Getting Used To A Remote Work Setup: Productivity When Working From Home

Working from home for the first time can be intimidating. You’re on your own schedule, even when you’re running by usual office hours, and you’re technically alone when it comes to completing all work for the day. No co-worker to turn to in the next cubicle, no chance to knock on the boss’ door for a little advice – it’s practically the wild west out here!

You have no one but yourself to rely on for motivation and initiative. For some people, that can be a hard thing to adjust to. And that’s a feeling that doesn’t help at all. After all, you’re worried about running low on productivity, and disappointing your employer after giving you the chance to work from home. 

Which is why it’s essential to get used to this working setup as soon as possible. To help you adjust on a schedule that’s beneficial to you, here are some tips to keep in mind about working remotely. It’s a different world to the traditional workplace, and that’s not a bad thing!  

You Will Need a Private Space

There’s no doubt about that. If you’re going to be working from home, you’re never going to get used to fixing your working hours on your own. You’re going to be distracted by everything that goes on around you, from family members to what’s going on outside with neighbours and cars driving down your street.  

As such, the best thing to do is designate a private area for you to work in. If you’re able to, cordon off a whole room and use it as an office. This way you can close and lock the door behind you – if you don’t have a lock, you can easily fit one. If you can, it’s also worth fitting blinds to the windows; this way you can still let the sun in whilst keeping the worst of background noise out. 

Remote Work Can Carry Non-Traditional Working Hours

No matter what career field you’re in, moving to a remote working position will come with non-traditional working hours. From a career in data analytics to templating and posting content as a social media manager, you’re unlikely to still work the same hours now you’re in a home environment. 

And that’s not a bad thing, for you or your company. As long as work is completed on time, you’ve got the chance to rework your schedule to suit you and all your needs. Say you’ve got a lot to get done in the morning, such as taking the kids to school or caring for another relative – get this task out of the way and you then can focus on your work duties with your full mental capacity. 

This could even have been a problem for you before, when you were often late to the office or felt unable to focus while on the job. Now you can decide your own hours within this period of flexibility, you can be present when you need to be. 

Breaks are Not Productivity Killers

They really aren’t! And when you take a break, you’re likely to be more productive when you get back to work. That’s how it, well, works. So feel free to take a break when you need one; you don’t need to be stuck at your desk all day to justify your need to work remotely. And the more your employer expects an attitude like this, the more you should be looking for a new job! 

Plus, you’re entitled to a break as an employee. You’re allowed to take 5 minutes when you need a breather, and you’re allowed an hour over lunch to relax and eat some yummy, nutritious food to keep you going. This doesn’t change because you’re at home! 

Don’t Get Bogged Down in Little Tasks

The little tasks can take all day if you let them. Checking emails, for example, is one of the worst activities for this. You probably have upwards of 20 to deal with first thing in the morning, all of which need a thought out, well drafted response. And for many people, it can take over an hour just to clear the inbox before anything else can get done. 

What a waste of time! Don’t let the little, annoying tasks get to you when you’re trying to improve your productivity at home. Set a timer for 10 to 20 minutes and see how many of these emails you get through. Make sure you tackle the most time sensitive ones first, and then leave the rest for another 10 to 20 minutes at the end of the day. Break it up and keep your momentum flowing. 

Start Meal Prepping on Weekends

If you meal prep outside of your work hours, you’re going to eat well no matter what. You won’t be tempted to order out every day – which saves you a lot of money – and you won’t need to snack your way through lunch. You’ll have a full, fulfilling meal, which will give you plenty of energy and brain power for the rest of the afternoon. 

Have a Closing Routine

A closing routine helps you to unwind from a day of working remotely. As someone who needs to draw a fine line between your working day and your private time within the same space, this is essential for turning your brain off and conserving what’s left of your energy. if you ‘close’ right with a routine, you’re more likely to ‘open’ right the following morning. 

Talk to Your Colleagues Daily

Finally, make sure you stay in touch with your colleagues, even when you’re outside of the office. You’re allowed to talk to them on your own time, and doing so will help to eliminate loneliness whilst you’re remote. A good chat over lunch, and sharing tips during the morning rush, will keep those important relationships topped up and on the front of everyone’s mind. 

If you’re new to remote working, don’t let unfamiliar territory throw you off!