How To Increase Your Productivity When Working From Home
3 simple but incredibly effective strategies that helped me.
Working from home was something we considered as wildly cool back in the day.
When I worked in tech, I remember asking recruiters and hiring managers whether or not working from home was or could be an option for the role I was applying to; if it wasn’t, I’d always reconsider because I wanted that freedom so desperately.
When I did land remote positions, my friends and family were envious. They, too, wanted to work from the comforts of their homes. Now, in 2021, more and more individuals are getting the opportunity to work from the comforts of their homes.
The number of companies offering remote work options is continuously increasing, and several studies have shown that productivity while working remotely from home is significantly better than working in an office setting.
On average, those who work from home spend 10 minutes less a day being unproductive, work one more day a week, and are 47% more productive.
A friend of mine mentioned that her productivity simply isn’t the same when she works from home, but she doesn’t want to waste time commuting to the office, and knowing that I’ve been doing it for a few years now and doing it well — she asked for some pointers.
Here are the biggest game-changers I mentioned that have been incredibly helpful for me that will hopefully help you as well.
Create the right office set up for yourself.
When I first officially started working from the comforts of my home, I worked from my couch.
The first few days were comfortable and convenient; I thought it was great because I could simultaneously watch TV while working on a project. However, at the end of the week, I realized that while I had managed to start season 4 of Friends, I was incredibly behind on my projects.
Not only that but your aching back and shoulders will soon interfere with your work. You start slouching, rounding your spine and shoulders, pushing your head forward so that your head and neck stick out like a turtle’s, which then puts all sorts of pressure on your neck and upper shoulder muscles.
You’re probably in this position right now as you’re reading this article.
While occasionally working from the comforts of your bed or couch is fine, if it becomes your routine all day, every day, it can start to affect both your physical and mental health.
Theresa Marko, PT, owner of Marko Physical Therapy in New York City, says,
“Take a finger and bend it backward — while it doesn’t hurt right away, it will after an hour. That’s exactly how your poor neck feels.”
What you can do:
Whether you’re repurposing furniture you already own or splurging on a new desk, having a useful and comfortable set-up is key.
I saved some money and invested in a stand-up desk because sitting too much isn’t good for you.
Back pain is one of the most common complaints of office workers who sit all day, and several studies show that standing desks can dramatically decrease chronic back pain caused by prolonged sitting.
Even working from your kitchen table is a better option than working from your couch.
Reduce your distractions and turn off notifications, especially when working on a project.
You won’t be able to control all of the distractions at home, like your noisy neighbor upstairs or your mom texting you cool Pinterest photos, but the things you do have control over are probably the most distracting anyway.
Things like your phone, TV, the clutter on your desk are all within your control.
In addition, turning off notifications while working on a project can be a real game-changer.
Most people believe multitasking is effective, but research shows how repeatedly switching tasks makes us 40% less productive by the end of the day. Even a so-called “quick” email check can cause your brain to switch gears, and as a result, take extra time to refocus when you’re trying to go back to the project you were already working on.
Random and endless notifications can also cause stress, even if you ignore them and tell yourself to focus on the task at hand.
What you can do:
Turn your phone on airplane mode to avoid getting calls and texts from people who might want to distract you during your work hours.
Clear your desk of all the mail, bills, the grocery list you keep adding to, and anything else that will draw your attention away from your work.
Unless you focus better on background noise, turn off the TV and try earplugs or noise-canceling headphones if the birds outside really start getting to you.
I’m pretty sensitive to noise, so I did request noise-canceling headphones for my birthday. I can’t even begin to tell you how helpful they’ve been. I’m completely immune to the crazy lady upstairs who vacuums before 6 am every morning.
Utilize tools that will help you manage your time and projects.
There are many tools out there that have been specifically created in order to help you manage your time and projects in a way that will help you get results and stay organized.
If you struggle with staying organized, buy a physical planner and catalog your tasks daily in order to ensure you stay on top of everything. If you prefer digital, there are sites like Notion or Trello that can help you organize everything you’re working on.
If you struggle with time management, use apps like Clockify to manage your time better. The app allows you to clock in and out and create your own projects so, over time, you can see how much time you’re spending on certain things.
Cataloging everything the night or morning before helps you create a productive day. It also enables you to see if you’ve overcommitted, and you can immediately work on prioritizing and delegating tasks.
What you can do:
Figure out whether you want to organize your life digitally or through a physical planner, commit to one and utilize it daily.
I strongly advise you to stick to 1 instead of trying to use multiple. I prefer to write down my to-do list on a physical planner and buy them off amazon.
They help keep my life organized and ticking things off physically with a pen gives me a sense of accomplishment.
Productivity looks different for everybody, and the more you play with strategies like this, the easier it’ll be to identify what does and doesn’t work so you could create a sustainable routine for yourself.
With that being said, if you find yourself struggling to stay on top of things at home, try the following:
- Create the right office set up for yourself. Whether that be by repurposing the furniture you already have, creating a little office at your kitchen table, or buying a new desk altogether, make it a space you want to be in.
- Reduce your distractions, and turn off your notifications, especially when working on a project. You might think your focus won’t waiver if you check your Instagram or Gmail, but it will. Do it later. Get your stuff done.
- Utilize tools that will help you manage your time and projects. By adding a simple time tracking tool into your daily life you’ll already have a better idea of where your time is going.
