Over time, an increasing number of employees are saying goodbye to long commutes and opting for remote work. Stats suggest that a whopping 16 percent of companies have become fully remote worldwide. From employees’ standpoint, working from home comes with a truckload of benefits. Better work-life balance, increased job satisfaction, and flexible environment,to name a few.
However, sometimes employees have a hard time pulling off maximum productivity because of several domestic distractions. It has been noticed that a vast majority of remote workers wake up late, take frequent breaks, engage in social media, and get into household chores. As a result, they waste time and fail to give their jobs 100 percent attention.
But the good news is that you can keep yourself much more organized by sticking to the productivity hacks listed below:
1. Stay connected
Remote work can often lead to loneliness and isolation. It particularly stands true for extroverts. Well, there are plenty of text, audio, and video apps that will help you socialize. Ensure you schedule a time to check in with your manager to discuss work-related stuff. You may also blow off steam by connecting with friends who are working in other companies. Socializing could also be an opportunity to spice up your knowledge about the market. For example, if you are an MBA graduate, you may connect with individuals performing different MBA work from home jobs and keep yourself up-to-datewith the latest developments in the business world. Make no mistake; these apps could prove to be an addiction if you keep using them haphazardly. So you must be very particular about their usage.
2. Chalk out a schedule
You are likely to subscribe to a consistent routine when you work in an office. However, these lines blur when you work remotely. There is less accountability because no one is watching your departure or arrival times. This problem is further intensified by the addition of new responsibilities that the coronavirus pandemic has brought, such as grocery shopping or homeschooling your children. That is why setting up a clear schedule holds the key.
Once you have established a schedule, you may utilize an automatic time-tracking app that lets you see if you are following it or not. On top of that, these apps can help you determine when you are most productive and when you are the laziest during the day. You can use this info to your advantage andpredict the hours you are most likely to do challenging work. If you find yourself with high productivity between 9:00 AMto 11:00AM, avoid scheduling meetings during this window.
3. Get dressed
It can be challenging to feel productive in your pajamas. More so, if you have been going to the office all-dressed up for several years.Not dressing up can lead to a feeling of inefficiency and sluggishness for remote workers. Even if your day has been productive, you may feel as though it never began.
Believe it or not, dressing can influence your mentality big time. It does not matter if you are changing into work clothes or simply your pajamas. You send strong signals to your mind to act in a particular way. Mindset is affected by even the most minor habits and thinking patterns. Therefore, we recommend you avoid sitting inloose-fitting outfits and wear something formal.
4. Set up a workspace
While it is tempting to curl up on the sofa or stay in bed, people who work successfully from home agree that setting up a dedicated workspace is the ideal way to go about WFH.It makes you more focused and keeps distractions at a safe distance. More importantly, having a separate workspace gives you the feel of a professional environment. With that said, you can’t randomly sit anywhere with your laptop and expect it will take your productivity through the roof. To create an ideal homeoffice, you must take the following instructions into account:
- Choose the right spot: When it comes to choosing the right place, you may not have many choices if you live in a small apartment.However, if you live in a larger house, you need to pick an area free from potential interruptions.
- Install proper lighting:You can reduce eye strain by having enough lighting in your workplace. A sunny spot close to a window is a good choice. To create a well-lit desk, invest in a lamp. If your eyes feel tired after the first day of working in your new space, this is a sign that you need to change the lighting. You can adjust the lighting position or add another source of light till you’re comfy.
- Add some spark in the workspace: Just like office cubicles, you can surround your workspace with things that make you smile, like photos of loved ones, plants, décor items, etc.
- Schedule breaks
Know the company policy regarding breaks and strictly abide by it.Home-based workers should allow themselves enough time to get away from the screen and phone during the day. It is essential to move around a bit when you are doing computer-based work or other sedentary tasks. That said, don’t use your breaks to do personal errands. Use them just like you would when at the office.
Conclusion
Though work from home trend has been going red-hot for quite some time, the pandemic has abruptly forced many more employees to operate remotely. Naturally, they are finding it difficult to be productive in the face of this new development. Luckily, there are ways you can do away with this problem and make the most of your working hours. Follow the tips mentioned above to stay productive while working remotely.
