Before the novel COVID-19 outbreak, working from home was seen as a trend reserved for A-list companies and organizations. Only a mere 3.4% of the population had the pleasure of enjoying this privilege. In the wake of social distancing and lockdowns, the number of individuals working remotely has increased exponentially. But while beneficial and convenient, working from home, even before the COVID-9 outbreak, was not all sunshine and rainbows. Now that everyone is home, remaining productive becomes even more challenging. That is why we outlined best tips for improving your work-from-home experience and enhance productivity while the home office is in lockdown working.
1 Create a Better Work Area
Nothing is as distracting as having your work area in your bedroom. The chances of getting bored and jumping in bed after every hour for a “short” nap are pretty high. With that said, if you are to improve your productivity and consequently work from home experience, then the first thing you ought to do is create a better workspace. If you have a garage, basement, attic, or an extra unused room, create a friendly dedicated home office.
This way, once you’re in there, your mind automatically switches to work mode. Also, with such a professional home office, your spouse, kids, or other loved ones are less likely to distract you. Besides, if you have nagging kids, you can lock yourself in there, get your job done, and deal with them later.
2 Have Real Work Hours While Lockdown To Gain Productivity
A significant part of why we are always productive when working in a natural office setting is because the schedule gives structure to our working days. This schedule would shape your day and keep you motivated because once you get back to work after that coffee break, your mind will be ready to handle whatever workload your manager throws your way to enhance productivity working from home.
But now there’s no schedule. It’s up to you to set your work hours. Unfortunately, while this flexibility and freedom are all we ever wanted, it can cause you to slack. If you’re to remain productive, have better work-from-home experience, and keep your job, then you must have a schedule. Set some actual work hours during which you’ll be focused on getting your job done. As a result, it is an excellent method to gain productivity while working from home during lockdown.
3 Discover Your Productive Periods
Setting actual work hours may work for some people, but it’s not for everyone. Some of us only work best under supervision. In other words, some people become comfortable and tend to slack if no one keeps them on their feet constantly to enhance productivity working from home..
If this describes you, even if you set work hours and your alarm goes off, you’ll be in no hurry to get into that home office. You may start browsing your phone instead of working when you finally do.
To enhance your work-from-home experience and productivity, you need to identify your most productive hours. For instance, do you have better concentration early in the morning? If yes, then wake up early and get to work so you’ll have completed your work by the time your household is up. In a nutshell, discover your peak productivity periods and create a work schedule around this time.
4 Connect: Productivity Working Lockdown
In a formal office work environment, colleagues might seem like a distraction. After all, all they do is stop by your desk. Chat you up or drag you to lunch when you only want to focus on the job at hand. While it may have seemed like a nuisance before, your social connection with your colleagues in an ordinary work setting played a significant role in your productivity.
To maintain this social connection and also better your work-from-home experience. It would help if you stayed in touch with your colleagues. After that official video conference, hit up some of your favorite office buddies. See how they’re coping, catch up with them, and they may even give you more tips on increasing your productivity.
5 Keep Your Phone and Social Media Out of Reach
Having your phone around you when working at home means you may spend countless hours on it. In that light, keep it out of your reach. For instance, if you set up a dedicated workspace in the basement, leave your phone in your bedroom upstairs. You’ll find it hard to go all the way to pick it when it’s not necessary. As a result, it is an excellent method to gain productivity while working from home during lockdown.
Note that you may keep your phone out of reach but end up wasting the same amount of time you’d have wasted on your phone by accessing social media via your laptop. Log out of all your social media accounts. So you’re looking at that Facebook notification on your screen.
6 Dress for Success
Dressing for work is more than just a sartorial choice; it’s psychological. While comfort is key, staying in pajamas all day can blur the lines between relaxation and work mode. Dressing as if going to the office sets a professional tone, even if it’s a more casual version of your usual attire.
This practice also prepares you for impromptu video calls and meetings. It ensures that you’re always presentable and reflects professionalism to your colleagues to enhance productivity working from home..
Dressing up can also boost your confidence and self-perception. A well-known psychological phenomenon known as “enclothed cognition” suggests that our clothes can influence our psychological processes. You may feel more authoritative, focused, and in control by dressing professionally.
Lastly, it allows for a ritual to mark the end of the workday. Changing out of your work clothes can signal to your brain that the workday is over, helping you to relax and unwind.
7 Set Boundaries with Housemates to Gain Productivity in Lockdown
Setting clear boundaries with the people you live with is essential for maintaining focus and reducing interruptions. This is particularly challenging if you have children, roommates, or a partner working from home.
Communicate your work schedule to your housemates. Tell them your start and end times and when you’ll take breaks. This helps set expectations and minimizes interruptions during your concentrated work periods.
Consider setting physical boundaries as well. Keep the door closed during work hours if you have a separate room as your workspace. If you’re working in a shared space, use headphones to signal that you’re in work mode.
Negotiate shared responsibilities. If you have children, coordinate with your partner or family to manage childcare and homeschooling. If you’re living with roommates, discuss shared chores and responsibilities to ensure they don’t fall solely on you during work hours.
Lastly, educate your housemates about the nature of your work. This is particularly important for jobs that require deep concentration or confidentiality. The more they understand your work demands, the more likely they are to respect your boundaries.
Working from home is convenient, and it’s all we ever want. But it also presents a unique set of challenges, mainly caused by this environment’s countless distractions. You can, however, enhance your experience by following the tips above.
