5 Productivity Tips for Working From Home

People who are turning to remote work to continue earning an income through the lockdown are finding this option isn't as easy as they assumed it would be. The challenge comes in finding new ways to be productive amid the many distractions that are common in a home environment. The following guide will help you set up a strategy for working more efficiently through those distractions.

Set a Rigid Schedule

If you don't pay attention to your routine, you could waste more time than you intend on activities that aren't work-related. To maximize your productivity, you should set aside specific hours that are devoted to working tasks. You should treat these hours as though you're in your office, far from the distractions at home. 


If you have younger children and you're home alone with them, tend to their needs without allowing yourself to get caught up in playful activities. You'll have time to spend with your children after your workday is complete. Older children can be taught to stay away from your work area except in cases of household emergencies. This will take some adjusting, but creating a rigid schedule will help ensure you're still meeting your work commitments.


Divide Your Day Into Blocks

Even after you succeed at creating a set schedule for yourself, you can still get caught up in work activities that aren't really productive. It's easy to spend too much time answering emails, or scrolling social media, only to find out you didn't complete half of what you intended. There's a fairly simple solution to this. Use a daily planner to separate your day into hour-long blocks and assign specific tasks to each block.

 

People are most productive at the start of the workday so it makes sense to schedule your most important, or more complex tasks for the first half of your workday. Minor tasks can be delegated to the middle blocks of your day, but your last time block should be reserved for answering emails and returning phone calls.


Communication is More Important Than Ever

While most calls can be returned at the end of your day, some work-related calls may be time-sensitive. Additionally, you may need to communicate with other remote workers throughout your day. Wearing an office headset is one way you can take those calls while still remaining productive. 


You may also find it's easier to communicate via text messaging in some cases. There are many new apps on the market that are excellent for instant messaging, video conference calls, and for sending files. Making use of communication technology can help you stay in touch with your manager, co-workers, and clients throughout the day without compromising your productivity.


Create Your Own Office Space

Another step you can take in eliminating distractions at home is to create your own office space. This can involve setting aside space in one section of a room or creating a home office that's devoted to your work. Either way, the other members of your household should be aware that the area is strictly your space and, except for emergencies, no one should intrude on this area. Additionally, avoid keeping a radio, television, video game console, and other distractions in this area. It's easy to get lost in these sources of entertainment only to find out that you haven't met your goals for the day. You can relax after your workday is over.


Plan Your Day

At the end of your scheduled workday, take time for your family and for yourself. This is the time to ask your spouse and your kids about their day, watch a movie with your family or engage in other social activities. You can also use some of this time to exercise, practice yoga, or engage in a relaxing hobby. 


Before you go to bed, take a few minutes to plan out your blocks of time for the next day. You should set goals for yourself and jot those down, too. Your time blocks should be a strategy for achieving those goals, so keep your daily objectives attainable. By creating your schedule on the previous night, you can jump right into your workday as soon as you wake up in the morning.

As with anything, more practice will help you get better at remote work.

 

Some of these tips may not work for you, while other practices not listed here may be ideal for your situation. The important thing is to continue trying new ways to improve your productivity until you find a system that works for you.

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