5 tips to maximize productivity while working from home

Outfit, coat, work bag, lunch, phone, keys — check, check and check! Give a kiss goodbye to my kids, reach for my keys (I already have them, oops!), ask my husband where my phone is (yeah, I got that one too), head towards my car, get a few blocks away from home, then the disappointing reality sets in. It’s another day of commuting, that same traffic light that changes 3 times before you can pass through. This was my reality 7 years ago, before I embarked on a refreshing lifestyle full of flexibility; one that has earned me the ability to make choices that increase productivity and life balance.

One of the biggest challenges the rookie to veteran remote worker experiences (learns and maintains) is how to separate work from personal life. How does one do this, day to day, when work life happens right in the space in which one’s personal life occurs? I am living proof of that struggle, as it took a few years to find my so called “balance” with working remote and raising two young children.

Here are 5 tips to maximize productivity as a remote worker.

A space to call your own

A fresh, clean and organized desk, natural light, an electronic device from which to launch most of your work items, and no clutter. Absolutely no clutter. A lot of people find comfort in items that bring them joy and solitude. The at-home workspace is no different — grab that plant (and don’t forget to water it otherwise what is the point), meditation rock, picture of your family or still shot you took in college when backpacking through Europe. All these objects serve as focal points; something to look to when you need to destress and encourage positivity within yourself. Make this a quick yet intentional process where you personally select items that bring you joy rather than the approach of just filling a space in hopes it does something for you. So, you have your space.

Communicate your work schedule

Everything in this space brings you joy, and you are ready to be productive, ideally. But how do you ensure that this space is only yours, that your personal life will not distract and overstep your professional life? When adjusting to working from home, one well-known concept becomes quite relevant — “out of sight, out of mind.” If you set the space and attitude, you set the tone, and with that comes the intention. Your family needs to know your intention to work and what your job generally entails (the role, responsibilities, and the hours it takes to be productive each day/week). And there’s more! They won’t just understand if you tell them your job is important.

You need to communicate meeting times, conference calls, etc. They just need to know you won’t be available, and thus see your intention and importance of what you do. We all need consistency as remote workers, but our families do too. Teach them even if you think what you want them to learn is obvious (to you).

Schedule uninterrupted deep work time

The time you will spend outside of those meetings, getting the meat of your work accomplished. You’re reminded — Marinate the meat you bought at the grocery store this morning. Dinner is not going to cook itself!Your space is key to your productivity, just like a runway is to an airplane. Without it, you will have difficulty really taking off.

Plan your day and prioritize

Decide what you want to accomplish by mid-morning, when you will break for lunch/other tasks if that is an option, and how long you are willing to work for the day. Be accountable but set expectations and goals that are realistic because frankly you are human, and you will make mistakes along the way.

Leverage technology

Utilizing the ability to video conference, chat virtually, and make use of other collaboration tools with coworkers. These days, Employees in different offices or working from home feel more connected as they could see each other, share screenshots and other material on video. Also project management tools keep everyone on track and helps teams deliver projects on time.

Your work-from-home lifestyle should include an area strictly designated for your work, communication should be a top priority, time management for all types of work tasks is necessary, and the use of resources related to your job are important to your success and productivity. With 5 simple tips on how to maximize productivity, anyone can find a sense of happiness and balance working from the comfort of their own home.

Now, relax. Whether you are just in the beginning stages as a remote worker, or been doing this for years, you will find adjustments are always necessary just like with any other work setting. Working remote is like a blank canvas; grab your tools and paint (your skills and knowledge of course) and seize the day!