Do you often feel unproductive while working remotely?
Have you developed a newfound hatred for notifications?
Are you always occupied with some work?
Is your sleep schedule all messed up?
Does having a meal on time feel like a reward?
If yes, then you probably haven’t spent as much time delving into the world of remote work productivity hacks as you think you have.
Don’t worry, we got your back!
Here are some of the best productivity tips from experts who have been a part of remote work culture for years.
Let’s find out what works best for you.
Top remote work productivity hacks from experts
1. Get dressed for the job
You must be wondering “Getting dressed for work from bed? Seriously?”
We understand that working in your PJs is the most enjoyable part of working from home but do you know that staying in our sleepwear all day can make us feel lazy and unmotivated, leading to lower productivity.
Mason Donovan, the author of The Golden Apple: Redefining Work-Life Balance for a Diverse Workforce, agrees with us. During one of his interviews with Fast Company, he said “Although a dress code may seem silly when you think about working from home, work clothes impact you on a business and personal level, and can affect your career”.
“Dress for success” isn’t just a corporate catchphrase; it matters when you work from home. It prepares you for the day and gives you the confidence to overcome whatever comes your way.
2. Find your perfect workplace
Have you ever wondered why we are told to maintain silence in a library?
It’s done to create an environment where every reader can read with concentration without any interruptions. Similarly, creating a dedicated workspace can help us stay productive.
Whether you choose a corner of your bedroom or guest room turned office to be your dedicated workspace, remember it should be your place of peace and productivity.
“Have a place you go specifically to work. It could be a certain table, chair, local coffee shop, someplace that’s consistently your ‘workspace.’ It helps you get into the right frame of mind.” – Sam Mallikarjunan (CEO, OneScreen.ai)
3. Maintain a to-do list
When working from home, it’s easy to lose sight of priorities, tasks, and deadlines. Every task seems equally important and the quest to accomplish them all often leaves us exhausted at the end of the day.
It’s important to take regular breaks to refresh yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Wondering how to take out time for yourself?
Maintain a to-do list and stick to it. Start your day by reviewing priorities for the day. Identify what’s important and what can wait and set time limits for each task. After you complete each task, cross it off the list. Moreover, you can also install productivity apps on your phone to take your productivity game up a notch.
“Start your day with your favorite breakfast. Having that feel-good breakfast will give you positive vibes right from the start. As you eat, create a work plan that includes quality breaks and a finish time.” – Dustin Vann, CEO of Trusy Social
4. Limit social media use
“Merely having the anticipation of being distracted is like a leash that keeps us from diving into deep work.” – Shawn Blanc, Founder of The Focus Course.
Distractions like phone calls, social media notifications, messages, often take a huge toll on our productivity. According to the World of Work Report, around 32% of the total time spent on social media during work hours is used for personal work, resulting in a huge loss of official resources and productivity. Additionally, 13% of the total productivity is lost owing to social media indulgence alone.
Minimizing the use of social media can help you get back on track. Remove your apps from your browser shortcuts and log out of every account on your phone or computer while working.
You might even consider working primarily in a private browser window. This way, you stay signed out of all your accounts and aren’t tempted into taking too many social breaks during the day.
5. Identify your high productive periods
It’s impossible for a human being to stay productive at all times of the day. However, identifying the periods when we feel most productive could help us create a work schedule and get things done on time.
“Finding the right time in the day where you can’t, or the right day in the week where you can do the best work can be a big, big help and a big hack to becoming more productive.”- Hiten Shah, Co-founder, and CEO of FYI
6. Use time management software
If you spend more time than required on repetitive tasks, it may be time to kick things up a notch and use time management software.
Time management software helps you track the amount of time you spend on each task and even minimizes distractions. It gives an insight into your daily activities and helps you identify your high productive periods.
KonarkPro is one of the best time management software available in the market. It helps you keep track of your daily activity in real-time, prioritize and process important tasks with smart shift scheduling, and figure out time leaks and solve them instantly.
Wrapping up
The recipe for ideal remote work productivity is different for everyone. By experimenting with these tips and strategies, you should be able to figure out your go-to hack for being your best at working remotely.
Remember, becoming more productive isn’t something you can achieve overnight, but little by little, you can make it happen.