Working Remotely from Home? Here's How to Stay Productive

I hear this more often among those who work from home: “I got more work done way back when I was an office worker!” If you’ve been working remotely for some time now, I’m sure you can relate. 

While being able to wake up late, skip the daily commute, and work in your PJs sounds perfect, they do come with risks. One of the “downsides” is decreased productivity. Instead of focusing on a task at hand, you find yourself doing things you normally do at home - wash the dishes, taking long naps, cleaning, and more. 

You get the idea.  

But a lack of productivity doesn’t mean that you should leave your “work from home” life to re-join the 9-5 camp. What you need is a list of proven tips from successful remote workers. Ready?

Transform a small area of your home into a productive workspace. 

The worst mistake that could drastically reduce your productivity is working from your bed. Your bed is where you’re going to rest, and using it as your workspace at the same time can make you less alert. Not to mention, it messes with your posture. 

You might want to read: A Solopreneur’s Guide to Creating a Home Office (And Staying Productive)>>

Plan your day before it starts. 

Those who work from home struggle with distractions all the time. The struggle never ends, it never goes away. But here’s another truth: You don’t have to respond to them. The key is to plan ahead. Make a checklist of the things that need to be done for the day, whether that’s taking your dog to the vet or grocery shopping. Create a time budget and stick to it. 

Work during the most productive hours of the day.

Some people are more focused during the early hours of the morning, while some work best at night. If you don’t know your “golden hours” yet, put yourself to the test. Do this: Track how much you’re getting done at certain times (depending on the nature of your work). For instance, from 7-9 am, record how many social media posts you’ve scheduled or the number of words you’ve written. 

Take a social media detox.

Randomly browsing social media messes up with your mind and emotions in many ways. It sparks FOMO (fear of missing out), elicits unexpected reactions, and increases your stress levels. You may not realize it, but social media could be your number 1 distraction. Try going cold turkey. Turn off notifications for your social media apps. Uninstall those apps. Put your phone away while you work. 

Make exercise non-negotiable. 

Regular exercise supercharges your productivity by improving your memory and thinking. In fact, walking, a simple form of exercise, increases blood flow to the brain. Create a simple non-negotiable fitness regime. Start with a 15-minute brisk walk or treadmill exercise. While you workout, you listen to podcasts that may trigger creative, brilliant ideas.

Love these productivity tips? What can you do today to get your work done? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.