Working from home- How to maximise your time

By Morgan Elliot

Working from home continuously was an option no one suspected.

At the very beginning of the year, the world faced with an unheard-of enemy —COVID-19.

The arrival of the pandemic provoked governments to introduce serious safety measures such as lockdowns and social distancing.

Some of these measures are still being strictly enforced.

There are no signs coronavirus pandemic is slowing down and medical experts claim the second wave is yet to come.

For this reason, employees continue working from home. While some enjoy this particular work arrangement, others find it quite challenging.

Whichever group you belong to, take a look at efficient ways to maximize working from home.

Stick to a Schedule

Flexibility is the greatest advantage of remote work. Most people think they can wake up later than usual and complete their tasks whenever they want to.

While this belief is partially true, it is also the main reason why some employees struggle with productivity.

The key to remaining productive and maximizing work from home is consistency.

For starters, you can come up with not only reasonable but also regular working hours and stick to them.

Take into account your preferences. Are you a morning person who likes to make an early start or you feel most productive in the afternoon?

Either way, make sure to adjust your working hours to your boss’ or your colleagues’ time zones.

This way, you can collaborate with your co-workers and complete your tasks on time, whilst working from home.

Make Use of Communicative Technology

Effective communication still remains rule number one in business despite working from home.

To complete all work assignments on time respectively, you have to communicate well with colleagues.

Without sharing information, you won’t be able to perform well. For this reason, investing in top-notch communicative tools is crucial.

Thanks to highly advanced technology, there are plenty of devices and platforms to choose from.  Organizations usually rely on intranet solutions as the most effective ones.

On the one hand, they make it easier for the management to assign tasks. On the other, employees can communicate effectively and work together regardless of the distance.

You don’t have to communicate only professionally but also privately. Water cooler chat has been replaced by texts, videos, and phone calls.

You and your co-workers can socialize just like in the office and keep the team spirit up even when apart.

Plan Out Your Work Day Ahead

The best way to get the most out of work from home is by planning out the workday ahead.

Before you bury yourself in your work, sort out your priorities. See which tasks demand most of your attention and which ones will take the longest to complete.

Organize them according to their level of difficulty and time consumption. This plan will help you get the most difficult tasks out of the way while your concentration is still great.

You can then move on to some less demanding ones and finish with work for the day without any pressure.

Don’t forget to include breaks for coffee, lunch, or chat with family members in between tasks.

These short activities will give your mind the rest it needs to go through the rest of the checklist.

Make Room for Home Office

As previously mentioned, flexibility is a common trap of working from home.

As much as it sounds tempting, working from your bed or a couch, isn’t a good idea. Our brains associate those pieces of furniture with relaxation.

That is why it’s so hard to focus on work when all you want to do is sleep or watch TV.

To avoid being caught in this trap, you can make room for a home office. If you aren’t able to provide a room, a small and peaceful corner will do.

All it takes to set up a home office is a desk, a comfortable chair, and a bit of light.

Avoid cluttering your desk with unnecessary items. Use it only for things that are relevant for your work such as laptop, sticky notes, pens, or notepads.

It is important to keep it practical and comfortable because you will be using that space for hours every day.

Dress the Part

Another trick on how to boost productivity and maximize remote work is dressing the part.

This means that you should dress up as you normally would for work. Also, you can stick to your usual before work routine such as having breakfast, showering, or going for a run.

This regular habit sends signals to your brain and prepares it for a day in the office. As a result, you will concentrate better on your tasks.

Although pyjamas or sweatpants are more comfortable, they can make you feel sleepy and slackly.

Besides, this is a great opportunity to try out some new outfits without any fear your colleagues might dislike it.

Set Out Ground Rules

If you live with your family, it’s time to set out ground rules regarding your working hours and office space.

When working from home, you need peace. No interruptions whatsoever. Set boundaries for your roommates, kids, or spouse.

Notify them about your schedule so they know when they can reach you without interrupting your deep focus.

The boundaries are flexible as they largely depend on your workload, but they should be taken seriously.

You can always use the do not disturb sign on your door, like in hotels.

This will send a clear message to other members of your household whether you’re available or not.

Prepared by Patrick O’Brien

About the author:

Morgan Rose Elliott graduated marketing from The University of Sydney. She is an  Aromatherapist, yoga instructor, and avid animal lover. Rookie blogger who loves writing about business and lifestyle equally. She is happily married, stay at home mother of three

Twitter account: https://twitter.com/MorganRoseElli1

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