How To Be More Productive While You’re Working From Home

For many workers, the normalization of remote work is inarguably the best thing that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even now as the pandemic has lessened in severity, millions of people around the world continue to work remotely because it has saved time, money and granted new freedom and flexibility to many. But just because working from home has helped so many doesn’t mean it's easy.

Remote work comes with its own slew of challenges such as poor work-life balance, technical difficulties, isolation and trouble staying focused. Although working remotely reportedly increases productivity rates in the short-term, many employees at home still struggle daily with finding a long-term plan that keeps them on track. In this guide we will give you eight tips to follow if you want to be more productive while working remotely.

1. Establish a routine

While many professionals enjoy the freedoms that remote work allows, it can often make life feel a little unstable. With no longer having to plan your life around a 9-to-5 schedule, the routines one once closely adhered to are disrupted. However, even if you are no longer in an office it can still make a huge difference to your sense of stability to maintain office hours.

Draft up a routine that works for you and aligns with the times when you feel most productive. Whether you like to knock your work out earlier in the day, have some me-time before clocking in or break up the afternoon with a long walk, sticking to a set routine will give your day's structure and inspire you to be more motivated and focused on your work.

Read more: What It's Really Like to Start a Job Remotely

2. Plan your day

Beginning your workday without a plan can sometimes feel like embarking on a journey with no map. Before you start working you should always come up with a plan to clarify your priorities and intentions for the day. When we work remotely we are far more autonomous than we would be in the office. To ensure that you stay on schedule and accomplish all the tasks that you set out to accomplish, organize what you will do and when you will do it. Using Google Calendar is a great option to help structure your day, but even writing a daily to-do list is an effective trick for improved productivity.

3. Have a dedicated workspace

When the pandemic first hit, many people were unequipped with the right setup to work from home and found themselves taking meetings at the kitchen table or on the couch. However, when you are working in a space that is primarily associated with relaxation and comfort, it can be difficult to stay motivated and not get distracted. Several studies have proven that blurring the lines between where you work and where you sleep can not only lead to getting less work done but can also have negative effects on one's ability to relax at home.

Create a designated space in your home that separates you from noise, people and other possible distractions and furnish it with all the right supplies to make it feel like an office. But if you are a digital nomad or don’t have the space for a home office, try working in a co-working space such as WeWork or a local cafe.

4. Space out your meetings

If you’ve ever heard of Zoom fatigue then you know just how real it can be. One of the downfalls of remote work is that there are far more meetings, “check-ins” and “sync-ups” than would ordinarily occur in an office. When your calendar is booked up with meetings it not only can be a cognitive overload but it continuously disrupts your work. Try spacing out your meetings throughout the week, having one dedicated no-meeting day, including a block on your calendar that says "Busy," or determining if some conversations could be simply said in writing.

5. Give yourself a (timed) break

When we work in an office setting, there are many factors that allow us to naturally take a break from our desks. We step away for lunch breaks, refill our coffees and pause to chat with our colleagues, all of which give us a small hiatus before diving back into work.

However, at home many professionals don't give themselves enough time away from the screen, which can lead to unintentional burnout. Instead, dedicate short spurts of time throughout the day to eat lunch, walk the dog or make a cup of tea after completing a task. This way you are ensuring that you are getting things done but also rewarding yourself with some much needed time to refresh.

6. Minimize distractions

The main obstacle in one's productivity is often succumbing to distractions. Distractions might look different for everyone, so reflect on what has pulled you away from your responsibilities time and time again. For some, the cellphone is a constant distraction, so putting it on do not disturb or in another room can be helpful. For others, the kind of music they play in the background can either help or hurt them.

Take note of what distracts you and remove it from your environment — even if that means communicating to your family ahead of time that you don’t want to be disrupted. The quickest way to set yourself up for success is by putting yourself in situations that will aid your efficiency and focus.

7. Use productivity tools

Using a pen and paper to track your to-do list doesn't work for everyone. Luckily, there are plenty of productivity tools and software that can help you keep track of your responsibilities and make sure that they get done on time. Whether you need help with task management, time tracking, automation or team collaboration, there is a tool out there for it all. Here are some to name a few:

• Clickup
• Monday
• Toggl
• Zapier

8. Communicate with your team

Although working from home allows for more autonomy, sometimes it can feel lonely. We are completely siloed from our teams when we work remotely, and don't have someone by our side to keep us on course and offer guidance. To hold yourself accountable, get questions answered or even just to see a friendly face, make sure you are communicating with your colleagues often. Whether you prefer chatting over email, Slack or Zoom, having someone to lean on can make all the difference in your energy and productivity and will help ensure that your team is collaborating effectively.

An easy way to foster relationships when working remotely is by adding yourself to your organization’s public org chart on The Org. Creating an organizational chart has many benefits but it can be especially useful for remote teams who don't get to organically meet their fellow employees and gain further context around each other's roles and responsibilities.

Learn more: Why Companies Should Have a Public Org Chart

Whether you are a homebody or always on the go, remote work is a great option to have more freedom and control over your life. Just make sure you find the right ways to make working from home work effectively for you.