After working from home for 8+ years, I’ve developed a list of tips and strategies that I found over time that worked well for me and you may find them useful as well:
- Simulate your going to the office routine – first get up at your normal work time, shower and get dressed. While it’s not necessary to dress like you’re going to work but find a comfortable outfit that helps you still feel productive. This tip can work for students of any age who are learning virtually.
- Get started early. Getting started early will allow you to better manage your time, meet deadlines and complete tasks/assignments. An early start can minimize procrastination which may result from starting later in the day.
- Choose a dedicated workspace – it’s important to dedicate a specific area of the home as your teleworker workspace to help you maintain a professional mindset.
- Limit social media distractions – it’s very easy to be distracted by the sounds from notifications and alerts coming from our phones, IPads, laptops, etc. Disabling notifications and only checking messages at pre-set intervals will go a long way toward added productivity while working from home.
- Plan your workday around your productivity levels – the most productive time of the day will vary from person to person, so pick the time that works best for you. Your most productive time of the day can even vary based on seasons.
- Communicate expectations with those who will be home with you – although you are working from home, you may not be alone. Whether it’s a roommate, spouse, parent(s) children, you will need guidelines to ensure that the teleworker experience is productive and pleasant. When taking a phone call or virtual meeting (e.g., Zoom, Webex, Go-To-Meeting, etc.) and a household member needs to speak with you, use hand signals to communicate. E.g., ask them to wave or quietly gesture to get your attention and in turn you will signal with your fingers an estimated number of minutes until you can speak audibly with them. A small white-board can be used as well to communicate a short message when a verbal conversation isn’t possible. Each household must discuss the best approach in advance for optimal results.
- Take time for breaks – it’s often times very easy to get so busy that you may forget to take a break. When working in the office with others, water-cooler conversations can be a welcome break. However, when working from home, it’s still necessary to take short and even dedicated lunch breaks. These respites can allow you to clear your head and help maintain productivity.
Has this blog inspired you to be more productive during your workday? If yes listen to my recent interview with Dr. Renee where she shares ways to get things done.