Work from Home – How to be More Productive
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, both small enterprises and major corporations have implemented work-from-home policies in various regions of the world. More and more businesses are becoming home-based and requiring remote workers.
While leaving a regimented office setting for the comfort of your home may be the dream for some, doing so can be difficult in unexpected ways. It’s essential to learn how to work from home if you want to be productive and efficient in your profession, so we’ll start you off with some excellent work-from-home tips.
There are more distractions, less accountability, and less communication at home than there are at work. Also, let’s not forget that you need a reliable internet connection when working remotely.
It’s quite normal to have tension, a lack of motivation, anxiety, and uncertainty when you are working from home. These simple tips can help you increase your productivity and feel inspired while working from home, as well as taking care of your mental health.
Establish a Productive Workstation
Even while it may sound cozy to work from your bed or favorite chair on the couch, designating an area solely for work will boost your productivity. If at all possible, pick a distinct space that receives plenty of natural light to serve as your dedicated home office.
Making a physical separation between working and unwinding in separate areas of your home can aid in establishing distinct boundaries between your personal and professional lives.
Choose a room in your house that is farthest away from domestic noise and distractions if you don’t have access to this option.
Keep Distractions to a Minimum at Home
While working from home has numerous advantages, there may also be additional distractions to be aware of. It could become alluring to begin household tasks while at work or to turn on the TV when you’re at home.
Try setting aside a specific amount of time for cleaning and make sure your workstation is organized and clean before the workday to combat these possible distractions. Try listening to music instead of turning on the TV.
Listening to different forms of music at various times can improve mood, lower stress levels, and improve cognitive function. You will not only get over a distraction, but you will also find a solution.
Stay Away from Social Media
One of the most common sources of distraction as more time is spent on gadgets is a rise in social media use, which may become addicting without the customary restrictions that limit access in an office setting.
If you’re spending too much time on social media, we recommend logging out of all accounts during work hours or turning off notifications, particularly on your smartphone. Additionally, deleting social network links from your desktop browser might aid in lowering temptation and motivating you to choose when you want to explore and post updates there with more awareness.
Make a Timetable That Works for You
Employees that follow a timetable are better able to manage their workload, finish projects on time, and decide when to take on more work. Though we usually recommend using one of the various templates that are available to help you plan your day, have you ever thought about how to customize a calendar for you specifically?
Each person has a unique biological rhythm (chronotype), which is influenced by their genes, age, and environment and affects when they feel most awake. It alerts you to get up in the morning, and be ready to go to sleep at night.
Knowing your chronotype will help you build a schedule that works for your internal clock while also taking advantage of the flexibility that remote work offers.
Tools for Maintaining Contact with Your Coworkers
Speaking with coworkers is an unavoidable aspect of the workday when you work in a typical office setting, from casual discussions during break times to discussing projects, news, and industry trends.
These kinds of casual chats could be eliminated if people work from home, which could make them feel lonely and disengaged. Installing instant messaging programs like Slack can help with connectivity at home and make it simple to hold casual interactions with your company.
In the meantime, doing frequent video conferences on a platform like MS Teams can assist coworkers in maintaining positive working relationships and recognizing nonverbal clues.
Strategies for Remote Team Communication
The majority of workplace communication strategies were created with the idea that a team would be seated together in an office building. Given this, it shouldn’t be surprising to learn that internal communication tools and techniques need to be modified for remote work.
One of the primary difficulties in making the switch to remote work is that it might disrupt the daily routine and eliminate the casual discussions that keep workers on task. With this in mind, employers must implement a communications strategy to aid team members in feeling a part of the organization and inform them about the job that is expected of them.
Establishing a calendar for regular company updates, team meetings, and one-on-one meetings will encourage employees to feel engaged, maintain focus, and voice any problems they may have.
In order to preserve a productive working relationship, supervisors should convey to their team members how frequently they need their progress updates.
The Bottom Line
Although moving your work environment to your home can be difficult, you can still have a productive workday by making a few minor adjustments to your routine and workspace. Try out some of the above-mentioned working-from-home tips to see what works for you and your family.