Since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have implemented remote work capabilities for their employees to keep productivity rolling out of the office. Since the beginning of 2023, nearly 12.7% of full-time employees work remotely full-time, with about 1 in 4 full-time employees working a hybridized model. It can be challenging to stay productive at home with all sorts of distractions and personal conflicts, yet many people claim working from home benefits their productivity.
Here at Vuepoint, our employees often work a hybrid schedule. That’s because we follow best practices to provide the flexibility to work remotely without compromising the quality of our work. If you are new to remote work, consider the following steps to remain productive at home:
Set a schedule and stick to it.
Establishing a schedule is one of the most critical parts of a positive remote work model. Just as you would have designated hours in an office, schedule your work hours daily and communicate with your family or housemates. A consistent schedule influences productivity over time and allows you to schedule personal time outside of working hours.
Designate a workspace without distractions.
Do your best to create a workspace that you are comfortable in. A supportive chair, plenty of desk space, and minimal external distractions are essential to a good workspace. Not everyone has room to create their own at-home office, but it is important to avoid doing work in the bedroom or other areas that should be designated for pleasure, not work.
Get up early.
Sleeping in is tempting when working from home, until you oversleep and miss an important meeting. If you struggle to stay productive throughout the day, consider waking up earlier with a cup of coffee to get your productive energy flowing. Starting the day with more straightforward assignments and working up to heavier ones can also be a helpful strategy.
Take movement breaks.
Giving your body and brain time to relax and recharge throughout the day is vital to staying productive. Taking 20 minutes or so to walk around or stretch will take your mind off work temporarily and give you a boost when you return to your desk.
Eliminate digital distractions.
Falling down the rabbit hole of social media or instant messaging is hard to avoid at home. Do your best to eliminate these distractions by keeping your distance from your phone. Disabling unnecessary alerts and notifications from your work computer is a good idea, too. Save your social scrolling and texting for the end of the day after you’ve logged off.
Communicate with your colleagues frequently.
Participating in online meetings with your work colleagues and clients, rather than just communicating via email, eliminates the feeling of isolation that may accompany working from home. Using your video and audio capabilities to communicate with your partners helps create the real-life feel that is sometimes lost to a remote-work model.
Make to-do lists every day.
Be accountable with your work by creating a to-do list each day. Whether that means starting your morning by mapping out the work you will finish or taking time at the end of each day to assemble a task list for the next day, a to-do list is an excellent asset to productivity. Checking off boxes throughout the day is rewarding and will ensure you remember tasks.
Try a change of scenery.
Setting specific days during the week to go into the office, a coffee shop, or a collaborative workspace can be beneficial and keep you from burnout at home. Switching up the environment where you work will help you feel fresh and can be exciting, rather than working from the same spot every single day.
Remote work can be a blessing, but there is no denying that it also comes with challenges. By establishing a schedule, setting clear and achievable goals, and being consistent with your work, working from home can be just as good (and productive) as intended. If you have questions about how to develop a remote or hybrid work model for your business, visit our contact page today!
