It’s a weekday and you’re at home, but it’s not a snow day, it’s a work day. Even though you’re plopped down just five feet from where you usually watch reruns of Frasier, you need to get work done. Here the top 5 ways to blend remote work and productivity.
Look, it’s hard enough to stay focused in a busy office environment with the constant phone calls, never-ending “collaborative” meetings, and incessant background noise.
It never ends, but as more of the workforce has switched from office life to remote work, we are experiencing an entirely different brand of distractions. The comforts and occasional familial chaos of remote work can oftentimes result in mismanaged time and lost productivity.
TRANSLATION: Since you’re at home, your brain is telling you that you’re in a place of casual “you” time, so it’s easy to give in and treat your work like some half-baked home project. It doesn’t have to be like that, though! There are ways to blend remote work and productivity. Here are five:
1. Your body office is your temple
Set up a space that is uniquely yours and keep it clean. Just like your desk back at the office, make it somewhere you want to be (for the most part). That said, don’t be afraid to have a few go-to work spots around the house to keep things interesting.
2. Casual Friday doesn’t mean lazy Saturday
Even though you’re working from home, it’s still important to get dressed for your workday as it can be directly correlated to your general mood and productivity level. As much as you might want to hang out in your pajamas, getting ready for the day tricks your brain (in a good way) into thinking that you’re going to work—which you are, just not physically. So, for your sake, put some pants on!
3. Let the sunshine in
The 5th Dimension once said:
♫Let the sunshine (Oh, let it shine!)♫
♫Let the sunshine in (Come on)♫
♫The sunshine in (Now everybody just sing along)♫
They were right, both funk-a-liciously and scientifically! Working in the dark makes you tired, so open up those blinds and let some sunshine into your life!
4. Take a hike
Where are you going? Come back! We didn’t mean it metaphorically. We meant it literally. Getting out and taking a short walk can clear your head and reset your brain—and that’s science! Movement helps to keep your cognitive health in tip-top shape, improving functions like memory, learning ability, and attention span. Regular physical activity also gives you more energy, takes down your stress level, and lifts your mood by releasing endorphins. There’s truly no downside. So, get out and get moving—your brain will thank you (because you’ll think better!).
5. Shut down and log off
When work ends for the day, make a clear shift from office life to home life. Your house should be your sanctuary after the day, so try moving to another location (e.g., the couch) and give yourself an entirely new activity (e.g., Stranger Things marathon).
Keeping a routine is essential to making remote work as effective as whatever you’d do in the office. MMG is a global sales enablement and training organization that believes online collaboration can be just as effective as in-person communication.
There you have it, the top 5 ways to blend remote work and productivity.
