3 Tips to Instantly Be More Productive Working from Home
Wouldn't it be great if you could instantly be more productive working from home? Some days seem to just fly by and you are left feeling like you have hardly accomplished anything. What if you could work 2 hours less and get as much or more work done so you could spend more time with your family?
How is it that we have 86,400 seconds in our day yet some days we accomplish so much more than others? Many factors play a role, like having a bad internet connection, a slow computer, or interruptions in your work day. But mostly, it all comes down to your productivity.
With 1 in 5 Americans working from home, productivity problems are impacting more and more people. Here are 3 tips to instantly be more productive working from home.
Wear the Right Clothing in Your Work Space
Believe it or not, the clothing you wear while working from home can matter. If you get up and get ready for the day like you are going to work you will get into the right frame of mind. Our brains associate what we wear or where we are with how we act.
Do you watch TV and relax in your pajamas? If you stay in your pajamas all day, you will be in relaxation mode, leading to less productivity. Get dress and ready for the day and you will feel like you are ready to knock out some tasks.
Same goes for where you are working. Designate a specific work area like a certain table, chair or cafe. Getting into the habit of having a work space will help you stay in work mode. You will find that sending these signals, like wearing work clothes and being in your work space, will help you stay productive.
Plan, or Don't
Just about everybody will tell you that you need to have a plan for your day. For some of us, this couldn’t be more true. But have you ever found yourself overplanning? You should set goals of what you plan to accomplish in a day, but having a plan with a specific timeline may decrease productivity.
In her book, The Four Tendencies, Gretchen Rubin discusses the idea that some people work better without having strict deadlines that result from overplanning. She states, "Rebels want to do tasks in their own time, and if someone pushes them to hurry, they're likely to resist even more."
Some people work better with a to-do list when they can do whatever they want when they want. While others need an hour-by-hour plan.
You need to find out what works for you to take your productivity to your next level. Try different method out and take notes on results.
As Rubin states, "The most important thing is to know ourselves, and to choose the habit strategies that work for us."
Be Flexible
Technology allows us to work from anywhere. As a remote worker, this is especially true for you.
Take opportunities to maximize your time, no matter where you are. Your 10-minute bus ride could be an opportunity to brainstorm your next project, or write a quick draft of your proposal.
While technology does make it possible for us to work anywhere, at any time, it can also hold us back. Have you ever had a great idea while you’re out of the house, only to find your laptop, tablet or phone battery dead? With no outlets in sight, you not only have to find somewhere to charge your device, you forget your idea too.
Portable chargers are necessary when working outside of your home. If you are looking to get some serious work done, the A8 QC Power Bank holds 26,000 mAh that can keep your devices charged for several days. Four USB ports means you don’t have to pick your tablet over your phone, but charge them both at once. And with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, your device will charge at the fastest possible speed.
The Most Productive You
Wherever and however you choose to work, take the time to think about your most productive days. Once you get into the right frame of mind and have the tools you need to be successful, you will be on the way to being the most productive you.
Written by Michael Smolski.
