With the spread of the coronavirus and its effect on almost every aspect of our lives, many businesses have started implementing remote working policies for some or all of their employees around the world. Tech giants like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Twitter are also following suit and asking their employees to work from home. While remote work is common in the tech industry, not all companies in tech and other industries have done it before. That's why many of them are wondering how remote work affects their teams' productivity.
A recent survey has shown that the average total unproductive time for office workers, not including the lunch break, was 37 minutes, compared to 27 minutes for remote workers. Studies and surveys like these aren't enough to calm down all managers, team leaders, and business owners which are afraid that their employees will be less productive now that they're working from home.
That's why today we'll be sharing 8 tips that can help you and your employees stay focused and productive while working from home.
1. Stick to a Schedule
One of the most imperative things you should do now that you're working from is to create a schedule for your work and stick to it. Be sure to treat it the same way you would if you were in your office.
2. Don't Overwork Yourself
Also, try not to give yourself too much to do. It may seem that you'll have enough time now that you are at home but you won't. Leave enough time for those unexpected and minor tasks and meetings that may occur. By doing this, you'll eliminate the risk of running behind schedule so much that you become unproductive.
3. Find a Dedicated Location
A dedicated and comfortable spot for working that can be associated with your job is key in staying productive. By leaving that spot after you're done with work for the day you can signal your brain into thinking you're no longer at work. This means your bed and favorite sofa chair are off-limits. Sorry.
4. Create an Office-Like Environment
A home office would be ideal but most people will likely settle with a dedicated desk. Make sure that your spot has a comfortable chair and access to all technology, office supplies, and anything else you may need to do the work. By ensuring everything you need is within arm's reach, you'll be able to stay focused for longer.
5. Use the Right Tools
All remote workers rely on tools and apps that can help them stay more productive. For communicating with teammates, many of them use Slack or Microsoft Teams. For video meetings, the most popular apps are Google Hangouts or Zoom. To manage projects, many rely on Asana or Trello.
But how can you, as the business owner, be sure that your employees are actually doing the work you are paying them to do? Many businesses swear by employee monitoring and time tracking software for remote teams. Tools like Workpuls are designed to provide simple and accurate time tracking and proof of work so that you can be sure your employees are on top of their game.
6. Eliminate Distractions
It is easy to get distracted when you're working from home. Whether it's television or that load of dishes from last night, there are plenty of distractions and they all are screaming for your attention. To successfully eliminate them, you first need to be aware of them. By knowing exactly what is distracting you, you'll be able to eliminate those distractions and focus on your work.
7. Take Regular Breaks
While you may think you'll do more by sitting and working in one place all day, you'll actually be more productive if you step away from your laptop and take a break. Eat lunch, check your phone, or do anything else that can help your brain refocus. You'll return to your desk with your batteries recharger and ready to work.
Wrapping Things Up
No matter the current situation, remote work is undoubtedly going to continue to grow and be more popular in the future. When done right, remote work can be great both for the employees and the business as it provides a great balance of flexibility and freedom. While productivity is a rather individual thing, the tips listed above can be a great start to making remote work in your company as effective as possible for everyone.
Qasm Shehzad is a Digital Marketing Consultant and transformational writer with more than 8 years of experience in SEO, SEM, SMO, blogging, etc having wide knowledge base into content marketing. And now writes articles about health, posture corrector, business, technology, family and finance. He enjoys traveling with her family whenever he isn't writing.
