Working from home can be a mixed bag of productivity and distractions. If you've ever found yourself tackling household chores during work hours, you're not alone. Many of us appreciate the flexibility but struggle to maintain focus throughout the day.
I find those distractions helpful, taking a break from staring at spreadsheets to switch over some laundry or grab and snack can give your mind some reprise. However, sometimes I do find a sincere lack in my productivity and focus when I am at home for 6+ hours working on the same project. And others can relate, a Forbes article (linked below) describes a study that shows a 10-20% decrease in productivity in remote jobs. I’m sure you have found yourself doing random tasks throughout your workday.
How do you keep yourself engaged in your work when your home is also your office? The answer varies for each person, but here are some tailored strategies to enhance your work-from-home experience. If any of these sound appealing to you, try the next time you work from home, especially if you are a hybrid worker who has a hard time being equally productive both in and out of the office.
Eliminate distractions, creating a separate space for you to do work, whether it's an office, or leaving your home and working at a local library or coffee shop. Maybe you already have an office or a desk set up, maybe try going outside of the home to see how a location change affects your productivity.
Setting a schedule or goals each day. Listing out tasks you wish to complete during your workday before your work begins is a great way to remain focused. Crossing off completed tasks can give you a sense of achievement and help you stay organized. What’s the first thing you'd like to tackle tomorrow, is it a meeting you've been putting off, or a part of your project you keep procrastinating?
A successful and controversial tip is to dress like you are in the office. Maybe not a three-piece suit, but getting up and getting out of your sweatpants, may help you mentally align yourself with your work. Throwing on a sweater and comfortable dress pants keeps you in comfortable clothes you like, while also feeling professional.
Relating to my last blog, keeping consistent communication with your bosses and colleagues can help you feel more like you're in the office. Connectivity in any job is a key driver for success. Having quick meetings with your work friends is a great way to keep in touch, or just sending a message daily on Slack, or your organization’s messaging platform, keeps you connected at a personal level, even though you are physically apart. Ask yourself, how often you check in with your team members or your boss, maybe those 1 on 1 meetings need to be more frequent.
Another great point to remember is, you are allowed to take breaks. If you want to take those breaks where you do dishes, fold your laundry, or make lunch, go ahead and do so. Keeping your breaks productive, not just using your phone, helps keep you focused.
A few more suggestions that relate to the aforementioned suggestions, complete your more challenging tasks first, reward yourself, and use productivity tools. When listing your daily tasks, you can place the more difficult tasks first, because you have more energy and enthusiasm in your first hours at work. Use your morning energy to face the most demanding tasks. While checking off your completed tasks, you can give yourself rewards, whether it's a break, maybe a quick snack, or even a walk outside. Lastly, you can use productivity tools and apps, maybe your organization suggests certain ones, to list your daily tasks.
Remember, it’s about finding what uniquely works for you to stay focused and productive. By trying different strategies and observing what enhances your productivity, you can make working from home a more enjoyable and fruitful experience.
