Maintaining productivity while working remotely is an increasingly common challenge since the trend became popular after the COVID-19 ordeal. The number of people working online will surpass, if not equal those working from fixed office location by 2025.
It can, however, be challenging to maintain productivity when working remotely. You are bound to countless distractions and failure to meet deadlines could turn this amazing trend into your worst nightmare.
If you are the kind of person who is only productive when the boss is breathing down your shoulder, I recommend that you read on.
Based on the successful experience of workers working remotely, we are confident it is possible to beat the odds and enjoy the perks of remote working while being productive.
In this post, we’ll share 5 tested and proven tips on how to stay productive when working remotely. As you will notice, the secret lies in separating work life from the personal life.
1. Create a dedicated workspace
One of the biggest challenges of remote work is staying focused and avoiding distractions. To help with this, create a dedicated workspace that is free from distractions and designed for productivity.
This could be a separate room in your home, a co-working space, or even a quiet corner of a coffee shop. Make sure what you do here is just work, no playing games, eating and definitely no sleeping at the dedicated office area.
2. Establish a routine
When working remotely, it’s easy to blur the line between work and personal time. Establishing a routine can help you stay on track and ensure that you’re devoting enough time to work each day.
Set regular work hours, take breaks at the same time each day, and make time for personal activities outside of work. It is easy to be trapped in a cycle of working everywhere and every time.
It is important to familiarise yourself with effective time management techniques such as time blocking. Your office hours should be well defined so that people close to you understand your work schedule and you maintain a healthy relationship.
3. Use productivity tools
Having all equipment you might require on set ensures you leverage technology to be more effective in your work. There are many productivity tools available that can help you stay focused and organized when working remotely.
Consider using a project management tool to keep track of tasks and deadlines, a time-tracking tool to monitor how you’re spending your time, and a communication tool to stay in touch with your team.
A desktop computer might give you a significantly better performance-per-dollar rate than a laptop and we recommend you consider getting one of those.
4. Stay connected with your team
When working remotely, it’s important to stay connected with your team. Schedule regular video calls or phone check-ins to stay up-to-date on projects and maintain a sense of camaraderie.
While striving to curb your social media addiction, it is important that you maintain open communications with your team by maintaining open communications.
To break the monotony, we also recommend that you arrange for physical meetings with your team from time to time. The value of one-on-one physical meetings is paramount in any human interactions.
5. Take care of your physical and mental health
Finally, it’s important to take care of your physical and mental health when working remotely. Take regular breaks to stretch, exercise, or go for a walk around the block with your dog.
Note this does not mean you get to binge on Netflix with a whole bag of potato chips. You might get hooked and loose focus on what you have been working on.
Practice mindfulness or meditation to reduce stress and improve focus. And make sure to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Summary
Staying productive when working remotely requires creating a dedicated workspace, establishing a routine, using productivity tools, staying connected with your team, and taking care of your physical and mental health.
By following these tips, you can thrive as a remote worker and achieve your professional goals. Remind yourself to always enjoy the benefits of working remotely while maintaining optimal productivity.
