With working from home seemingly becoming a new norm for many people, the ever underlying challenge remains – how do I stay productive whilst working from home?
Whether you’re working in the office, at home or even on the beach, there are always bound to be some distractions. When working from home, distractions can come in the form of family members, friends, social media, television, the urge to sleep or relax.
Succumbing to temptations, can derail your focus. Often you may find yourself accomplishing very little which can inconvenience your colleagues and damage your reputation. Your manager will be convinced to not trust you without direct supervision. As such, it is important to maintain your productivity to meet your target goals or KPIs.
Productivity Tools
To be productive, you need the resources that will enable you to perform your work at home just as efficient as at the office. Access to the relevant software, whether you do project management, accounting, HR, finance or whichever field you’re in, would enable you to perform your job responsibilities.
- Communication Tools
Working from home actually requires a greater sense of communication and teamwork given that certain advantages of working in close proximity is removed. To stay productive at home, communication tools such as Zoom, Slack or Google Meetings is essential to keep projects going in terms of updates, collaborations and sharing of important information.
- Desk Planner/Calendar
Desk planners or calendars are crucial to organise your work day and week. They allow you to plan the tasks you’re going to on a particular day, at a particular time. Whereas in an office, these schedules may be maintained by an office manager or assistant, working from home involves a greater sense of accountability. You, therefore, are in charge of your schedule. Using a desk planner or Google Calendar will schedule your work so you can be more productive.
- A List of Tasks and Responsibilities
Often at the workplace, we rely on our superiors to delegate work. Working from home means, you essentially have to compile your list. Your manager can still delegate tasks to you over the phone or online, but you have some degree of autonomy to identify when and how those tasks will be completed.
You can prioritise tasks in terms of importance to ensure you stay on par with your team’s progress and remain productive.
Working From Home Tools
- Work-friendly Work Space
Being productive while working from home means that your home working environment has to be conducive to the work you’re doing. Whether you prefer a relaxed or a more interactive environment, the space you work must support your ability to concentrate and execute your tasks productively. This includes a sturdy desk structure, comfortable seating, appropriate lighting and ventilation as well as a space devoid of distractions from family or entertainment.
- Reliable & High-speed Internet Connection
You will spend a great deal of time conducting zoom meetings, working on Google documents, researching, emailing, operating software and sharing information. It is imperative that you have a reliable and high-speed internet connection to perform these tasks. Lack of internet connectivity means no work gets done which means no productivity!
- Work Devices
To utilise a reliable internet connection and the relevant software, your home work space must be outfitted with the right devices to use which enable you to get your job done as if you were in your office. Whether it’s a desktop, laptop, cell phone, printer, scanner or telephone, ensure you have suitable devices at home that provides what you need for your work.
How to be Productive at Home
With the right productivity tools at your disposal, it is equally important to observe various several important tips in order to ensure your time is used productively.
- Stick to Your Schedule
The list of daily tasks in your planner or calendar must be adhered to. Set time limits using a timer or app to measure your work progress and how efficiently you utilise your time. The tasks in your planner are a guide as to what is critical to complete for the day. See that you think to it, unless directed otherwise by your superior.
- Limit Social Media
You may do it sparingly at the office when the boss is not around. However, with no direct supervision at home, that five minute browsing through social media can turn into hours of mindless scrolling at the expense of your work output. Put your phone away, until the task you say you’re going to finish is over.
- Set Boundaries with Family and Friends
Truth is, you’re home and so perhaps are your children or other family members. They undoubtedly will be vying for your time and attention. Therefore, it is necessary to give yourself productive time blocks. Communicate to your family that you’re focusing on work and ask not to be disturbed for trivial matters. If you’re a parent, it would be helpful if your children are preoccupied while you are working to get the maximum productive use of your time.
- Know Your Productive Window
Some people are larks, where they’re most productive in the mornings. Others are night owls. Whatever your productive window is, always try to perform your most tedious tasks at the start of your work schedule. Your energy will be at its maximum and completing the most tiresome tasks will allow the rest of the day to flow smoothly.
- Take Necessary Breaks
Ultimately, working from home does bring several perks being at the office doesn’t. Here, you can schedule your own breaks from work. This gives you the time to nourish yourself, de-stress your mind, attend to your family and catch up on social media. Taking breaks will ensure you prevent fatigue, burnout and maintain your productivity.
What should I do next?
- Read this Remote Jobs in Jamaica
- Read this Working from Home in Barbados
