Navigating the current reality of this pandemic as a working professional is new to all of us. For many, it’s a total blessing in disguise (bye-bye morning commute!). For essential workers (read: heroes) on the front lines, it’s a whole new, exhausting, and scary feat to overcome. And for others, it’s been overwhelming and just plain unproductive. Don’t worry, I get it–and you’re not alone!
If there’s one thing that can give us all a little peace of mind, even for a moment, it’s that we’re all in this together. If you’re one of the thousands who’ve recently swapped (or even if you’re a seasoned WFH warrior–looking at you, digital creatives and WFH entrepreneurs!) your cubicle for your kitchen counter or dining table, here are five ways to help boost your daily work from home productivity.
1. Stick to a routine
While having a flexible schedule is definitely one of our favorite work from home perks (around 40% of us think so, anyway), let’s not get too carried away. When you’re quickly forced to adjust to a new work situation, it’s easy to feel unorganized and overwhelmed. The best place to start is your routine. Plan your day just as you would for a day at the office, or at least when you know you’re the most productive. If you’re most productive in the morning, make sure to knock out your most important tasks during that time. For those of you who thrive on your afternoon peak productivity hours, then that’s your time to shine. Get a good night’s sleep, wake up as early as you normally would (okay, maybe one more snooze is acceptable), complete your regular morning routine, get ready for the day, and then head over to your home office for a productive start to your day.
2. Wake up at least 30 minutes before you start your work day
When your daily commute includes walking just a few steps over to your “home office,” it’s easy to hit the snooze button a few more times. Suddenly, your bed feels a whole lot more cozy knowing you don’t have to battle any morning traffic. Going hand-in-hand with sticking to a routine, starting your morning at least 30 minutes before you start work will help set the tone for a more productive day. Productivity expert and author of Design Your Day, Claire Diaz Ortiz, explains that one of the most effective productivity hacks is to create a morning routine that works best for you. When you wake up earlier, you can take your time on your morning skin care routine, read a few pages of your favorite book, make a healthy breakfast, or even get a quick workout in. Soon enough, this will be one of your favorite WFH habits to boost productivity.
3. Designate a place in your home for work
While your bed or the couch are undoubtedly the most cozy spaces to work from in your home, they certainly aren’t always the best for productivity. It’s also not the best option when you’re in need of a healthier work-life balance. Choose a space in your home where you feel mentally prepared and focused to work every day. Whether it means adding a desk in your guest bedroom, the kitchen, basement area, or even in a corner of the living room, designating a place to get your work done for the day will help you feel much more productive than when you’re sitting on the couch in front of the TV (not today, Netflix).
4. Actually take breaks throughout the day
For workaholics near and far, it’s not always easy to press pause when your mind needs a break or to even identify when you need one. When you start feeling frustrated, unfocused, tense, and your posture is tanking by the second, it’s time to move. Go refill your water or drink, grab a healthy snack, take the dog for a quick walk, sit outside for a few minutes, or just stretch. Studies have shown that employees who take regular breaks (about once an hour) perform better than those who don’t. Taking small breaks between your tasks help improve your productivity, posture, focus, mental well-being, and your overall energy.
5. Set your phone out of sight to avoid distractions
Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by excessive scrolling through every social media app on your phone during “work” hours. (Guilty!!). When the boss isn’t around to see what you’re up to at any point during the day, it’s easy to get distracted for a little too long on your phone. Unless your job requires you to take constant phone calls throughout the day, it’s time to give yourself some space. Think of it as social distancing from your own distractions. Make it a habit to leave your phone somewhere out of sight or at least out of reach so you’re not tempted to pick it up every five minutes.
As many companies are in talks of making remote work a permanent move, it’s important to continue finding new ways to stay productive while working from home. For those of you who thrive in office settings and being around your colleagues, working from home doesn’t have to be negative. Set up daily or weekly Zoom meetings to brainstorm ideas with your team, give updates on your work, or simply just to catch up during virtual happy hours. Working from coffee shops (while adhering to your city and state’s social distancing guidelines, of course) is also a great way to help fill the void of feeling alone all day when you’re missing the office.