READ TIME – 5 MINUTES
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a huge shift in the way we work. During 2020, the number of people who worked full-time at home rose from 5.1% to 43.1%. In fact, 98% of workers now want to work remotely at least some of the time. But let’s face it, working from home is a completely unique way of working. With all the distractions around, it’s easy to lose focus and productivity. So, how do you stay on top of your game when working from home? Let’s find out!
Create An Environment That Fosters Productivity
Your workspace plays a crucial role in determining your productivity. The environment you work in has a significant impact on your mindset and growth. Employees working in a positive atmosphere tend to be more motivated and produce high-quality work. To create a positive atmosphere while working from home, you must choose a dedicated work area. You should pick a location that minimises distractions, which could mean staying away from the TV or using a room where no one will interrupt you. Other factors include wifi accessibility, available space, noise level, and natural light.
Did you know that employees working in spaces with natural light tend to have better sleep quality, which results in increased productivity throughout the day?
Now that you have arranged a dedicated workspace, you need to ensure that you have all the necessary equipment. Making small improvements to your workstation can offer a range of benefits. For instance, purchasing an ergonomic chair can help maximise productivity while working from home. It will reduce the likelihood of back pain and increase your energy and confidence levels.
Before you begin working from home, it is highly recommended that you establish a set of clear boundaries with your household. It can be easy for family, friends, or housemates to forget that even though you are at home, you are still working. To minimise any potential disruptions, it would be wise to have a conversation with your household in advance and let them know about your working arrangements.
Get Into Good Habits
When working from home, it’s wise to establish a routine. Although there is no pressure to get ready, it’s a good idea to follow a similar routine to your typical office workday. Getting ready in the morning will help you maintain a professional mindset, indicating that it’s time for work and setting you up for a productive day. In addition to having a morning routine, you should create a daily schedule that suits you. This will assist you in managing your workload and completing tasks efficiently.
It’s vital to switch off from work once your shift is over. When working from home, it can be difficult to switch off and unwind without a physical commute to signal the end of your workday. To combat this, it is recommended that you create a short routine that replaces the journey home.
A good routine could be to review and update your to-do list, check your schedule for the next day, tidy up your workspace, and ensure all equipment is put away. This will help you feel more organised and prepared for a fresh, productive start the next day.
In order to stay productive whilst working from home, you should take short breaks throughout the day. It’s best to take regular, brief breaks than to take longer breaks less often. The key to maintaining productivity is to take a 5-10 minute break every 2 hours rather than a 20-minute break every 4 hours.
Productivity Tips
Set Daily & Weekly Goals
Research shows that goal setting can increase work performance by as much as 20% – 25%. Therefore you should aim to create a set of goals each week, some daily goals, and others more long term. When creating goals, you should follow the SMART criteria. (An example of a SMART goal could be: “As a team, secure 15 sales by the end of the month by using a proactive prospecting approach.”
S-specific
M-measurable
A-achievable
R-realistic
T-time-bound
Don’t Multitask
Multitasking can be a killer to productivity. Although doing multiple tasks at once might sound productive, it’s much better to focus on quality over quantity. Multitasking can result in a drop in productivity by as much as 40%! Studies show that our brains can’t handle more than one task at a time. Even though we think we’re multitasking, our brains are actually switching rapidly between tasks. Therefore, when trying to be productive you mustn’t multitask.
Prioritise Tasks Efficiently
You should begin by writing down all your daily, weekly and monthly tasks. Once you’ve got your tasks written down, you can determine which tasks are most important. Consider who the task impacts and the rewards and outcomes of not completing it. Once you’ve determined each task’s priority level you can pick an approach to manage them. A common strategy is the “Eat The Frog” in which you would tackle the most time-consuming and challenging tasks before moving on to the quick wins.
Stay Productive When Working From Home
With working from home becoming increasingly popular, it’s important to understand how to remain productive when working from home. Overall you’ll need to consider the workspace you choose and all the factors that affect productivity. In addition to creating a productive workspace, you’ll also have to foster some productive habits like taking regular short breaks and setting goals.
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