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The speaker argues that multitasking decreases productivity and increases stress and suggests that we should focus on one task at a time.
How to Stay Productive and Connected While Working from Home
In recent times, remote work has become increasingly popular and essential in the professional world. With the Covid-19 pandemic, many companies have been forced to adopt remote work strategies to keep their employees safe and maintain productivity levels. However, working from home comes with its own set of challenges, including distractions and lack of human connection. In this article, we’ll be discussing some of the best practices to stay productive while working from home and ways to stay connected with your team.
Creating the Perfect Workspace
Your workspace should be comfortable, organized, and dedicated solely to work. It’s crucial to differentiate between your workspace and living space to maintain a clear separation between your personal and professional life. A cluttered workspace can lead to distractions, so keep it tidy, with essential items on your desk. Also, choose a spot that has good lighting, so you don’t strain your eyes and get fatigued quickly. Finally, make sure you have a comfortable chair that supports your back to avoid backache and posture problems.
Setting Boundaries
When working from home, it may be tempting to work all day, every day, but it’s essential to set boundaries. Create a schedule that you can stick to, just like you would when going to the office. Have a specific time for beginning and ending your workday, taking breaks, and lunch. Additionally, communicating these boundaries with your family and roommates helps them understand that you are working and should not be disturbed during work hours. Setting boundaries ensures that you don’t work excessively, leading to burnout, and gives you time to rest and focus on other aspects of your life.
Creating a Routine
Creating a routine and sticking to it is essential while working from home. As mentioned earlier, creating a schedule for work speeds the transition to work mode and makes it easier to get straight into work each day. Having a routine also helps minimize the impact of distractions, which can be numerous when working from home. Consistent routines create structure in your day-to-day life, which promotes a healthy work-life balance and decreases anxiety.
Take Breaks
Working for extended hours without breaks can lead to burnout and counteract productivity. Taking breaks throughout the day refreshes the mind and helps with focus. Try to take a 5-10 minute break for every hour of work. It is essential to use this time to rest, meditate, stretch, or take a power nap, rather than scrolling through social media or watching TV. It’s also important to schedule lunch breaks in your routine, preferably taking a break away from your desk and having a change of scenery. Breaks away from your workspace help you reset and avoid getting distracted by non-work-related activities.
Minimizing Distractions
When working from home, distractions can come in many forms, such as social media notifications, household chores, and even pets. Trying to multitask every time a task pops up can lead to inefficiency and decreased productivity. That’s why it’s crucial to identify and minimize distractions during work hours. Turn off your phone notifications and keep your phone out of reach for non-urgent work purposes, put a do-not-disturb sign on your workspace or door, and communicate clearly with family members not to disturb you during work hours. There are also productivity applications that block specific websites during work hours to minimize distractions.
Staying Connected with Colleagues
Working remotely can be isolating, and missing the physical interaction with colleagues can lead to loneliness. To avoid this, it’s essential to find ways to stay connected with your team members. Choosing the right communication channels such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Slack, which are tailored for more casual conversation, phones, or emails, which are more business-oriented, depending on the context of the interaction. It’s a good practice to have a weekly/bi-weekly meeting or call with your team to catch up on work progress, discuss any issues or challenges you may be experiencing, or to socialize with colleagues.
Collaborating Effectively
Collaboration is an essential aspect of any workplace, and it’s no different when working remotely. Finding effective collaboration tools such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or Microsoft Office can help communicate and share files efficiently. It’s advisable to create a standard file-sharing structure, so everyone knows where different documents are stored, making access quick and straightforward. In addition to this, it’s advisable to have clear communication when collaborating, and for everyone to understand their responsibilities when working on a team project.
Staying Motivated and Inspired
Working remotely can make it challenging to feel motivated and inspired every day, and it’s essential to find ways to stay inspired. A good way to stay motivated is to establish goals and deadlines which keep you on track and ensures that work is moving forward at the expected pace. It’s also important to have regular check-ins with your managers to discuss work progress and give and receive feedback. Furthermore, creating a to-do list at the beginning of each day or before work makes it easier to stay organized and know what you need to accomplish that day.
Making Time for Yourself
Finally, there’s more to life than just work, and working remotely provides the opportunity for individuals to have more leisure time, which should be utilized constructively. Exercise, meditation, spending time with family and friends, and pursuing personal hobbies are all activities that should be prioritized outside of work hours. When you have time for yourself, you can rest your mind and recharge, leading to a more productive and happier work-life balance.
In conclusion, working remotely requires discipline, preparation, and initiative. Finding ways to maintain productivity and human connection is crucial, and creating a schedule, taking breaks, minimizing distractions, and setting boundaries are some of the best practices to follow. Staying connected with colleagues, collaborating effectively, staying motivated, and making time for yourself is also essential to ensure that working from home is a fulfilling and valuable experience.
