With many businesses forced to transition to remote working due to the global health crisis, productivity has been a major issue for most working from home employees.
This is not surprising because remote working is not that easy. Yes, you no longer have to commute every day to go to work. You can finally wake up 30 minutes before work and not be late. You can do a lot more things because your hobbies are just right around the corner. However, for most people, creating a boundary between work and personal life is the biggest challenge.
Working parents have to take care of children without nannies or babysitters to help them because of the pandemic. The TV is just right beside you, and social media platforms are easily accessible. And these are only a few of the many reasons why staying productive is so hard.
It’s 2021, and working from home isn’t going away sooner. Fortunately, there are still productive employees out there and expert remote workers who are happy to share a few of their productivity hacks. Below are three of them:
Design Your Workspace
First and foremost, you should establish a workspace to create that boundary or line between being at home and working. Three important things to consider:
- Work Location
- Comfort
- Design
When you’re at home, it’s easy to get tempted to work anywhere because that’s the idea, right? You can work on your bed the first hour, the dining area the next hour, outside the patio in the afternoon, etc.
Although this might sound fine, it can affect your productivity badly. So, instead of changing work locations, stick to one and make that your working space. This way, you can get your body to recognize that you have something important to do when you’re sitting there.
When choosing a location, regardless if it’s a whole room or just a corner of a room, there must be very few distractions .e.g., away from the TV, less traffic, less noise.
Once you’ve found a good location, make sure that you’re comfortable there. It’s also wise to invest in a good working table, working chair, and good lighting. Because the more comfortable you are, the more productive you can be. It will also help if you keep everything organized and mess-free.
If you’re feeling fancy, you can also work on how your working space would look. Try to put some designs that would inspire you. Probably a desk plant, a small wall frame with your family’s picture, some motivational quotes, or paint the walls of your favorite color.
Create A Routine
How you go about your day greatly affects your productivity. So, you should establish a routine that you can consistently follow until it becomes a part of your system.
The best way to do this is to start your day early. Never wake up 30 minutes before work because that will only stress you out more. Instead, wake up early so you can prepare your mind better.
Create a morning routine like doing some exercise or meditation, making yourself some coffee, going out for a walk, etc. Don’t start your day by checking emails or news or even checking out social media. It’s important to just keep your mind relaxed.
By the time you get to work, make sure to keep any distractions away. Put your phone away and block social media sites so you won’t get tempted to check them out while working.
Time-blocking is also very effective in accomplishing what you need to do, be it for yourself or for work. For example, block 9-11 am as working hours. Then, 11-12 am would be meant for lunch preparation. 12-1 pm is a time for you to rest; you can probably nap or read a book. And the list goes on. It’s up to you.
The key to building a routine is consistency. Stick to the routine you’ve made, and you’ll notice that soon, your body will simply automate these actions.
Optimize Your Flow State
Last but not least, optimize your flow state.
Flow state refers to your being “in the zone”. This means you’re too focused on what you’re doing, you can’t be distracted, and you’re just feeling this drive. In other words, you’re performing at your best.
Imagine having to be in that flow state every day, right? Surely, there will be so many things that you’ll get to accomplish, even the things that you consider boring.
Unfortunately, the flow state doesn’t come every day. There will be days when you don’t want to get up or do anything, and this can be a big problem because you’ll definitely get your task delayed. But, don’t worry, because there are ways you can get yourself in a flow state.
First, work on that morning routine because that will set your mood for the day. Meditate, exercise, or go out for long walks - anything that gets your body moving. Second, create a to-do-list and know what to prioritize. And third, identify your peak creative and productive time, and do the challenging tasks around these hours.
Now, staying in that constant “flow state” doesn’t happen overnight, even after doing these three things. This is why, as mentioned above, you need to stay consistent, which is also not easy to do.
To help you get that right balance, you can take Neuro Gum and Mints to get you to your ideal state of mind. A zone where you are energized, calm, and focused at the same time. No more jitters or slump, just a better version of yourself who is productive and motivated.
This 2021, there will be a lot more challenges to come, whether it’s work or personal life. So, you should get ready and condition your mind and body to tackle everyday challenges. Surely, you have more goals to accomplish other than just your work task. But you can achieve that all if you’re always in your zone, and Neuro can help you get there every day.
Photo by Corinne Kutz on Unsplash
