In the wake of the pandemic, people are working from home now more than ever. In fact, recent remote work statistics show that 80% of company employers are now amenable to hiring employees who work from home. Furthermore, surveys show that employees who work in a home office are on average 40% more productive than in-office workers. So how can we boost that percentage higher and attain more productivity in the home office? Here are a few tips that support efficiency and performance when working from home.
Space: It may seem obvious, but having a dedicated space in the home where you can focus on your work is crucial. Sometimes this is easier said than done. Many remote workers don’t have the luxury of sprawling square feet in the home or the ability to dedicate an entire room for setting up a home office. If this is the case, don’t lose hope. There are a variety of creative strategies you can use to carve out a space devoted exclusively to your work. Assess your home, and find a nook where you can tuck in a work surface and a chair. This should preferably be in a room with a door so you can shut out distractions. Also, try to avoid putting your office in highly trafficked areas in the home. If this seems like an impossibility, then be firm with family members and roommates by letting them know this is your designated office space and request that they respectfully keep the foot traffic down during your work hours so you can work without distractions.
Equipment: Once you’ve found an ideal spot that’s dedicated to your home office, adapt the equipment for your space that lends itself to your optimal performance. Even if your space is tiny, there are still tools that can keep you focused and productive. For example, install proper lighting in your area. Working in a dark space tends to bring about feelings of fatigue or even depression, whereas a well-lit area facilitates energy and better focus. Also, be mindful of your posture. If you’re hunched over your laptop while sitting on a barstool in the kitchen, that won’t be comfortable for long and therefore definitely not productive. However, if you have a monitor stand that elevates your computer screen to eye level, this is a far better posture and will yield far greater results in your work. The idea here is to have a comfortable chair and workspace that aligns your body with your computer in a way that keeps you pain-free and productive.
Preparation: As mentioned earlier, the home can present a lot of distractions when it comes to completing office work. That’s why it’s important to prepare your workday to keep you focused. Start each workweek with an agenda of tasks that you need to accomplish. Make a list of what must be done according to priority, and check that list every morning before setting to work. This may seem like a simple practice, but it renders big results. Also, keep to a solid schedule. Make your work hours clear, and allow time for a lunch break including a few 10-minute breaks throughout the day. In other words, structure your day similarly as you did when working at an in-office job where you had a set lunch break as well as small breaks scheduled through the day.
Attitude: Home is where we typically share meals, sleep, relax, and watch TV with friends and family. These activities are drastically different from working on spreadsheets, making customer service calls, or analyzing stock market trends. The point here is that if you’re new to working from home, it’s going to take an attitude adjustment. Try to compartmentalize your space and your mind in such a way that resists the fact that the refrigerator is only two feet away, or the bed is a tempting stone’s throw away from your sleepy head. One way to make this distinction is to dress for success. Every work morning, dress as you would if you were going out to a traditional office setting before sitting down to work in your home office. This greatly impacts productivity because it instantly puts you in a “down to business” mentality. Also, have a tough but honest discussion with others who share the home with you. Make it clear that you’re working to support the household, and you deserve to be as productive as possible without interruptions.
Let’s face it, this is an unprecedented time in history in that working from home is now the new normal. There are a ton of advantages to having a home office, but it takes an effort to get accustomed to this new way of conducting business. As long as you’re mindful and follow these few simple tips you can make your work and home office more productive.
