6 Work-From-Home Productivity Tips

6 WORK-FROM-HOME PRODUCTIVITY TIPS

     Nunzio Presta
     Senior Sales and Marketing Executive

ESTABLISH YOUR WORKING HOURS

You may have a flexible schedule when working remotely but sometimes, it can get the best of you. Working and living in the same place can blur your boundaries between work and life balance.

There could be times that you work too much due to the “Get it done now” attitude even after working hours, or be too relaxed and push your tasks to be done later but end up not having enough time to finish them.

Sticking to a work schedule that you create yourself could establish a line between your work life and personal life. This can help you get more tasks done within your schedule and give you time for yourself. It may take you some time to get used to following your schedule but once you get a grip on it, you’ll see all the benefits it can bring to your productivity.

DON’T LOCK YOURSELF AWAY

It is a relief to be freed from the everyday commute and constant traffic once you start working from home. However, this setup could make you feel alone and could lead to a decrease in your work performance.

People mostly struggle with this feeling, especially when transitioning from an office job to working from home. You might end up missing the time when a colleague would randomly drop by your desk to ask about some tasks or even just to chit-chat for a bit to release some pressure from all the tasks you are doing.

To combat this loneliness, try to socialize with your family and friends regularly. This will make you feel like there are still people around you that you can talk with when you need to blow off some steam or when you want to enjoy some relaxation that you well deserve after working so hard for the whole week.

Try to join some after-work zoom get-togethers that your company may organize for all of their employees. These activities are mainly done to get to know your colleagues personally by sharing hobbies and interests out of work. It could also help the team be more harmonious and trusting of each other, which will translate into a better result on projects and work tasks.

BE ORGANIZED

Working from home means that you’re working on your own without constantly being micromanaged. It is a relief when you don’t feel like someone is always checking over your shoulder and making sure you are doing what you are supposed to do. It feels reassuring when someone understands that you are doing your job as long as you finish your work on time.

To keep this kind of understanding and treatment, you should also keep your end of the bargain. You need to work on and finish all your tasks without anyone reminding you of your due date. KEEP TRACK OF EVERY TASK.

Always be organized when it comes to your tasks. This is the only way you will be able to track everything. Having a work schedule, which we mentioned earlier, works hand-in-hand with the task organization. Adding timelines on when you will do specific tasks is important to manage your time and will lead to timely submission of reports and task turnovers.

HAVE A DESIGNATED WORKSPACE

One of the perks of having a remote job is getting to choose where you work and start anytime you want. You can work in your living room, dining room, or even on your bed. It’s pretty much anywhere as long as you have a stable internet connection.

Even so, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a designated office area. One drawback of not having a designated workspace is that you are more likely to get distracted from your work due to other people (or pets) you live with or various things surrounding you.

Having a room or space in your house dedicated only to working can take you away from distractions and noises. You will be able to focus more on finishing your work tasks and spending your day productively. This also helps draw the line between your work and personal time. For example, once you clock out and get out of that designated workroom, you will be less likely to go back to work after working hours.

TAKE SHORT BREAKS

It is tempting to finish everything in one sitting and get everything done at once, but that’s not healthy. Working from home can make you more prone to overworking and taking fewer breaks when working for the whole day.

It is not enough for you to just sit for 15 minutes in front of your screen and call it a break. Get a cup of coffee, stretch, and relax in the kitchen for a bit. It is good to take short breaks and be in a different environment for a couple of minutes.

Take these breaks regularly whether you are feeling inspired with work at the moment or feeling stuck in some tasks. This clears your head and refreshes perspective, and prevents you from feeling burnt out.

REWARD YOURSELF!

Even though you don’t have a manager who is supervising you physically, you still deserve some appreciation at the end of the day. You deserve a reward after working all day alone and managing to stay productive.

Did you do a great job today and your boss commended you for it? Or was a client was so satisfied with your presentation that they spent the time to email you about it?

If those things happen, pat yourself on the back and reward yourself! You, of all people, know how much effort you have given to finish every task successfully.

Rewarding yourself throughout the day can keep you motivated and stay on your momentum.

Closed a deal? Order that pizza!

Finally wrapped up that report you’ve been working on for the whole week? You deserve an afternoon nap!

No reward is big or small as long as it celebrates your achievement for the days, weeks, or months of hard work.

CONCLUSION

Your work-from-home job could be as productive as you want to be so long as you will be taking the necessary steps in keeping your focus on your work. This work setup gives you more responsibilities than just finishing your tasks. You will need to put in some extra effort on your end to keep your enthusiasm and productivity at a high level while working.

Even if you are exerting more effort to work remotely, make sure not to forget about your breaks and reward yourself now and then. This will help prevent you from being burnt out and keep you motivated to continue your work with a smile on your face.