Over the past year and half, working from home has been quite a challenge for many people. Most office workers had to change from driving to work daily to be able to work in their home offices.
While some people were open to their new workplaces, others struggled to accept the change.
It doesn’t matter where you stand on the issue, it is a universal problem that all of us have to deal with. Here are some great tips to increase your productivity if you are one of those people who thrives in an office environment and is easily distracted when working from home.
Establish daily priorities and goals
Every day brings new opportunities to improve your work from home strategy and ethics. There are many benefits to setting daily goals or making a visible list of things you need to do. A visible list of tasks that you need to complete by a certain date and in an order of importance will help you focus on your work and improve your productivity. You can also set digital reminders on your phone or computer to remind you when each deadline approaches.
Create a schedule and stick to it
A weekly or monthly schedule can help you stay on track. It’s easy to keep track of all your work assignments and plan how long it will take you to complete them. You can mark each task once it is completed so you can keep track of all deadlines. You can also make detailed notes on task requirements, co-managers, and client requests.
Make the most of your meeting time
When you are working on a group or individual project, time is critical. Remember that colleagues may have other projects going at the same time as you. Always be prepared for virtual or telephone meetings. You can make a list of questions you want to ask, and points you need to raise about the projects you are working on. This will help your coworkers respond. Participating in every meeting will help ensure that your coworkers and you are on the same page about various topics and work-related issues.
Designate an official Work-at-home space
No matter how big or small your home is, you should design a space that you can work comfortably in and has enough room to allow you to move around as needed. You should choose a place where distractions can be minimized or eliminated completely. Ideal is a room with large, open windows that allow in lots of natural light. Natural light can make you feel more relaxed and it has been shown to lift the spirits of office workers making it easier to concentrate.
Choose a private space in your home that isn’t disturbed by any other family members. A private area for your business can increase productivity and improve the quality of your work.
Separate your work and personal time
It is important to set work hours that are similar to the pre-pandemic schedule in order for maximum productivity. You will be motivated to do more work when you know that you have only a limited amount of time in your day. It’s also important to maintain some normalcy in these extremely unusual times. People used to work a certain amount of hours each day before the pandemic. Then, they would return home to their families and enjoy their personal lives.
You need to set boundaries between work and your personal life so you get the best out of each without letting one become too much and causing premature burnout.
Dress like you’re at work
You might feel more comfortable in your sweatpants than you would if you were to get dressed up. You’re not going anywhere, and no one will see you unless you have a virtual meeting. Did you know that your appearance can impact your productivity?
According to the old saying, dress for the job that you want and not for the one you have. You must dress for success if you want your company to continue its upward trajectory. This can make a difference in your mental health, work ethic, and motivation.
You don’t want any bad habits to be ingrained when offices reopen. You can also continue to wear your office outfits so there are no surprises later.
Call for afternoons to save work
You can still make calls and schedule meetings while working remotely. These calls should be scheduled for the later part of the day, rather than being dispersed at random times. This will help you stay organized, and it will encourage you to complete most or all of your work earlier in the day so you can concentrate on your afternoon meetings.
Communicate with your staff
It doesn’t matter if you are a leader or employee, it is important to maintain open communication at all times. There are many communication options available, including phone calls, emails, text messages, and video calling software. You should choose the right medium depending on the urgency and the relationship you have with your coworkers.
Social Media: stay off
We recommend that you avoid social media unless it is your job. Social media can be a distraction and a time-waster during work hours. According to estimates, most adults spend 3.5 hours per day looking at their phones. This is time you could be using to do your work!
This post was written by Tara Kintz. Tara is a director at https://www.signatureworkspace.com. Signature Workspace, owned and operated by Cantor Fund Management, offers services and amenities such as private offices, flex space, co-working space, virtual offices, meeting/conference rooms, and more.
