How to increase productivity when working remote

January 13, 2021 Alter

How to increase productivity when working remote

Businesses have spent much of the past nine months scrambling to adapt to extraordinary circumstances. 2021 will be the year of transition. The next normal is going to be different. It will not mean going back to the conditions that prevailed in 2019. Indeed, generations to come will likely discuss the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 eras. 

Disruption creates space for entrepreneurs, but how all that feeds into long-term productivity will not be known until the data for several more quarters are evaluated. That is why it’s becoming increasingly important to be as productive as possible in your job. 

Here are the top  3 tips to avoid the productivity killers during this time whether you are working remote or not.

Dealing with the Tough Stuff

The process of learning to manage your own time, unsupervised and unobserved, no commute, no office politics can be very taught. Though it may look great, procrastination, distraction and stress can take hold when you are working from home. 

Everyone’s done this at some point or another as it’s human nature to try and avoid the things that are going to cause us stress.  However putting the hard stuff off generally leads to procrastination, and as the deadline looms you’ll find that putting the task off has inadvertently increased the level of pressure you have to deal with (let’s face it, the tough tasks rarely go away!).   

To create more time to deal with this pressure you might find yourself putting another task or project on hold so that you can deal with the first one, and as this vicious cycle unfolds you end up in a downward spiral of inefficiency! As difficult or unpleasant as the task may seem, getting started is your key to success so it’s critical to grab the bull by the horns and get moving immediately.  

You need to embrace your inner boss, set some clear boundaries, and learn to manage yourself. Schedule some time in your agenda to get started.  Break the task down into manageable chunks so that you don’t get overwhelmed, and systematically work through each chunk to create a sense of momentum.  This in turn will help increase your level of motivation and before you know it the task will be done.

Set Clear and Achievable Goals 

Setting strict deadlines for yourself is a great way to focus your mind on the task in hand. You can divide your work into distinct, manageable tasks and give yourself a little reward each time you  complete one – a cup of coffee or a 10-minute social media break. Create a routine and stick to it. It’s all about learning to organize your time effectively

Don’t forget   bad health habits can have a very negative impact on your level of productivity.  If you don’t look after yourself your brain can’t function properly and if you’re feeling tired, run-down and unfocussed you can’t work at your optimal level which means your ability to perform well in your job is compromised.  

Whilst you might feel that finding time to exercise will add even more weight to your already-overloaded schedule, it’s important to remember that taking good care of yourself will help increase your energy levels, which in turn will help increase your focus and stamina.  These are all great ingredients to aid maximum productivity!

Don’t leave issues open

Unresolved issues can be a huge drain on your time and energy, by increasing your level of distraction.  

If you have an emotional issue that you’ve ‘left open’ it’s important to work through the problem and find the best way to resolve it as a matter of urgency.   This in turn will help your focus and resilience to be more productive

Don’t forget it’s easy to lose perspective when you’re working on your own. Check in regularly with your colleagues back in the office to make sure that you are  staying on track.