More and more companies nowadays, such as Twitter, Google and Microsoft are starting to see the benefits of the WFH (work from home) model and are now starting to adopt it.
Well, I don’t blame them given that the average business owner saves a ton of $$$ on rent, cleaning services, food, etc.
You’d think that working in the comfort of one’s home would actually increase productivity. You’re not wrong. During the beginning of the pandemic, the world has observed an increase in productivity amongst employees, namely the emergency state. In this state, the performance amongst employees is high and teams pull together and become highly productive. However, a few months into the pandemic, we observe that productivity levels are starting to regress. The regression phase happens when people start to get tired and lose their sense of purpose.
This is totally normal and for this reason, I’ve put together 5 tips to help you recover and thrive while working from home:
- Have a dedicated space for work.
The quality of workspace is essential to productivity and overall performance. Let’s just take a minute to think about it. If you work full-time, you probably spend at least eight hours in your workspace, right? It is, therefore, vital that you create a space where you can train yourself to know that this is where I work. Working on the bed where you sleep, for example, will mess you up and probably affect your productivity levels.
- Keep your office – and desktop – tidy.
I hate to admit that both my desk and laptop are usually, or should I say most of the time, a complete mess. I usually spend ages trying to find a lost document. This is a common phenomenon amongst information workers as they spend up to two hours a week looking for lost digital documents. This often leads to feelings of frustration and stress. In fact, cluttered spaces can significantly influence our mental well-being. If you’re struggling with keeping organised there are several tools and applications that can help you stay on top of your work. (Link for another article here).
- Set a timer.
A timer sounds frustrating, I know. For many of us, time is an enemy. We often work against time in order to finish our tasks and meet our deadlines. Pomodoro technique is a time management system that teaches you to work with time and be time-efficient. Here’s how it works: you work uninterrupted for 25 minutes and then you have a 5-minute break. Every four sessions, you get to have a longer break of 25-30 minutes. This technique has helped millions around the world to stay focused and get things done.
- Eliminate Distractions
A wise proverb says, “Procrastination is the enemy of success.” My phone is probably like an extension of my arm so I know first-hand just how challenging this is. Consider that in 2020 the average internet user spends more than two hours a day on social media including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. The only thing you’ll have to do is turn off the Wi-Fi on your phone, or just put it on mute.
- Rest well and exercise.
You’re probably thinking to yourself, “WOW, what a revelation! Yet another article saying how sleep and exercise are good for you” all while having a poker face. Cliché, I know. What you don’t probably know is that sleep and exercise can really contribute to increased levels of productivity. So, grab your water bottle and get your endorphins flowing!
Summary:
There’s no secret formula to being productive while working from home. You just need to be willing to take action, one day at a time. Having a dedicated work-space trains your mind to think that this is where I work. Keeping your office (and desktop!) tidy, saves you time given that an average information workers spend quite some time looking for lost documents. You’ll also be amazed to find out that millions of people worldwide use the Pomodoro Technique to help them focus; this is a time management system that teaches you to work with time and not against it. It’s also wise to put your phone away to eliminate any distractions such as social media, YouTube, etc. Last but not least, rest and exercise have scientifically proved to be contributing to increased levels of productivity.
What tips have helped you to stay productive while working from home?
Some people say work smart, not hard. I’m here to show you how you can save time by learning keyboard shortcuts. Did you know that Pressing Ctrl+Z will undo any change? Apple users try Cmd+Z and Cmd+Y to undo and redo.
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