A lot of people are working from home right now so I figured it would be a good time to share my top productivity tips for working remotely.
Stay away from the TV:
If you live in a small house or apartment, it’s likely your TV is in the same place as your desk or kitchen table. Resist the urge to turn on Netflix or Hulu because it can be distracting.
Overcommunicate with your coworkers:
When you are working from home it’s helpful to overcommunicate. You can’t pop by someone’s desk or talk to them after a meeting. Let the stakeholders know what you are working on and update people on your progress if it makes sense. Keep other communication tools like Slack open and your phone on and nearby. It’ll also make you less lonely if you work from home alone.
Create a designated work area:
It’s easier to stay focused if you work from a table instead of your bed or curled up on the couch. If you have a desk in your apartment, work there otherwise turn your kitchen table into your office for now.
Pretend your boss is nearby:
This productivity tip is self-explanatory. If you have an urge to scroll through Instagram or your go-to blogs and websites, pretend your boss is nearby and resist the urge or limit yourself to only checking it when you are at a natural stopping point.
Get dressed:
Dress professionally instead of wearing your pajamas, gym clothes, or sweatpants even if you just rolled out of bed or worked out. Wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident, especially if you have a lot of video calls throughout the day.
Set working hours:
It can be tempting to wake up early or stay up late to hit your normal seven to eight-hour (or much longer) workday, but it is helpful to stick to your normal work hours. Your coworkers may also be counting on you to be online and working during typical hours. Setting work hours can also help you set boundaries without always feeling like you should be working because your computer is nearby.
Give yourself breaks:
Out of all my top productivity tips, this one seems the most counterintuitive. But it works. Take a break for lunch. If you feel comfortable, go for a quick walk around the block. If you take some breaks you’ll be more productive when you are working and more focused because you’ll be less tempted to pause mid-task which is distracting.
