How to boost productivity while working r̶e̶m̶o̶t̶e̶l̶y from home
When it comes to productivity while working from home, the myth has been debunked. In fact, productivity has actually been proven to increase with the freedom of remote work. A 2-Year Stanford Study shows the astonishing productivity boost of working from home.
Working from home, while staying connected, productive, and staying safe. That is the ultimate goal!
Let’s talk about tips and best practices for working from home and doing actual work.
💻Make your workplace comfortable yet productive
The goal is to feel motivated by your surroundings and be prepared to tackle whatever task comes your way. You are at home, so you must feel the most comfortable doing anything.
To set yourself up for success, find the perfect place where you can focus on the tasks at hand. Be mindful of working in areas that are used for recreation and relaxation. If the couch is where you Netflix & Chill, your brain will naturally want to shift into that mode if you try to work from there. Instead, create a dedicated space with a good chair, desk, good lighting, and the right vibe to be able to focus on your work. Many prefer to work in the bed, but as same as the couch, if you’re working from bed, it can become more difficult to fall asleep since your brain will think you’re in a place of work. And a good night sleep is essential for being productive at work, so don’t sacrifice your bed, when you can simply convert any table to a work desk.
📝Create habits (plan, cut the clutter, make to-do lists)
We are all familiar with a to-do list and how it works, but for people working from home, a to-do list can be a huge life-savor. Plan your work activities, and write them down. Be realistic and plan what you can actually finish in one day. Tick them off when you finish. This will give you a clear direction of what you have done and what needs to be done until the end of the work time. This will save you a lot of time and stress since you are up to date with yourself and know the real progress.
While you are most flexible at home for when to start working, it is best to start at the same time every day. Creating time habits is a great way for you to set great boundaries between work and your free time. It is also respectful for your teammates if you need to work in collaboration. Set a schedule, let others be informed if you are planning to start working late, it creates a great work environment and it boosts your college’s productivity since they will know not to depend on you in that time you are “out of office”.
☕Take well-deserved breaks
Breaks are necessities, not luxuries! They enhance your productivity and well-being.
It is best to take longer breaks for meals and small breaks in between for coffee, snacks or just to take a breath in between tasks. Once your brain has a chance to relax, you will start your next working session with new energy. Never eat while you work, you are not saving any time from your free time. You eat more than you need if you eat and work at the same time. From a hygiene point of view, it’s the worst nightmare to see crumbs that amass between keyboard cracks. A tidy and clean work environment is beneficial not only to your productivity but to your health.
But while we understand that taking a break during work is a common necessity, too much of it can even reduce productivity because no one is there to stop you and you might take advantage of that freedom unconsciously. Celebrate successfully done tasks with short breaks, this little time off will feel like a small price for a victory. You will feel more motivated to continue with the next task and to finish it in time for a short cookie break.
🤸♀️Slay those distractions
Whether it is the first time you work from home or you are not a newbie, there are so many obstacles between you and a work task done in time. When you work from home you are constantly bombarded with thoughts of doing things other than work because there isn’t anyone to tell you otherwise. And to be honest, most of us don’t consider them as distractions.
The first step in avoiding distractions is to be aware of them. If you can’t resist resting on the balcony, don’t do your work there. If the crossword puzzle on the table is calling your name, put it out of your line of sight, at least in working hours. Being online and obsessively scrolling through Instagram, Facebook or Twitter is not working. Slay those distractions, they are all bad for your productivity if you don’t concentrate on working and do these things all day. Write them in your to-don’t list!
A to-don’t list is necessary to keep your focus on track and to keep you in check if you are on the verge of falling off the wagon. Yes, you can go and get your laundry done, you can walk your dog and do your nails, but schedule it outside of your working hours.
Become aware and be honest with yourself about what distracts you the most. This will give you an advantage since knowing and admitting your weakness is your greatest strength.
🗣️Communication is key
Talk to your team regularly!
Typing is an easy way to communicate with a lot of people at the same time, but if you really want to push ideas through, you should really TALK. Whether Video or Audio, call your team to make a deeper connection with them.
Even a 5-minute call or video call is better than typing all the ideas followed by a never-ending Q&A session on Slack. Make sure your communication is on point even if you don’t see face to face. That means, write down every issue you want to discuss during meetings and calls. Make an agenda and send it around before the meeting so everyone has the chance to come up with their own thoughts regarding a subject.
Also document the results of the meetings. Write down action items and deadlines and if necessary distribute them again to colleagues.
The more professional your communications, the better your overall performance, the happier the team and the boss is :)
⏰Set your office hours
When you work from home, you don’t realize what time it is or when you should take a break because at the office you probably notice these things when your colleagues start to move around. It is the most necessary to divide work and life if you want to be productive in your work.
Set proper hours for your work life, so that you don’t get jammed up and lose your edge. It is not healthy or reasonable to work all day and in fact to have nothing in particular done.
Plan your activities throughout the day and set specific goals for each day of the week, so that you can get a sense of achievement daily when you turn your computer off and be happy that you were productive and didn’t waste time. Remember, working productively does necessarily mean working long hours. Work smart and estimate the real-time a task needs to be done right. Not the longest time, not the quickest possible way but with a hundred mistakes. Just rightfully done.
*
Working from home can be liberating, comfortable and fun, but not too much fun. It is still work, regardless if you are doing it in your PJ suit, tracksuit or whatever comfortable suit you choose, you are working and is expected do be done professionally. With the right attitude, planning, and effort to slay the distractions, you can be proud to say that you are master of owning your time, squeezing every second of the day and using it to your advantage.
