6 Ways to Stay Productive While Working from Home
Posted July 21st, 2020
Working from home comes with a unique set of challenges, some of which can harm your productivity. If you don’t address them quickly, you might find the quality of your work diminishes, or you could start struggling to meet deadlines.
Luckily, it’s possible to set yourself up for success by taking the right steps, ensuring your outputs exceed expectations at all times and that your work is ready when it needs to be. If you don’t know where to begin, here are six ways to stay productive while working from home.
1. Stick to a Schedule
When you work from home, you might have a bit of flexibility regarding when you work. However, if you don’t create some level of structure, procrastination, and a lack of time could become an issue.
Ideally, you want to start and end your workday at the same time each day you’re on the clock. Make sure you are available for enough hours to handle your responsibilities and meet your deadlines.
2. Stay Organized
Organization is just as important when you’re working from home as it is in the office. If you can’t find the items you need, you’re going to have to spend time tracking them down.
Aim to keep your workspace tidy. Additionally, look for other organization opportunities, such as creating a file system on your computer and a process for sorting your email. That way, you can find what you need quickly, saving you valuable minutes.
3. Limit Distractions
When you work from home, distractions are possible. Do what you can to limit interruptions by keeping your office door closed if you have family members who are home, too. Additionally, turn off unnecessary notifications, especially when working on detail-oriented assignments, and silence your phone. This creates an opportunity to focus, allowing you to accomplish more in less time.
4. Take Your Breaks
While stepping away from your work might not seem like it boosts productivity, it does. Breaks let you process the tasks you’ve completed, relax your mind and body, and re-center yourself before you move on to the next responsibility. Then, when you return, you’ll have renewed energy and focus.
Make sure you take your 15-minute breaks and lunch just as you would at work. If you do, you’re setting yourself up for success.
5. Unplug After Your Shift
Many who work from home accidentally slip into being “always on.” Since their office is mere steps away, it’s hard to fight the temptation to handle one more thing, respond to that after-hours email, or otherwise work beyond the end of a traditional shift.
But failing to unplug can be detrimental to your mental health. It disrupts your work-life balance, increasing the odds of burnout. When your time for the day is over, consider turning off all work-related notifications. That allows you to fully disconnect.
In some cases, you may have to set boundaries with your boss to make this happen. However, if your job doesn’t legitimately require you to be on-call, it’s a discussion worth having.
6. Don’t Solely Rely on Email
When it comes to workplace communication, email is incredibly inefficient. Critical messages may go overlooked for hours or, if they get buried, even days. Plus, miscommunications are easy because email lacks inflection.
Instead of relying on email, use another approach for important conversations. Phone calls and video conferencing can be ideal for urgent or complex matters. However, if that isn’t an option, messengers can be a suitable substitute for quick discussions.
Call Bayside Solutions Today
Ultimately, all six of the tips above can help you be more productive while working from home. If you’d like to find out more, the staff at Bayside Solutions can help. Contact us today and see how our productivity expertise can benefit you.
