Covid-19 has caused remote work to become a necessity and importance. How to have a productive working day in this scenario?
Let’s try these tips below, then enjoy your energetic working days!
Get ready for your work day
When working in an office, your morning commute can help you wake up and feel ready to work by the time you get to your desk. At home, however, the transition from your pillow to your computer can be much more jarring. So, you need to be your own personal manager and can choose your working hours. Structuring your day as you would in the office also saves you from work creep.
With this structure in place, working from home will not cause your work to invade your personal life. It’s the simplest rule, yet the toughest to follow:
- Set your alarm for the time one hour prior to your office hour
- Freshen up and do the needful before settling in your work space
- Write or type in your To-do list & a planner/calendar because remembering so much can give you a severe headache
- Before going ahead with work, set the timer for the end of your work time
- Perform your tasks with full dedication
Make it harder to use social media.
Social media is designed to make it easy for us to open and browse quickly. As remote workers, though, this convenience can be the detriment of our productivity. To counteract your social networks' ease of use during work hours, remove them from your browser shortcuts and log out of every account on your phone or computer. You might even consider working primarily in a private (or, if you're using Chrome, an "Incognito") browser window.
This ensures you stay signed out of all your accounts, and each web search doesn't autocomplete the word you're typing. It's a guarantee that you won't be tempted into taking too many social breaks during the day. Also, many have found it helpful to shut off social media notifications, eliminate the gateway to those networks during the hours they work from home
Set reminders to take breaks
When you first started working from home, you may have been diligent about getting up and moving around. Maybe you took walks, or just got a quick stretch in. But as time has gone by, perhaps your activity levels have taken a nosedive.
It can be far too easy to let eight hours slide by without any substantial movement or activity, especially when you're in the comfort of your own home. Rather than rely on instinct to pull yourself away from work, try downloading an application that will actively remind you to step back, get up, and move. Don’t open YouTube and watch some comfort clips, use your breaks to get away from your desk. Go for a walk, enjoy fresh air, or spend time with others who might also be in the house.
Do the important tasks in your most productive time
Moreover, try to work when you’re at your most productive as you will commit to your goals faster. Nobody sprints through their work from morning to evening — your motivation will naturally ebb and flow throughout the day. However, when you're working from home, it's all the more important to know when those ebbs and flows will take place and plan your schedule around it.
To capitalize on your most productive periods, save your more challenging tasks for when you know you'll be in the right headspace for them. Use slower points of the day to knock out the easier logistical tasks on your plate.
The responsibility is on you to know when you are most productive and build your work schedule around the periods of maximum productivity.
Stay connected to your coworkers
Communication is critical in a local government work environment. Now that you are working remotely, it is even more crucial to stay in touch with your coworkers. You should have a communication system that allows every team member to inquire about anything, and get the correct answer as quickly as possible.
Efficient communication helps you to maintain an effective workflow. It can also boost your morale and team spirit.
Make Ground Rules for Family Members
Remote working is easily misunderstood by people, especially those who are not really used to it. Today’s generation has clarity about the entire notion of work from home because they have either experienced it themselves or witnessed someone else.
On the contrary, the older generation is not that familiar with this idea. To your parents, work from home is more of a work without any strict routine.
Due to which, they do not really understand the gravity of it. Therefore, it is your responsibility to make them understand how it will work.
You need to set some rules with them. Have an open conversation with your family members and explain the expectations of the work from home culture. Set clear rules for the kids telling them what they should do and what not.
Take care of yourself
Taking breaks is never enough – you have to take care of yourself to remain healthy and fit in order to do your job. Identify habits that will help you maintain your health and vitality.
Exercising, eating well, and getting enough sleep are some effective ways to take good care of yourself. When your body is in great shape, your mental health will also improve.
