There’s no place like home. And then, it also becomes your workplace. For many, this change was force-fed with the sudden onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. For others, working remotely has already been the norm. For a growing number of workers worldwide, it’s an increasingly desired option.
Regardless of how you got there, what can you do to keep your productivity at peak levels while working from home?
Create a workspace.
Create a home workspace for yourself that you associate with your job and leave when you’re off the clock. This is important whether you have the luxury of a home office or you need to convert a corner of your bedroom.
- Or, maybe it’s both! If you’re most focused and creative sitting at a desk for some tasks and stretched out on a chaise lounge for others, go for it. Realign your daily to-do list the same way. For instance, are you a morning or a night person? Take this into consideration and position the most critical tasks during your “peak hours.”
- Clear your workspace of anything that distracts you from what you need to get done. Keep other job-related papers and files in neat stacks, racks or drawers. And lose anything non-related that gets in the way.
- The right lighting is important. Natural light is awesome and plentiful in the summertime. But if it causes a glare on your screen, close the blinds and flip on a lamp if you have insufficient overhead lighting. While you’re at it, keep the room where you work at a comfortable temperature using an air conditioner or fan. Again, an open window is great, but you may need to eliminate outside noise.
Set yourself up like a pro.
You may not be commuting anywhere, but you still have to get ready for work. Set a morning routine just as you would if you were headed into the office. Shower, work out, read the paper, eat a good breakfast, grab some coffee … whatever normally works for you.
- If you didn’t do it at the end of the previous day, make that to-do list. You significantly increase your chances of being productive when you set intentions. And, it does help to physically cross completed items off your list.
- Schedule your time. Establish start, break, and end times for working. Sure, it’s fine to answer the occasional off-hours text or email, but set boundaries to maintain a healthy work/life balance. After all, that’s the top benefit of working remotely. If those interruptions start to upset that balance, put the brakes on.
Advancing your career and growing as a professional can be challenging even in the best of times. So, when something as unprecedented as a year like 2020 hits, what can you do to stay productive, goal-oriented, and on track? Let the experienced career development experts at PrideStaff Modesto help. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.
