Remote work: Nowadays, working from home has become a familiar thing and is in demand by employees. The reason is that you get more flexible working hours and you don’t have to follow office hours.
Not only that, working from home is preferred because it saves time and you don’t have to travel to work and can dress casually without having to follow office uniform rules. However, working from home has its challenges, one of which is the distraction that can hinder work productivity.
Distractions during work remotely can be multiplied, ranging from the desire to watch TV, relax, go on social media, do domestic or household chores, being bothered by fussy children, the temptation to multitask, and so on.
Thus, working from home also requires strategies to keep you productive, disciplined, and have higher self-motivation because there is no manager or superior to monitor while you are working. Let’s dive into the best tips for staying productive while working remotely:
Why it is crucial to be productive in a remote work environment
Working at home is not as easy and relaxing as we think. It has its challenges because employees have to divide their work time with their time taking care of the house.
It’s twice as hard when your employees have families. Without good work productivity and efficiency methods, it will be difficult for employees to separate their work time and time at home.
Mixing these two things haphazardly can make your employees quickly bored with the situation at home, resulting in prolonged stress. Time management is a big challenge for employees. If one manages it, employee productivity is at stake.
Therefore, productivity and time efficiency is essential for your employees to achieve work-life balance and survive in this difficult time. This efficiency must be accompanied by good time management skills as well.
8 Tips for staying productive while working remotely
1. Wake up early and start your day with a set routine
Most people find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning. But, if you want to be productive in a remote work environment, one of the best things you can do is to wake up early and start your day with a set routine.
It will provide structure and purpose to your days. Waking up early gives you a jump start on the day, allowing you to get ahead of any tasks that need to be completed. It also helps with getting into the right mindset for working remotely.
You can start by tackling the most essential tasks first. Once you’ve completed these tasks, you can move on to the less important ones. That way, you will make it easier to keep up your focus and productivity.
2. Create a designated workspace in your home
Once you have established a routine, it is important to create an atmosphere that is conducive to productivity. Make sure that your workspace is organized and clutter-free, so you can focus on completing tasks without distraction.
It can be difficult if you don’t have a separate room that you can use as an office, but you can still try and create a space that is free from distractions and conducive to working.
If possible, make sure your workspace is well-lit and comfortable so that you can focus on your work. It can be tempting to work from your bed or the couch, but you’ll be more productive if you have a designated area for your work.
3. Leveraging technology and tools
During work from home, maintaining communication with colleagues and the team is very important because, without good communication, work activities will be hampered so work productivity will also decrease.
With the current technology, it won’t be difficult to find tools to communicate and use them, such as WhatsApp, Zoom, Google Hangout, Microsoft Teams, etc. This can be used as a medium for your team to hold joint meetings online.
You can also leverage several media to make it easier for you to convey information effectively, such as explainer videos, infographics ideas, presentation videos, and so on.
This can keep you connected and create a routine agenda where all workers can join to build communication space.
4. Set boundaries with family and friends
Communication with colleagues is key in a remote work environment. Make sure to stay connected with them by setting up regular video calls or chat sessions throughout the day.
This will help build relationships between co-workers while keeping everyone on track with their respective tasks.
5. Make a daily to-do list and stick to it
One of the most important aspects of staying productive in a remote work environment is to create a set daily routine that you can stick to.
This means waking up early and starting your day with the same activities, such as making your bed, having a healthy breakfast and doing some light exercise, and taking a short walk outside.
This will energize your body and help clear your mind, so you can think more clearly when it comes time to complete tasks. After breakfast, make sure to establish a routine that works for you and stick to it!
6. Take breaks throughout the day
Working from home can be isolating, so it’s important to take breaks to socialize and step away from your desk.
This could include reading a book, meditating, or doing something else that helps you to relax and recharge. Taking regular breaks throughout the day is also important so that you don’t become overwhelmed or suffer from burnout.
It will also help you to increase your concentration on your work. When you take breaks, try to do something that will help you relax and clear your mind so that you can come back to work refreshed and ready to go.
7. Eliminate the Digital Distractions
Distractions can come in all shapes and sizes, but let’s face it. For example, our phones are the main source of our distractions. To keep ourselves productive, we can start by putting down our phones to commit to work.
With a little willpower, we can even treat our phones as something that benefits our productivity. Compared to five hours of binge-watching or playing games, two hours of searching for work-related information online will be more rewarding.
Takeaway
Most people might love the idea of working from home. The freedom and flexibility it offers are incredible. But there’s one problem: it’s easy to get lost in your own home. Without an office to go to each day, it can be easy to start slacking off.
Therefore, by following these tips mentioned above, you can be productive while working remotely! Establishing a set routine and creating an optimal workspace will help ensure success in this new virtual world we find ourselves in.