Six Tips to make Work From Home even more productive
It’s that time of the year, when we merge our office with home! For the last year, all of us successfully adapted to this new routine of work from home. Through trial and error, each one of us worked hard to be productive while creating a successful work-life balance.
Once again we have to remain hopeful and resilient for a future where there will be no pandemic and employees can go back to their workspaces.
Along with the many benefits of working remotely, one might also face a number of distractions and challenges to focus and cultivate productivity while taking care of one family as well.
However, a successful work-life balance and productivity tactics can help you give your best work performance and focus on yourself along with the needs of your family. If you are not used to working from home, here are some tips that can help you stay focused and excel at your work:
Stick to existing office routine
Maintaining your regular work routine can help establish workplace wellness and avoid distractions. Routines help in building momentum, avoid bad habits and increase efficiency and productivity. This will help in avoiding burnout and stress while working from home.
Designate workspace
Create a designated workspace where you can concentrate on the task at hand instead of constantly dealing with distractions. Clutter can have a massive impact on your productivity and hinder your work. Before and after your work hours, make sure to keep your workspace clean and organized. This way, you’ll never encounter any mess which can disturb your progress.
Schedule breaks during the day
While working from home offers a lot of flexibility, it can interrupt productivity and affect your mental and physical health. Bloomberg reported that on average employees have been working three more hours per day since the covid-19 calamity set last year. This has led to employees feeling overworked, stressed and overwhelmed.
Taking regular breaks helps break away from the stress and helps you get back with refreshed energy. Here are some ways to strike a balance between work and rest:
- Set a reminder to stretch or go for a walk
- Eat your lunch away from the workspace
- Schedule calls to socialize with colleagues
- Block off time in your calendar for breaks
Cut off distractions
It can be difficult to focus and cut off distractions in the beginning of working from home. Studies show that a delicate blend of soft music along with soothing nature sounds – birds chirping, waterfalls, wind rustling etc activates the calming part of your brain, helps in concentration and lowers heart rate and blood pressure.
Create a process for effective collaboration
A solid process and collaboration tools will provide the right motivation to remain productive and focused. Remain in constant contact with your team members to identify what is everyone working on and where assistance is needed.
The more visibility your team members work with, the smoother and faster collaboration you’ll experience.
Avoid electronic devices after work
Health reports suggest that staring at screens for long periods can leave eyes parched, red, and gritty. It’s important to limit your screen time to maintain healthy eyesight.
After working hours finish, keeping electronic devices and work reminders away helps you relax and recharge your batteries.
The key to achieving a successful and productive work-life balance can vary according to every individual, however, trying out various methods will help you find the most effective and suitable techniques to continue to give your best performance at work. Be flexible and adaptive to find the work-life balance that works best for you.
