Remote working comes with its own perks like flexibility, increased performance, and greater work-life balance. But working from home because of the novel coronavirus pandemic is a whole new situation for many professionals. If you are one of the people who have started telecommuting for the very first time, you may find that it is not as easy as you may have supposed.
When you are doing freelancing or working as a full-time employee in a company but working from home, there are so many distractions, a lack of accountability, and fewer in-person interactions with supervisors and co-workers than when you are working in the company’s office. However, here we have compiled a list of work from home tips to help you make sure that you are getting work done while maintaining your physical and mental well being at the same time.
Work From Home Tips to Increase Productivity While Telecommuting
Here are some proven tips that you can employ right now to prove yourself as a successful remote worker during the coronavirus global pandemic.
Get Started Early
When working from home, the transition from your bed to your work station can be more jarring than you think. Diving into your daily work routine as soon as you wake up in the morning is the best way to increase productivity as a remote worker. So, create a schedule that starts early in the morning to get more done without losing focus and motivation. Otherwise, morning sluggishness can wear your motivation away to end up your day with nothing done.
Create Work from Home Schedule
When working alone (from home), you should create a more structured schedule than the office. When telecommuting, you are about to have a day with a lack of normal structure that you experience in the office. A properly planned schedule can be a more powerful tool than anything else to help you get started each day productively and with improved focus. The beauty of remote working is that you can set your own hours to work. So, set real work hours and stick with the schedule to accomplish more as a telecommuter. You can also use a digital planner or calendar like Google calendar to stay on top of tasks effectively.
Choose a Dedicated Workspace
Choosing a dedicated workspace is one of the best work from home tips to increase productivity and efficiency. Instead of cooping yourself up with spaces associated with leisure time, choose a permanent workspace in your home. Establish an area of your home where you can work properly without experiencing any distractions. This could be a spare bedroom or sitting area. If you are living with family, setting up a separate home office may not be possible. But you can discuss and commit to a particular area of your home where you can work without any interruption.
Invest in Right Tools and Technology
Telecommuting may require advanced tech and tools like a heavy-duty laptop, a quality internet modem, project management solution and communication apps, etc. So, make sure to invest in the right work from home tools and tech to get more done without wasting both time and resources. Use professional tools and apps to communicate with your supervisors and team members.
Work When You’re at Your Most Productive
Nobody runs through work from morning to evening by having stable motivation as motivation levels naturally ebb and flow. And when you are working from home, you should choose the time of day when you are more productive. You should also plan your schedule accordingly. Save more productive period for tough tasks and use slower hours of the day to accomplish the easier tasks that require less effort and motivation.
Do Something that Makes you Feel Good
In order to keep yourself productive as a remote worker, you should be doing something every day that makes you feel good. This could be watching a funny video, listening to music, cuddling with your beloved pet, or just a quick nap. As a result, you can be more productive and focused to complete more even in less time.
Take Regular Breaks
Taking regular breaks is one of the best work from home tips as no one else is going to stop you for a break. So, use apps like TimeOut (for Mac) or Smart Break (for Windows) to get yourself out of the work. You can also use a standard alarm clock to take regular breaks from work and give yourself some rest.
Practice Self-care
Practicing self-care is imperative when you are working from home. You are only able to perform better when you are both mentally and physically fit & healthy. So, take good care of your diet, health, and exercise to stay fit and healthy in this novel COVID-19 pandemic while working from home. Go outside often for a short walk for some fresh air and sunlight.
