and try it for a week.
2. Track Your Progress: Keep a journal of what works and what doesn’t for your productivity.
3. Build Your Routine: Integrate these hacks into a consistent schedule to create habits.
4. Celebrate Wins: Big or small, recognise your achievements to fuel motivation.
5. Reflect Weekly: Adjust your strategies based on your energy levels and results.
