Here I provide my top 10 productivity tips to help you navigate the unique work from home challenges. While working from home offers flexibility, comfort, and convenience, distractions lurk around every corner, threatening to derail productivity.
To navigate this terrain successfully, it’s essential to establish effective strategies that promote focus and efficiency. Here are ten indispensable productivity tips that helped me, and will help you thrive in your work-from-home environment too.
1. Establish a Dedicated Workspace
Create a designated area solely for work to cultivate a conducive environment for concentration and productivity. This space serves as a mental cue, signaling the start of the workday and providing a physical boundary between professional responsibilities and personal life. By delineating these spheres, you can minimize distractions and foster a mindset primed for productivity.
Luckily, I’ve been able to take over a room in our home as my office. I’ve decorated and designed it to be functional for me and my personality. Over time, I’ve made changes, added equipment, and moved things around to create my ideal productive space. Should you not be able to dedicate a separate room for work, consider adding room dividers to make your workspace more private. Do whatever you need to do to make it feel like you are ‘at the office’ during work hours. This also helps create that boundary with your family.
2. Stick to a Routine
Maintaining a consistent schedule fosters discipline and structure, essential ingredients for success in a remote work setting. I set regular working hours to establish boundaries and optimize time management. Incorporating breaks at strategic intervals helps prevent burnout and enhances overall productivity. You can track your breaks by using the Pomodoro method or simply breaking between tasks. Additionally, you should prioritize maintaining healthy sleep patterns to sustain energy levels and mental acuity throughout the day.
While working from home you will find that it can be a struggle to stick to your routine. It takes dedication and persistence. Just because you are home, doesn’t mean you are always available for household duties. Tackle your household chores outside of the work hours that you set for yourself so you don’t blend the two together. This will help you feel like you have had a good work day, and can now focus on household duties.
3. Set Clear Goals and Priorities
I define achievable objectives on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to guide my workflow effectively. Prioritizing tasks based on their importance and deadlines ensures a systematic approach to task management. I leverage tools like to-do lists or project management software to streamline organization and facilitate progress tracking.
My ideal setup is using Google Calendars to remind me of repetitive tasks, having a desk diary for daily tasks, and even a notebook to break these tasks down further into manageable portions. Ticking things off helps me feel productive and like I am making progress throughout the day. I am constantly making changes to make sure I am setting achievable goals and moving tasks to different days in the week should I feel I have more time to dedicate to them, instead of overwhelming myself by trying to do everything in one day. Be realistic and be kind to yourself, some things can wait, and moving it to a different day provides a sense of relief as you work through the rest of your tasks for today.
4. Minimize Distractions
I eliminate non-essential notifications and establish boundaries with family members or housemates to create a focused work environment. Embracing techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique that I mentioned previously, which alternates between periods of intense focus and short breaks, helps me sustain concentration and combat distractions effectively.
I don’t always use this method because I honestly don’t like to time track myself. But, having set break times means I can attend to the things that may have broken my concentration during specific time-consuming tasks. For example, if I have personal conversations on the go that need attending to, I know I can take a break once I have completed a specific task and deal with it for 10 or 20 minutes, instead of breaking my concentration.
If the household is a bit loud during the day, I use my trusty noise-canceling headphones and a Lofi track to keep me focused and minimise any outside distractions. I love a good Lofi playlist!
5. Communicate Effectively
I maintain open channels of communication with colleagues or supervisors to foster collaboration and alignment. I utilize collaboration tools and instant messaging platforms, like Slack, to facilitate seamless interaction and information exchange throughout the day. Clarifying expectations and deadlines ensures clarity and accountability in my work.
Being open and honest about my abilities, regular updates, and managing client and team expectations is essential for staying productive. Constantly getting client questions and fighting battles you could have nipped in the bud at the beginning of your day is unproductive. Make sure you keep everyone updated, let them know when to expect things from you, and utilise tools for proper project management so you can track every process and view progress with a glance.
6. Take Regular Breaks
Incorporating short breaks into my schedule helps me recharge and rejuvenate my mind and body. Engaging in physical activity or stretching exercises combats sedentary habits and promotes overall well-being. Stepping away from your screen periodically prevents eye strain and mental fatigue, contributing to sustained productivity.
Sometimes this means a short coffee break, or eating lunch on the couch away from your desk. Sometimes it’s just a moment in the sun to get out of the office and breathe some fresh air. Whatever helps you decompress for a moment, take the chance. You are not productive if you are mentally fatigued.
7. Stay Organized
I adopt efficient digital filing systems and declutter my workspace regularly to optimize efficiency and maintain clarity. Embrace technology by leveraging productivity apps and automate repetitive tasks wherever possible. I regularly update software and equipment to ensure optimal performance and minimize disruptions.
This can look different for everyone. Some people prefer organised chaos, but I can’t function in a messy workplace. It creates a sense of overwhelm if things aren’t neat and tidy, so sometimes this means taking a moment in the morning to clean up my workspace and organise my tabs. I open specific tabs every day that stay open, my Gmail account specifically along with some client trackers, and I only keep tabs open that I need for specific tasks. It’s easy to get lost in multiple tabs and as the saying goes ‘so many tabs are open and I can’t find where the music is coming from’. Only have the tabs open that you need for the task at hand.
8. Practice Self-Care
Prioritize mental and physical well-being. I incorporate self-care activities into my routine. I dedicate time to hobbies and relaxation techniques to recharge and maintain balance. Seek support from colleagues or professionals when needed to help navigate challenges effectively and sustain resilience.
For me, this means getting out the house and horse riding twice a week. It helps me recharge, get some sun and exercise, and I actually leave the house. Sometimes it means taking a long hot bath after a stressful day with a true crime podcast playing in the background. Whatever self-care means to you, make time for it. There is more to life than work!
9. Find a Balance
I strive to strike a harmonious balance between work and personal life, recognizing the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care. Experimenting with different strategies allows me to discover what works best for my individual needs and preferences. Embracing flexibility and adaptability, I navigate the nuances of remote work.
It took me years to find my balance, and even now, I adapt. Life changes, role expectations change, and you have to go with the flow. Be flexible but clear about your own boundaries. Don’t take on more than you are capable of, and know when to ‘clock off’. You are seeking a work-life balance, so make sure you remember to prioritise life as much as you prioritise work.
10. Embrace Experimentation
As I mentioned, I recognize that productivity is a journey, not a destination, and remain open to experimentation and refinement. I explore various techniques and approaches to discover my optimal workflow and maximize my potential. Remembering that productivity is not a one-size-fits-all concept, I am patient and persistent in my pursuit of the best work-life balance for me.
Working from home offers boundless opportunities for creativity, flexibility, and autonomy. By implementing these ten productivity tips, you can harness the full potential of remote work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Embrace the journey of continuous self-improvement as you navigate the dynamic landscape of remote work. I hope these insider tips help you to find the productive workflow that works for you!