Photo Credit: @fashion_jackson
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of employees have been asked to work from home. If you’re not used to working remotely, it can be tough to get into a new routine, work in a new atmosphere, and maintain your workflow. This is why it’s super important to structure your workday in a way that maximizes productivity and allows you to still have some sort of routine that you follow.
To help you achieve this, we’ve come up with some helpful tips:
- Have a morning routine – Morning routines are super important because they set the tone for the entire day. Depending on how you choose to structure your morning, you could either get a lot of momentum or really slow yourself down. If you wake up and just start working from your bed, you’re not as likely to be as productive. It may work for some, but not for most people. Try to keep all (or most) of your normal habits that make up your morning routine. For example, if you listen to audiobooks on your commute to work, you can still do that while you’re getting ready. If you like to workout, wake up a little earlier to fit in a quick morning workout. Having systems and routines can really help you stay organized and on top of things.
- Schedule it in the calendar – If it doesn’t get marked in the calendar, it typically doesn’t get done. Life gets busy and we always have other “urgent” things to do. Having a general schedule of what you want your day to look like can really help you stay on track. The best time to do this is the night before. That way, you can wake up more relaxed and you know what you have going on the next day. You don’t have to wonder about what you have to do that day, you can just hop into your morning routine with ease. The way you go about scheduling your tasks is up to you. The most important thing is to commit to making it happen and prioritizing the necessary steps. See what works best for you. Some people prefer to plan out every single hour of their day, while others prefer a more lenient schedule. In that case, write down a to-do list and check it off as you go. You’ll feel a lot more accomplished at the end of the day.
- Prioritize – As you make your to-do list, try to narrow it down to the most important tasks. What are three non-negotiable things that NEED to get done that day? Do those first and then if you finish them you can move on to other (less important) tasks. If you don’t get to those other tasks, that’s okay. At least you can then go to bed knowing that you accomplished the most important things.
- Take breaks – It can be tough to maintain a good workflow when you’re working all day without any breaks. The majority of us are spending all day inside the house, so taking a few short breaks throughout the day can help refresh your mind and fuel your creativity.
- Give the Pomodoro Technique a try – The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that uses a timer to break down work into intervals, typically 25 minutes, separated by short breaks of five or so minutes. You repeat this four times, and after the fourth break, you take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. During those 25 minutes of work, you cut out all distractions and solely focus on your work. This method is meant to help you be laser focused and maximize your productivity.
- Get dressed – Even though it may be tempting and convenient to work in your pajamas, it could actually impede your productivity. If you dress up as if you were going to work, you’re more likely to be motivated and feel as if you were in a real work environment. You don’t need to go all out, but putting in at least a little bit of effort can go a long way.
- Create a work space that inspires you – Having a work space that inspires you is really important because you’ll feel more motivated to work. Find a quiet space in your home (preferably by a window so you get some natural light) and set up your home office. You can work from wherever, but working at a desk can help you focus better and trick your mind into thinking it’s an “official” work environment.
- Listen to music – Studies have shown that listening to classical music as background noise could have an impact on your productivity and creativity.
- Stay connected – Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean all communication needs to be cut off. Take advantage of technology and all of the free programs out there. Checking in with your co-workers or classmates every now and then can help you feel more connected because working from home can get lonely sometimes. Also, if you’re stuck and need help on something, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone and ask for help because they might just be in the same boat as you.
- Maintain your normal work hours – With more flexibility comes more responsibility. Respecting your normal hours can help you maintain a good work-life balance. You need that free time to rest and recharge your batteries, so taking accountability and finishing your work on time can make all the difference in the world.
Hopefully you enjoyed these tips and were able to take away some new ideas. Feel free to share your favorite tips on our social media!