What are some of the things you can do to maximize your productivity when you work from home? Here are eight tips to help you optimize your productivity.
8 Tips to Productively Work from Home
As much as you like working from home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, you’re worried about your productivity. Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do to productively work from home.
BE PRODUCTIVE — ANYWHERE, ANYTIME
Your work ethic is unmatched — in your eyes, you can be the best employee, anywhere, anytime. Yet, during the coronavirus pandemic, you’re finding that it can be tough to work from home. This may be due to the fact that you’re working in close proximity to your spouse, kids, and other family members. Or, you may find that accessing your company’s network and online resources may take longer than usual at home. You may also discover that you simply prefer being around your coworkers in your cozy office space — here, you feel like you’re at your best.
There is no telling when you’ll be able to return to your typical office space. But, if you prep accordingly for working from home, you can achieve the best results until the coronavirus pandemic passes.
Here are a few tips you can use to productively work from home.
1. Dress for Work
Put on your work attire, even if you’re only going from your bedroom to your home office for the day. This simple task can kick off a daily work routine and set the tone for a productive work day.
2. Set Up a Home Workspace
Create a dedicated spot for work in your home. If you have a home office, for example, you can use this space during your work day. You can always transform a spare bedroom or another area of your home into a productive workspace, too.
3. Make a To-Do List
Put together a list of daily goals. You can review this list throughout the work day and check off items as you complete them. At the end of your work day, you should feel proud of all that you accomplished.
4. Follow a Work Schedule
Try to start and end work at the same time each day. If possible, stick to scheduled breaks and lunch periods as well. Track your work schedule and monitor how well you perform over the course of a week. In doing so, you can identify your most- and least-productive times during the week and change your work schedule as needed.
5. Eliminate Distractions
Tell family members when you’ll be working and when you plan to take breaks during the day; that way, they’ll know when you’re available. You should also turn off your cell phone and eliminate any other potential distractions.
6. Remain Accessible
Keep in contact with peers and superiors throughout the work day. Use emails, phone calls, video chats, and other communication platforms to stay up to date on everyday work tasks and activities.
7. Be Sociable
In addition to remaining accessible, enjoy social gatherings with coworkers whenever possible. Virtual lunches and similar events are easy to set up and encourage people to come together — even if they are physically far apart due to the coronavirus pandemic. Join these events to connect with colleagues and support one another during this challenging period.
8. Request Feedback and Support
Set up a time to discuss your work performance with your manager. Ideally, you should conduct a daily check-in with your manager, along with regular performance reviews. Use meetings with your manager to request feedback and ask for support.
GET THE BEST RESULTS, EVERY DAY
I hope these tips can help you stay productive at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Of course, if you want to learn other ways to boost your productivity, Headfarmer can help.
At Headfarmer, we help job seekers build their skill sets so they can pursue long, successful careers in the finance and technology sectors. To learn more about how we can help you achieve your career goals, please reach out.