Whether the pandemic forced you to work from home or you landed a remote job, it doesn’t matter. To accommodate to new work arrangement, you surely had to change your habits and routines. As much as they differ from other remote workers, you still have one challenge in common. That is productivity. If you still haven’t found a way to maximize your efficiency, here are 10 work from home tips to help you out.Â
Set Up a Dedicated Workspace
Remote employees should have two different computers, one they would use for professional purposes and the other for private ones. Moreover, they should have a separate room in their home and set it up for a dedicated workspace. However, this is rarely the case. That is why you have to work with what you got. Find a nice and peaceful corner in your house big enough to fit a desk, chair, laptop, and office supplies. This will be enough for you to stay away from distractions and focus on work.
Communicate Effectively with Colleagues
One of the hardest things to do when you work from home is keeping up effective communication with colleagues. To overcome such an obstacle, you should try to find the right tool. For example, an intranet can help you not only interact but also share information, files, and updates with everyone at work. Having full access to the latest information along with communicating efficiently will be enough for you to stay productive and do your job right.
Take Breaks Often
When you work from home, there are no colleagues to suggest taking a lunch or coffee break. That is why you can easily overwork yourself and forget to take a break when your mind and body need it the most. Therefore, whenever your mind starts to wander, it is a good time to stop whatever you are doing and take a break.
Drink a cup of coffee, enjoy a healthy meal or a snack, or just taking a short walk around your home to stretch your legs will help you regain focus and get back to work feeling super productive. While taking a break can have positive effects on your state of mind, taking breaks to often can lead to the opposite results. However, finding the right balance is key.Â
Overuse Video Calls
For extroverted remote workers, isolation and loneliness are the main problems with this work arrangement. If you are an extrovert too, then you know what work from home feels like. The easiest way to socialize when you work from home is through video calls. That is why you should overuse them. This way you can interact with coworkers and feel connected and included no matter where you work from.
Follow a Routine in the Morning
To get in the mood for work, you should add some steps to your morning routine. For example, you can make a cup of coffee and while drinking it, look at your to-do list. Similarly, you can check your inboxes first thing in the morning which will help you shift from a private to a professional role. You can even dress for work. Whatever will help you prepare mentally for the day ahead of you.Â
End Your Workday with a Routine
You start your workday following a certain routine that puts you in the work mood. Therefore, you should also end your workday with a routine marking the end of a long day in the home office. For example, turn off your devices, or practise self-care. Whatever helps you unplug.Â
Unless you’re sleepy, the choices are almost endless. Watch a movie, prepare a healthy dinner, work out, if you have a pet take it out for a walk or just change into your PJ’s and have a dance party. You deserve it!
Set Rules for Family Members
The golden rule of remote work is to set rules for family members. If you have kids, you should talk with them about what they can and can’t do during your working hours. The same goes for your partner. Make them understand when and how they can reach you in case they have to. Just because you work from home, it doesn’t mean you are always available and your loved ones should understand and respect that.
Take a Day Off
When you start feeling sick or low, take a day off or all the time you need until you start feeling better. If you are sick, you can’t give your best at work. For this reason, there is no need for you to power through sickness. Take some time off, nurse yourself back to health, and come back stronger and more productive.
Overextending yourself can lead to burnout. This state can cause a dip in the quality of your work which will eventually make you frustrated, angry and leave you in a negative mindset which will reflect on your performance.Â
Remain Positive
Communication between remote team members lacks non-verbal cues which are an important part of any conversation. That is why, during the conversation, you may sound harsher than you intended. To keep it effective, you have to remain positive at all times. Use punctuation marks and emojis. Express your emotions and stay positive for higher efficiency in the digital workplace.
These times are harsh, and it’s been too long already, so lifting each other’s spirits is important both in private and professional life.Â
Avoid Distractions
Work from home is difficult for most employees because home offices usually contain a few too many distractions. Since you work online, it is easy to access YouTube and lose track of time watching videos. Similarly, you never had easier access to social media.
To be productive, you should avoid distractions at all costs. Try using anti-distraction tools to help you focus better on your tasks. Also, practice some self – discipline. It’s a skill that can be beneficial in your career development
To conclude, if you are struggling with productivity, you might want to consider following our work from home tips. They will help you maximize your productivity and deliver your best work.
