Working from home might come as a bit of a shocker for those who had to switch because of the ongoing pandemic. Usually, we associate our home with a place of leisure and relaxation, and it can be quite challenging to find motivation when you need to switch to such an environment. Add the fact that there is no supervision, you are not surrounded by coworkers, and there are multiple distractions that get in your way.
Having said that, it is still too early to tell when things will return to normal, and we can move back to our regular offices. Before that happens, it is important to find a way to create yourself a routine that you can excel in while working from home. Below, you will find seven suggestions that cover some of the most important aspects of remote work and how you should approach them to solve potential problems.
7 Suggestions to Be More Productive While Working Remotely
1. Manage Your Computer Files Optimally
The first suggestion is related to your computer. You want to have a file management system that does not feel frantic. In other words, whenever you need to find something, you should not encounter any issues. For that, it is recommended to name your files properly, create folders and multiple directories, and utilize the search feature. Next, check different file types and what they have. Learn how to compress PDFs by visiting setapp.com, check available cloud storage services that you can utilize, declutter the desktop, get rid of redundant data to free up drive space, and back up important files regularly.
2. Set Goals
Setting goals every day might seem redundant, particularly if you have no major milestones you want to meet. Nevertheless, it helps to have a goal in mind if you are struggling with productivity. Write a list of things you want to complete for the day and work toward completing them. Once you are finished with one of the things, cross it off the list. The sense of achievement and progress you get from it will help with productivity.
3. Create a Proper Routine
Like already mentioned, working from home means that you have no supervision, at least as far as people standing behind you or talking to you in person go. You will still likely stay in touch with your manager or boss despite working remotely.
This lack of supervision means that you might get a sense of freedom and not be too bothered about a proper schedule, even though you should. From waking up at an appropriate hour and finishing tasks before it gets too late to having an established lunch break and going to bed at reasonable time management, a schedule is a must. Unless you can establish a routine and stick to it throughout the week, you will have a hard time hybrid working.
4. Designate a Workspace
Ideally, you should have a dedicated room at your home that you can turn into a home office. If that is not possible, you should still do your best to designate a workspace that you will use for nothing but work. Once you sit down in this space, you will know that you should be working and forgetting about distractions. Also, keep the workspace neat and tidy so that you have an easier time focusing on work.
5. Communicate With Others
Working from home means not having the option to communicate with others in person. This downside can significantly affect one’s productivity, particularly when collaborating with others is a big part of the job. Since you do not interact with colleagues in person, you will need to depend on emails, phone calls, and video or voice chats. Keep in mind that you should emphasize overcommunication to avoid potential problems. The odds of someone forgetting something or failing to get their point across properly are higher when you need to use phone systems for business communication means.
6. Make More Out of Extra Free Time
Finding motivation can be difficult when you are stuck at home with few or no opportunities to go outside. As such, it is important to find ways to occupy your mind and get away from work. Picking a new hobby, even if it has to be done indoors, is a good option. You can also look to learn new things or polish your current sets by consuming educational media. The bottom line is that you have some extra time due to no work commuting, so be sure to make the most out of it.
7. Reward Yourself
A simple reward could be just the thing to help you with working from home. Tell yourself that you can enjoy a new episode of a favourite TV show later in the evening after you finish the work. Or maybe there is a sports game that you would like to watch? Regardless, the experience of rewarding yourself will feel much better when there are no unfinished work tasks dragging you down.