The current situation has forced most companies and businesses to work from home, and there is a plus side to it indeed! With no worries about long commutes, and the freedom to make yourself a quick snack when you want to, working from home can be a great option for many professionals.
However, if you replace long commutes with the temptation to catch up on your favourite TV show or steal that precious afternoon nap, things can become different!
Work from home has its own challenges, when you are surrounded by distractions.
So, here are some helpful tips which will make things a little bit easier for you.
- Have a dedicated workspace – One of the biggest mistakes people make while working from home is that they try to get into the work mode while sitting on the couch or lying down on their beds. You need a dedicated, organized workspace where you can concentrate. Set up a desk in a quiet corner of the house with your stationery, laptop, etc. organized neatly.
- Set timings and adhere to them- Just because you’re not in the office doesn’t mean you don’t need a routine. Of course, you have the flexibility to set your own hours. But set a schedule and stick to it. Set your own goals for the day and set out to achieve them with all the energy and enthusiasm. Once you are done with it, finish and call it a day. If you are unable to finish something, keep it for the next day just as you would in office.
- Plan your tasks when you start work for the day- Before you start work in the morning, set aside a few minutes to review what you have for the day, like urgent deliverables, etc., and set your agenda for the day. This can help you stay focussed on what’s important rather than wasting your time on unproductive things.
- Take regular breaks but don’t overdo it. Exercise self-discipline- Take breaks like you would in an office. Step outside the room, walk around, check on kids, etc. Breaks can help you refresh your mind and focus better. However, it is important to exercise self-discipline. Practice the Pomodoro technique, which allows you to take a 5-minute break after every 25 minutes. Once you’ve completed four 25-minute blocks, it allows you to relax a bit for 10-15 minutes. It is a popular time management technique that allows you to stay fresh and focused.
- Set your own targets for the day- Set yourself targets for the day and practice all techniques to accomplish that. Goals and deadlines help you stay on track. Set SMART goals.
S- Specific. Be specific about what you want to achieve in a day. For instance, you can decide to write 3 articles in a day.
M- Measurable. Set goals that allow you to measure your overall progress.
A- Achievable. Set targets that are achievable in a day. For instance, it’s alright if your ultimate goal is to bag that million-dollar project from a multinational company, but that cannot be your target for the day.
R- Realistic. Be realistic when you set your targets for the day.
T- Time-bound. Set yourself timeframes within which you plan to complete the said task. Say, for instance, you can plan to write a report for a meeting in the next two hours.
Use automation tools – Use tools and techniques that help you to be more productive during the day.
- Asana – It is a project/task management tool. It makes it easy for you to manage tasks, assign tasks to people, and upload files and documents for teams to follow.
- Hootsuite- This helps manage all social media platforms from a single interface.
- Buffer – With this, you can post content and schedule posts for multiple social media channels from a single dashboard.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, remote working offers a world of benefits that go well beyond skipping a commute. You get to be at home with your kids and family while you pursue your career. You can literally have the best of both worlds. All you need is some self-discipline and time management skills so that you can enjoy a healthy work-life balance. Apply these simple tips mentioned above to streamline your routine and increase your productivity.
