Productivity Hacks for Work from Home
There was a time when WFH (Work From Home) was still a dream for many. But credit goes to pandemic, here we are with nearly 60% of employees working from home. Switching from a structured office environment to the comfort of your own home can be challenging in surprising ways. If you are not careful the distractions and less supervision can zap your productivity. Therefore , we need to make ‘working from home’ work for us so that we remain focused, motivated and on-target. Here are some life-hacks that can help you to get the most out of your remote work hours.
Fetch Everything you need when you start working :
Take all type of gadgets, equipments and devices with you whenever you start work. Be it earphones/headphones, notepad and even small things. A study has found that it takes roughly 30 minutes for you to actually get deep down with a task. It may sound not a big deal if you leave and get the items you forgot in a few minutes but these small things affect your productivity a lot.
Start the day on time and set an alarm :
Set an alarm, especially if you and your partner are both working from home and one of you has to be up early for an appointment (online). Set that same alarm every day so that your productivity stays on track.
Communicate with your team :
When communicating in writing, make sure to phrase your messages carefully. Add more context, explain things more thoroughly and think about what your message might sound like to the other person. Intentionally use a friendly tone in your messages, which can go a long way in improving the whole exchange.
Communication is the backbone of remote teams, so don’t neglect it.
Dress Like You’re at Work :
When you work from home, it can be tough to get into the work mindset. An easy way to make it happen? Dress for your day as though you’re heading to the office. You’ll be surprised to see just how much more productive you’ll be when you take off the pajama pants in favor of something a little more professional.
Be prepared with backups :
If your budget allows, have backup equipment and services such as an extra laptop/desktop, wireless and fixed internet connections, battery backup, etc.
If you work online, backup your work frequently and save files in the cloud whenever possible. Test all of your equipment weekly and learn how to do basic repairs and troubleshooting yourself. That way you can fix simple problems on the fly to get you through the day if there is a problem.
Take proper breaks :
Speaking of distractions, taking micro breaks throughout the day. Get some fresh air, grab a healthy snack, and talk with another human being if at all possible. Your brain needs short periods of rest. This prepares your brain so that it can regain focus and recharge.
Take healthy diet :
Eat foods that make you feel fresh, not sluggish. If you’re eating right, it’ll surely show in how your mind works during the day, and you will be able to work with full energy. Want to be super productive? Get snacks that crunch and trick yourself into snacking on sliced cucumbers, celery, snap peas or bell peppers while you’re in the middle of a tough project. You’ll be focused on work and snacking healthily, and you won’t even realize it.
Follow the two-minute rule :
This is a great rule for anyone trying to be more productive. It there is a task that’s going to take two-minutes or less to complete, then do it immediately. Don’t waste your time or energy writing down these tasks down either. Just get them done immediately so that your attention and energy is saved for more important jobs.
Reward yourself :
Rewards will help you stay productive if you know that you’ll deserve something great after you accomplish a goal**.** It also helps in avoiding the procrastination**,** One of the best ways to stop procrastinating is to reward yourself after the end of the day. It could be a nice meal, or a night out with your best buddies. So, reward yourself with the things you want after hitting your target.
Don’t set your workspace up in your bedroom :
It’s important to have a focused space where you can go to get work done. Your bedroom is where you go at the end of the day to relax and wind down not focus and be productive.Don’t send your brain mixed messages by trying to do both in the same place. Instead, put your home office setup anywhere else if you can help it!
