Working from home can be both a blessing and a curse—it all depends on your level of discipline and the ways in which you point your efforts to sticking to a strict productivity schedule. Whether you’re a full-time freelancer or an occasional telecommuter, your productivity levels matter most when the world is your oyster and it’s your own responsibility to make the best of a situation that is entirely in your control. Tempting as it may be to crowd your home office with things that bring you joy, that comfortability can sometimes come at a cost. Don’t be discouraged, as statistics are showing that those working from home are more productive than those working on-site
Problems you should know!
One of the most common problems remote workers face is dealing with distractions. A distracted, unfocused mind is the single-most deadly thing to a remote worker’s productivity. The reality of working from home is that it is easy to fall prey to the many things that take you away from your work. Be it interval snack breaks or letting the dog out, time seems to slip away when those random interruptions start slowing you down.
If you’re looking to take control of your schedule and harness your peak productivity levels, we’ve got 7 clever ways to achieve more in less time, all from the comfort of your own home.
1. Find the right productivity applications
The internet is an amazing place to find any and all of the digital productivity tools you may need to harness your highest levels of focus. Whether you’re looking for medical bill review software or online time-tracking tools, there’s an app out there that is specifically designed to streamline your daily duties. All it takes is finding the right ones.
2. Prioritize and plan
Planning ahead is the key to assessing and attacking your workload in a clean, efficient manner. By taking the time to list out your tasks in order of importance, you can basically ensure that you’re able to finish your most important tasks right away and less important tasks towards the tail-end of your day.
3. Silence your phone
We’ve all been there, sitting behind our desks with plenty of work to do, but procrastinating and letting time fly by as we waste away on our phones. Maybe you’re keeping up with your social circle or checking in to see the latest in celebrity gossip, either way, you’re distracted.
Instead of trying to muster up the discipline to ignore your phone, nip the problem in the bud by turning your phone off. Without any ceaseless pinging or random notifications to keep you away from your workload, you can achieve higher and longer productivity levels.
4. Stop multi-tasking
Though you may think you’re accomplishing more by doing two things at once, you’ll actually find that by divvying up your attention, you’re doing two things at a pretty mediocre level. Instead of spreading yourself thin and letting your work suffer for it, focus on one task at a time.
5. Get a virtual assistant
Virtual assistants are the way of the future for ambitious remote professionals. They provide intelligent hands-free help for small tasks that would otherwise distract you—this could be scheduling reminders or changing your music playlist. There are so many excellent options on the market for voice-commanded virtual assistants, so you’ll be able to pick the perfect one that meets your every expectation and more.
6. Take a break
At the end of the day, you can’t always work in turbo-productivity mode, your brain will need a break after hours of zoned-in goodness. Taking a break away from your workload will give you and your brain some much-needed breathing time to relax and rejuvenate.
7. Declutter your workspace
It’s only natural for your high-traffic rooms to accumulate clutter, but it’s also in your best interest to maintain those spaces as well as you can. If you’re like most remote workers, your home office is subject to piles of paperwork and a messy accumulation of coffee mugs and sticky notes. Decluttering your workspace at least once a week will help to clear your mind and keep things clean, and work smarter all the while.
Create your best work from home using these smart productivity tips. How do you stay motivated and productive while working remotely? Open up the discussion in the comments below.
