6 Basic Rules to Boost Productivity While Working Remotely
When you know what it takes to get things done, you will start doing them.
Working from home can be tricky, but it can also be gratifying. And as the saying goes, you must find a way to make a living while doing what you love. Here are some tips to get the most out of your work-from-home lifestyle.
I started working from home when I was 24 years old. I was still living with my parents. It was hard because I lived alone and wasn’t used to working from home. It took me a long time to adjust. I did work, but it was challenging because I had no routine or structure.
I found it difficult to focus. If there were an email from my boss, I would find it hard not to read it. So, I made a goal of staying productive and set up a daily timer to remind me to focus on what I was supposed to be doing.
Although you love working from home, staying motivated while your coworkers are around can still be challenging. It can also be effortless to get distracted by all the other things you want to do.
But here’s the thing — you don’t have to be a slave to your desk, office, or home to make money. So how do you stay productive while working remotely?
This article will explore some basic rules for a remote worker and will increase your productivity.
Do your best work during the first three hours.
The first three hours of your day are crucial to your productivity. It doesn’t matter if you’re working at a desk or in an office.
“You don’t get paid for the hour, you get paid for the value you bring to the hour.” — Jim Rohn.
You still need to do your best work during the first three hours. Otherwise, it’s easy to fall into the trap of doing the same thing repeatedly, expecting different results.
For example, if you’re a writer, you might write every day simultaneously, even if the story takes longer than usual. You’ll likely be checking social media daily if you’re a social media manager.
That’s not the only reason. Many other reasons exist to do the best work possible during the first three hours.
You’re more focused. When you work for long periods, you can quickly lose focus.
You can’t go back to bed later when you’re forced to wake up early. So you have to keep yourself focused. That’s not an excuse. You should have enough willpower to control your schedule.
You’re more creative. You’ll become less creative if you spend too much time on social media. You’ll think that posting an image or a meme is more manageable than writing an original article.
If you don’t spend time creating, you will not have any content to share with your audience. And if you’re not posting content, you’re losing traffic.
Work for short blocks of time.
Working remotely can be difficult because of the mental distractions and interruptions. To avoid this, start by setting aside a certain amount of time daily to work. You can set the alarm for a few minutes, 30 minutes, or even an hour. The idea is that you give yourself a block of time to get your tasks done.
This work block of time is an opportunity to stay productive, and you’ll get the most out of it if you focus on a task for that time. For example, if you set aside 15 minutes every morning, you’ll get the most out of those 15 minutes.
You can use this same principle to get the most out of longer work blocks of time.
For example, if you have a couple of hours, you can divide those hours into two segments of 15 minutes. After those segments are completed, you can divide them into two more 15-minute segments, then two more, and so on.
This process continues until you’ve finished your tasks, and you’ll be amazed at how effective this method is.
Don’t overwork yourself.
Working from home means you’ll be at home any time of the day or night. So, if you’re struggling to focus or are constantly finding yourself wanting to procrastinate, the answer isn’t to work longer hours.
“Do each day all that can be done that day. You don’t need to overwork or rush blindly into your work trying to do the greatest possible number of things in the shortest possible time” — Earl Nightingale
Instead, take a break. Turn off the lights, grab a cup of tea or coffee, and take a walk outside.
I often want to check my email or reply to emails on my phone. That’s a recipe for getting nothing done and losing out on opportunities.
Instead, I suggest setting aside a dedicated work-from-home hour each day. Use the Pomodoro technique if you’re having trouble figuring out how to block time.
In brief, the Pomodoro technique is a time management system. It involves working on a task for 25 minutes, taking a five-minute break, and then repeating the process for four more 25-minute stints.
You may not believe it, but the five-minute breaks improve productivity. When you take a break, your mind is free to go back and think of things you could’ve done during your last work session.
Additionally, it’s easier to lose track of time. By asking you, “How many Pomodoros did you do today?” your boss can quickly see how you’re spending your day.
Schedule meals, sleep, and exercise.
You’ll always have plenty to do when you work from home, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a consistent sleep schedule can be challenging. These three things are the foundation of a productive and happy life. So, make sure you do them.
“Early to rise, early to bed, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and dead.” — James Thurber
Schedule your meals and sleep schedule. That may sound simple, but it’s surprising how often I see remote workers who go for days without eating.
It makes your body run on empty, which isn’t conducive to high productivity. When you’re hungry, you’re more likely to crave junk food, which will derail your diet and progress.
When working from home, I eat a healthy breakfast and lunch daily. Then I’ll grab dinner at a restaurant during the week or grab something at the grocery store on the weekend.
Try getting to bed earlier than usual, and when you do, make sure you don’t fall asleep on your laptop. If you don’t allow your body sufficient rest, you’re more likely to be tired when you get up.
You need to get at least seven hours of sleep every night. I find that when I get less than six hours, I’m more cranky, which affects my concentration.
And don’t forget to exercise! You must keep your body fit and robust, especially if you spend a lot of time sitting at a desk.
Set aside specific times for specific tasks.
As a freelancer, I’m always seeking ways to maximize my productivity. Whether trying to find the perfect coffee shop in the morning or finding a creative solution to a problem, it’s all part of ensuring that I’m working productively.
If you’re a remote worker, setting specific times for each task can be challenging, primarily if you work for yourself.
Here’s a list of things to help you:
1. Set aside 30 minutes every morning for writing
2. Set aside 15 minutes to review the day before
3. Set aside 30 minutes in the afternoon to do client calls
4. Set aside 20 minutes to go over your financial statements
5. Set aside 20 minutes for social media
These steps will ensure you get enough sleep and time to think about your work.
And if you’re losing focus, try taking a walk or meditating.
Use social media to stay connected with colleagues.
When I started working from home, I struggled with the idea of staying in touch with my colleagues in person. However, I found a solution by using social media.
While I was still in the office, I would reach out daily, check in with my coworkers, and see what they were up to. I realized that I could do the same thing from my own home.
Here’s how it works:
Create a schedule where you can check in with the people you’re trying to keep in touch with. Each time you schedule a call or message, you’ll create a snapshot of their life at that time.
You can then use it for reference if they mention something exciting or send you an email when you haven’t checked in in a while.
It can be helpful for multiple reasons.
First, it’s a great way of getting to know your colleagues better.
Second, it helps you stay in touch with the team at a more appropriate level than just email.
Third, it forces you to be social.
In short, it keeps you on track with the goals you’ve set, and it reminds you of who you’re working with.
Productivity is a tricky thing to manage when working remotely. You might feel like you’re missing out on a few things when you’re not interacting with other people daily.
But productivity doesn’t just mean staying connected with people or taking advantage of networking opportunities. It would help to be mindful of distractions, making you less productive.
You can do several things to be more productive while working remotely. For example, it’s easy to let the internet become a distraction when working.
It’s a simple fix, but I’d recommend logging off or disabling notifications for a while. I also recommend finding a comfortable workplace and creating a schedule for when you work.
Lastly, having fun is essential because, otherwise, it can feel like a chore. You also need to ensure you’re not too serious about your work.
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