How To Improve Your Remote Work Experience And Increase Productivity

Working from home can provide you with greater flexibility and more autonomy. However, these benefits can often become a missed opportunity, if they are not utilized correctly. Although some workers believe that efficiency can be reduced due to the comfort of remote working, this is not necessarily true. Losing productivity often occurs due to failing to master the basics rather than remote work itself. If you are new to working from home, it may be necessary to change your habits and adapt your routine to ensure success. Below you will find some effective strategies to optimize your remote work experience and boost productivity.

Maintain A Steady Routine

You will need to create a schedule and set clear guidelines for your working hours and rest. This will help you maintain a work-life balance and ensure consistency. On days that you have a large amount of work to complete, you should either request an extension from your manager or extend your working schedule for that day only. Be sure not to turn this into a habit, as working overtime regularly can put significant stress on your mind and body. Establishing a thoughtful routine will support key mental transitions and help you start the day on a positive note.

Create A Dedicated Office Space

It is crucial to allocate a dedicated space, where you can focus and minimize distractions. You will need to obtain proper work-from-home equipment to enable you to work more efficiently. From a suitable desk and a quality chair to organizational accessories, you will need to secure the best gear to enhance your environment. Branch offers premium work-from-home equipment, ideal to furnish your home office and improve concentration. As a result, you will be able to create a comfortable and functional workspace, which will allow you to separate work from personal life more effectively. Moreover, this cost-effective solution can increase productivity and improve your wellbeing.

Track Your Progress And Productivity

Self-tracking can be helpful in determining when you are most productive and how you can improve your time management. It may be beneficial to follow a to-do list or a planner, by outlining tasks to be finished on a specific day. Then, you may want to allocate the most critical and time-sensitive tasks to the most productive hours of your day. Your to-do list or planner can be designed as per your preference and schedule. However, it is recommended to treat the most important tasks as the highest priority and ensure you work on them first.

Look After Your Mental Health

Remote work can feel overwhelming and stressful at times and because of this it is important to schedule time for yourself. For example, it may be useful to incorporate healthy activities, which will help you relax and recharge from a difficult day. You can try meditation during your breaks or have quick chats with colleagues on subjects outside of work. This will not only boost your mental wellbeing, but it will also decrease feelings of isolation. Moreover, if sick days are part of your compensation package, remember to take the time you need to recover from sickness and get back to work at full capacity.

Take Regular Breaks

Devoting all of your time to work without recesses and breaks can be harmful to your physical and mental wellbeing. When working remotely, it can be tempting to cut your breaks short and skip lunch to complete a project. To avoid the risk of depleting your energy, it is advisable to ensure you take breaks in their entirety. You may want to use time-tracking apps or simply set an alarm on your phone to track your breaks. For example, if you have planned an hour’s break and you return to your workspace after forty minutes, you can take a walk for the remaining twenty minutes.

Leverage Communication Tools

Maintaining interpersonal relationships can be challenging when working from home. This is why, it is crucial to stay connected to your colleagues and build a strong rapport. There are many digital tools, such as video conferencing, messaging apps, and email that you can leverage to facilitate communication. For example, it may be helpful to schedule time for virtual coffee, quiz nights, or lunch and remove the barrier between other team members. As a result, you will ensure real-time engagement and keep up to date on various projects and initiatives.

Schedule Time For Exercise

One of the best ways to improve your work performance is by being proactive and this can be achieved through regular exercise. This approach can offer a variety of benefits to both your personal and professional life. By adopting the habit of working out regularly, you can increase blood flow to your brain, sharpen your mind, and improve alertness at work. This is why, it is important to schedule some time to complete a home workout and move your muscles or go for a long walk outside. Remember to choose an activity which suits your needs and sounds feasible to you.

Establish Clear Boundaries

Setting ground rules with other people and family members in your home is key to ensuring productivity. For instance, if you share a space with another working adult, you will need to negotiate quiet times, use of shared equipment, as well as meeting times. Similarly, children who may be learning from home or coming back from school while you are still working can often distract you. Therefore, it is important to set up clear rules about what they can and cannot do during working hours. By having an open conversation with your family, you can explain the expectations of remote working and prevent hurdles in your professional life.

Keep A Separate Phone Number

The expectation to answer calls or respond to emails outside of working hours or even during holidays can place enormous pressure on remote workers. Because of this, keeping a separate phone number for your personal life can help you switch off after work and avoid exhaustion. This way, when you log off from the system for the day, you can rest assured that you will not be contacted by a coworker or manager. As a result, you will be able to stick to your working routine and ensure a work-life balance.