When the Covid pandemic hit in 2020, numerous businesses had to suspend their physical office operations and implement remote worker policies immediately. As this transition was very sudden, it had its fair share of teething problems.
You may have faced these issues as well and had productivity and technical setbacks. Therefore, you may be looking for ways to improve your performance and achieve your goals while a remote worker.
After all, there are numerous distractions at home, and you may be sharing the space with others as well. Your roommate may be playing video games loudly or your children might be watching CBeebies on your Cox cable connection.
However, you just have to plan your workday better and figure out ways to boost your productivity and feel motivated. Here are a few tips you can follow.
Create a Dedicated Working Space
The first thing you should do is create a dedicated space for your remote work. This can even be a corner in a studio apartment you just use during work hours, so don’t worry if you have limited space. If you have a compact apartment and you need to save your workstation space, then you can also consider using virtual cloud technologies such as Windows Virtual Cloud Desktop i.e. Windows 10 Virtual Desktop for your remote work.
Let your family or roommates know that this area is off-limits during your workday. You can make do with a desk, a basic computer setup, and maybe even a few succulents to truly make this space look like a proper workstation.
Of course, if you have a spare room in your house, you can create a complete home office, and have a fully equipped and closed-off workspace to boost your productivity.
Make a Schedule for Yourself
When you’re remote worker, your work hours are probably quite flexible. While this can be quite helpful, it also has its drawbacks. You may find yourself procrastinating and having tasks on top of your head throughout the whole day.
Therefore, you should create your own schedule, and stick to it as much as possible. Allocate your work hours, complete with lunch and other breaks in between, and display this schedule where you can clearly see it. This requires a bit of discipline, but will really help you get organized.
Give Yourself a Break
Do not force yourself to just sit at your workstation all day. This can lead you to get bored and unproductive. Therefore, you need to make sure you take breaks and get away from your computer every once in a while. Add these breaks to your schedule, so that you remain organized and can get back to your tasks with a refreshed mind.
In addition, do take time out for leisure and relaxation, otherwise, you will just feel burned out and won’t be productive in any way.
Use Task Tracking Software
If you want to have a more visible way to make yourself accountable for your tasks, use tracking software. If your company already uses one of these, make sure you enter even your minor tasks, complete with deadlines and instructions.
This will help you be accountable for your work, and also give you a clear picture of what you have to do. If your company does not have such software, you can use one of the many free apps available for this purpose.
Maintain Social Interactions
Do not work in silo and completely shut yourself off from the world when working remotely. Do keep up your social interactions with your friends and family members, within SOP-compliant limits, of course.
Social distancing does not mean social isolation. Therefore, you should try to maintain a decent work-life balance, complete with dedicated time spent with others.
This socialization will refresh your mind, and let you relax. This is great for your productivity, as you’ll eb more motivated and refreshed when you get back to work.
Therefore, do not go into complete isolation when working from home. Instead, take the opportunity to reconnect with your friends and family, even if it’s virtually. Also make sure you’re communicative with your colleagues and company members so that you can collaborate on your tasks more efficiently.
In conclusion, you can boost your productivity and meet your goals as long as you properly organize your remote work behavior. Therefore, you should follow these tips to stay motivated and make the most out of working from home.
