Working from home can be both a luxury and a challenge (and, with COVID-19, a necessity). While getting your work done in pajamas or sweats is undoubtedly fun, working from home has unique challenges that can damper your productivity. In this article, we’ll explore 5 ways to improve & maximize productivity working from home and increase remote job results.
Here are a few tips to improve productivity working from home:
1. Treat your home workspace like an office
While you can undoubtedly forgo many of the formalities of a typical workplace at home, one of the biggest dampeners to productivity is not treating your work as work!
If your workspace is in the middle of your home(figuratively, and maybe even literally), you will be surrounded by distractions, whether it’s your partner, your kids, or even the TV and video games. Animal Crossing, anyone?
So, even if you’re not leaving the house for work, try to set up a dedicated space for working where you have to get up, go there, and do your work undisturbed.
If you have an extra room, turn it into your home office to shut yourself in if necessary.
If you don’t have an extra room, choose a spot somewhere, mark it off as your home office, and establish a boundary for everyone in your home: when you’re in the office, you’re working. It is also essential to have a proper temperature to improve productivity working from home, especially in the summer. Check out this guide on modern desk fans that will help you choose the perfect one.
2. Break up work into chunks to improve productivity working from home
So now that you’ve set up your home office and are relatively distraction-free, everything is fine.
Chances are, you’ll still get distractions! Being at home sometimes reminds you that the dishes need to be done, the laundry must be washed, the clothes must be folded, the living room must be vacuumed, and the list can go on and on.
Often, we’ll end up putting off more complicated tasks – typically work-related – for more manageable household tasks. Our brain ends up getting the better of us in these situations.
You won’t have finished your work, but it won’t seem like you wasted your day. So it’s a sense of false productivity, at least as far as work is concerned. That’s not to say laundry and vacuuming are not necessary, but that office hours are office hours!
If you still feel distracted, one solution is to break up your working time into chunks. So once you sit at your desk, set a time of one hour and be mentally prepared to work for one continuous hour.
Once the hour is up, you can take a break or attend to something else, which will also have a lot of time marked off.
This way, you can manage your time well and be on top of work and household tasks. As a result, a good method to improve productivity is working from home
3. Stay energized and hydrated
Staying hydrated is an unexpected but critical factor in being productive. Studies have shown that being well-hydrated can result in a 14% increase in productivity. That’s quite a significant number!
Sipping water throughout the workday will help keep you fresh and going strong.
For an extra boost, you can also try refreshing cold beverages like cold brew coffee (learn how to make it here). Cold-brew coffee results in caffeine being released more gradually, spreading out the period of the energy boost.
Since the coffee is already cold, you can enjoy it over a more extended period. Hot coffee will lose its flavor once it reaches room temperature!
You can also try fresh juices. Whatever you prefer, really – the important thing is that you remain hydrated and sip something throughout the workday to increase remote job productivity.
4. Set your schedule to improve productivity working from home
If your work is primarily independent and not bound by anyone else’s schedule, you may even be able to overhaul your schedule to suit yourself completely.
Some people tend to be night owls. Getting up early is a monumental task for them, and some of their best work in the late hours of the night.
When working from home, you may have the luxury of sleeping in and starting your office time whenever it suits you best to increase remote job productivity.
Of course, if your work involves regularly meeting up with other people, you may be unable to pull this off.
Still, you can move the typical 9-5 timeslot to any time that suits you best.
5. To-do lists are your friend
This builds upon the chunking concept covered in point two, but it’s perhaps one of the most important takeaways to maximize productivity working at home.
Make to-do lists of the tasks you need to do and hold yourself accountable to the list. It will help you stay organized and assist in planning your day.
You can even combine the advice from point 2 with this by marking off timeslots in your to-do list.
For example, your improved productivity working from the home list could be something like this:
Attend to emails: 30 minutes
Run the washing machine: 10 minutes
Finish up design work for client X: 1 hour
Break: 10 minutes
And so on. The total time will be whatever you’ve set aside for your work. Remember, hold yourself accountable to the list to maximize productivity working from home!
Improve Productivity at Home Conclusion
- Set Clear Work Hours: Establish a consistent work schedule to structure your day. It’s important to stick to these hours to maintain a work-life balance.
- Use Productivity Tools: Leverage technology like time management apps, project management software, and digital calendars to stay organized and on track.
- Implement a Task List: Start each day with a clear list of tasks to be accomplished. This helps in prioritizing and staying focused.
- Take Regular Breaks: Short, frequent breaks can boost mental well-being and productivity. It’s crucial to step away from your desk to refresh.
- Stay Physically Active: Incorporate physical activity into your routine. Exercise can improve focus and reduce stress.
- Use Efficient Communication Tools: Utilize video calls, instant messaging, and email effectively to stay connected with colleagues and clients.
- Set Achievable Goals: Break down large tasks into smaller, manageable goals. This provides a sense of accomplishment and keeps you motivated.
- Ensure Reliable Internet Connection: A stable and fast internet connection is critical to avoid disruptions during work.
- Practice Mindfulness and Stress Management: Engage in activities like meditation or yoga to manage stress and maintain mental clarity.
- Seek Feedback and Stay Connected: Regularly communicate with your team and superiors. Feedback can help you adjust your working style for better results.
- Invest in Comfortable Office Furniture: Ergonomic chairs and desks can make a significant difference in your comfort and productivity levels.
- Keep Learning and Updating Skills: Continuously look for learning opportunities to stay updated with your industry trends and software tools.
- Celebrate Achievements: Recognize and reward yourself for your accomplishments. This boosts morale and motivation.
We hope you find these tips helpful. As more and more people are shifting to working from home, we may be in for a paradigm shift.
