Staying productive is very important these days.
As we get used to the new normal of working remotely it’s important to establish a routine that works well for you and helps you feel accomplished at the end of each day.
Here are my 5 top tips to help promote productivity, motivation and workplace well-being while working from home.
1. To-Do List
Create a to-do list every morning detailing the tasks you intend to get done for that day. Check them off as they are completed. Here are a list of some of the most popular to-do list apps.
2. Prioritise
With remote working most of us have seen an increase in team meetings, calls, and forums etc. In a bid to have more communication with colleagues we end up losing focus on core job activities.
It is important to strike a balance here so that we are feeling connected with teammates but also have the capacity to achieve our goals and not end up working extra hours.
In order to achieve this balance, try prioritising your tasks, meetings and goals and get things done in order of importance.
3. Use a Block Schedule
Block schedules are a great way to focus your time and structure your day. They consist of blocking out timeslots for particular tasks. You can organise these around your schedule and meetings in a way that works for you.
For priority tasks, add them to your calendar so that your colleagues can see that you are unavailable during that particular timeslot. See example of a block schedule below;
4. Avoid Distractions
Distraction can happen to the best of us and it’s worth considering how you can structure your day in a way that aims to eliminate it.
Identify what it is that you find distracting. For example, if that’s your email notifications, consider turning them off and set aside a specific time each day to review and respond to them.
5. Balance
It’s important that you have an appropriate work-life balance and you monitor this on a continuous basis. Working additional hours are sometimes unavoidable but they should not be a regular part of your working life.
To avoid this, try some of the tips above to make the most of your time and discuss your workload and expectations with your manager if you’re finding it hard to get it all done.
Lastly, don’t be too hard on yourself! Most of us are juggling a lot right now between working from home, looking after children, taking care of vulnerable family members or whatever it might be.
Unfortunately, this is not business as usual. This is business during a global pandemic and that takes a toll. Have discussions with your team and establish the important tasks that must be completed each day. Everything outside of that is a bonus!
Check out our recent posts, 9 Tips to Improve Productivity at Work and Top 5 Tips for Working from Home for even more tips!
