Remote working is a popular option amongst employees and freelancers, and it’s something we’re set to see a lot more of in the future. Although millions of businesses implemented work from home arrangements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost-saving aspect of remote working has led to many organizations making the arrangements permanent.
If you’re currently working from home, you’ll want to ensure you can maintain your productivity and fulfil your duties, even when you’re not on site. To help you succeed, take a look at these four ways you can boost productivity when working from home:
1. Stick to a Schedule
When you’re working remotely, it can be tempted to ‘over-work’ in a bid to show your employer that you can operate from home without it affecting your performance. However, sticking to a regular schedule is an important way of maximizing your productivity and avoiding burnout. Starting and finishing work at the same time every day allows you to focus during these hours and facilitates a healthy work-life balance.
2. Improve Sleep Quality
Without a good night’s rest, you can’t perform at your best. When you’re fatigued, the quality of your work nosedives, which is why it’s vital to enhance your sleep quality and ensure you’re getting enough rest every night. If your mattress is showing signs of wear and tear or if you routinely wake up with aches and pains, it might be time to invest in a new one. If so, consider a hybrid mattress. With a combination of coil support and memory foam or latex, you can enhance your sleep quality instantly and there’s no doubt you'll sleep well on this.
3. Create a Home Workspace
If you have a spare room, think about converting it into a dedicated home office. If you’re going to be working from home on a permanent basis, it’s well worth having a designated space that enables you to focus. If you don’t have a spare room you can convert, you’ll need to work with the space available to create a working area in your living area, kitchen or dining room. Even if you can’t create a home office, be sure to use an appropriate desk and chair. Trying to work from a couch or at a breakfast bar can have a negative impact on your posture and health, which, in turn, will reduce your productivity and efficiency.
4. Enhance Your Tech Setup
When you’re working from home, it’s important to have the right tech resources. A slow internet connection will limit your productivity and make it hard to communicate with colleagues, for example. Similarly, having to connect via an ethernet cable can limit where you’re able to work in your home, which can mean you’re situated in a loud or uncomfortable part of your house.
By enhancing your tech setup, you can ensure that you have the resources you need to maximize your productivity. In addition to this, you can make sure that your tech infrastructure doesn’t pose a cybersecurity risk to your employer or your colleagues.
Make Remote Working Work for You
If you’re keen to keep working from home, you’ll need to prove to your employer that you’re able to do so without it having a negative impact on your outputs. Fortunately, these tips will give you a head-start when it comes to enhancing your productivity while working from home. By taking a proactive approach to your new working arrangements, creating the space you need and enhancing your resources, you can ensure that remote working is a successful initiative for you and your employer.