Is your remote work environment distract you from focusing on important tasks?
Are you struggling to manage your time while working from home?
Do you love remote work and want to change things a little bit to create a more productive environment?
If your answer is affirmative, then this post is for you.
In this article, you’ll discover eight easy tips that will help you to increase your productivity at the home.
Let’s start:
1. Create a Happy and Clean Workspace
A clean and dedicated workspace can help you in creating a work atmosphere at home. Choose a place with good lighting and the least distractions. Set up a table and chair and keep all you need to work in one place. Don’t make your desk messy. Declutter it. This will help you focus better as well as enhance your productivity.
2. Prioritize Your Important Tasks First
Take a pen and paper to write 3 most important tasks for each day. Plan your day in advance. It will help you to focus on important things.
In the book Zen to Done, Leo Babauta says:
“At the beginning of each day, review your list, and write down 1-3 MITs [most important tasks] that you’d like to accomplish for the day. That’s your whole planning system. You don’t need any more than that.”
3. Do Your Tasks In Batches
Task batching can make you crazy productive and change the way you get shit done.
How can you start doing it?
Take your to-do list out (don’t have one, get it together).
Now group similar tasks (based on functionality and resources).
Split your day into different segments and assign a time window to each task.
4. Turn Off the Notifications
Studies show that it takes an average of 25 minutes to refocus after being interrupted.
Social media and other apps’ notifications are really distracting. Turn off the notifications and minimize interruptions.
Stop checking emails frequently. Try only checking( and replying) emails thrice a day. This habit will keep you to stay on track with your work.
5. Say No to Multitasking
Do you do a million things at once and you feel like a fighter jet?
And you pride doing multitasking!
But the truth is far from it. Multitasking can lower your IQ and reduce your productivity. Instead, make a habit to focus on one thing at a time.
6. Do Some Physical Activities
Physical exercise is not just important for the body, it’s also crucial for your mental health.
Taking exercise breaks (walking and doing stretches) can reduce stress and improve your productivity.
Don’t use the lift, take the stairs. Do standup meeting more.
7. Take Breaks After Every 90-minutes
Researchers at Florida State University have found that elite performers (athletes, chess players, musicians, etc.) who work in intervals of no more than 90 minutes are more productive than those who work 90 minutes-plus.
Taking regular short breaks can improve your concentration and performance level. You can play remote team-building games with your colleagues.
8. Use Tools to Make Your Work Easier
There are many tools available out there that can make your work easier and more efficient.
Here are my favorite (recommended) tools:
Google Drive – Cloud storage of all the documents.
Evernote – Organize your notes in the cloud.
Slack – Team communication tool and organize information.
RescueTime – helps you track your time and activities.
Trello – helps you to manage the tasks.
Thank you. Using a time tracker and productivity app works for me (I’ve decided on TMetric). It helps me focus on deep work, plan the workload and be flexible with time.