Working from home, which is part of the new normal. It comes with its own set of benefits and challenges just like working from an office. One challenge remote workers may constantly struggle with lies in staying productive. Since it is work from home, there is every tendency to get ‘too comfortable’.
If you’re worried about your productivity as a remote worker, there are a few tips you can follow to maximize your productivity for greater workflow. Here are three ways you can stay productive while working from home:
1. Don’t forget to take breaks
It’s common knowledge that taking breaks throughout your workday actually makes you more productive. Do you realise that when you worked in an office, you rarely sat at your desk for the stretch of eight hours? You probably took a few 15-minute breaks occasionally, ate lunch at a location other than your desk and stretched your nerves. Same for working from home, you shouldn’t sit in front of your computer the entire day. This would affect your productivity adversely. Always make it a priority to take breaks whenever you start feeling unmotivated. Get outside. Go for a walk. Get some fresh air. Clear your mind. Some exercise and vitamin D will reenergize you and motivate you to finish that task you’ve been procrastinating.
2. Infuse fun activities after the day’s work
Planning fun activities after the day’s work is a good motivation. This would make you more time-conscious enough to get the work done because there is something exciting coming up afterward. But if your after-work plans are sources of distraction and it’s the only thing you can think about,know that your focus on specific tasks will make time go by faster. Hence those plans will come quicker if you keep busy and don’t just stare at the clock idly.
3. Stay organised
Being organized helps tremendously when you’re having a hard time staying productive while working from home. Don’t underestimate the power of to-do lists and sticking to a schedule on your productivity levels. When you a make a to-do list it gives a visual of all the tasks you need to complete daily. Research shows many professionals find that it can be very motivating to cross each item off the list.It gives a sense of fulfillment. A to-do list helps prioritize tasks, and ensures that all that needs to be done, are done. Moreso, sticking to a schedule helps you stay productive. With a set schedule, you’ll be able to plan out what you want your day to look like, and then you can just follow that until you log off.