TIPS FOR WORKING FROM HOME

Productivity is a big concern for many remote workers, who don’t always get the collaborative experience of in-office employees.

Utilize The “Touch It Once” Rule

The “touch it once” rule is an effective productivity tip for working from home.

The rule works like this: As soon as you first touch something (think opening an email, or starting a new task), you finish it right then and there.

If you can’t fully complete the task at that moment, that’s okay, but figure out the next active thing you can do to keep making progress on the task. This rule is beneficial because it helps you focus. If you bounce from task to task all day long, your mind is never fully available to focus on your current task.

The touch it once rule eliminates this issue and ensures you’ll be highly focused.

Stop Multitasking

Multitasking is a tempting option. It becomes even more appealing when you’re working from home. Simultaneously sitting in on a conference call, folding laundry, and mentally starting your next project might make you feel productive.

But actually, it’s just the opposite: Multitasking reduces your productivity by as much as 40%!

Research suggests that constant multitasking is bad for your brain. And it can definitely have a detriment on the quality of your work. As hard as it may be, force yourself to focus on just one task at a time.

Chances are, you’ll finish the job more quickly and can then move on to other to-do’s.

Minimize Interruptions

Working remotely comes with a unique set of potential distractions and interruptions. Whether it’s your child calling your name, the mailman ringing the doorbell, or your phone chiming with a text, it’s all too easy to give in to these interruptions instead of focusing on the task at hand.

Minimize these disruptions by silencing your phone, getting some noise-cancelling headphones, and keeping your kids and/or pets busy with a new game or toy. This is also where it comes in handy to have a designated workspace.

Communicate to your family or roommates that when you’re “at work,” you need to focus on work, and you can talk to them when you’re done.

Determine Your Most Productive Time

What time of day do you get your best work done? Figuring this out can help you work more efficiently. If you have kids, you might find that you’re most focused during their afternoon nap.

If you aren’t sure when you’re most productive, track your work a journal for two weeks. Note what you accomplished every morning and afternoon, and how easy or hard the work felt. This can help you see patterns and hone in on your most productive time of day.

Hint: If you’re tuned in for 60-90 minutes, that’s a good time of the day.

Start With Your Hardest Task First

You might be tempted to put off your hardest piece of work until the end of the day or even the day it’s due. But don’t!

At that rate, you’ll just procrastinate — and when you do finally get it done, the job won’t reflect your best work. What’s more, if you complete the hardest job first, you’ll feel more confident in your abilities.

And by comparison, your easy tasks will seem like even more of a breeze.