It can be challenging for many of us to work remotely or in the office when productivity drops, and with it come new obstacles in the workplace. In the face of distractions, interruptions, and the constant need to maintain an adaptable mentality, it may be challenging to manage, pursue, and commit to new strategies to increase job performance.
Regardless of where you are in your career or how you got there, growing yourself professionally should be an ongoing exercise that challenges and inspires you.
Putting it off is a bad idea until your manager brings it up in your performance review. By following these strategies, you can elevate your professional game and become your most productive self, in addition to improving your health and wellbeing at workplace.
Why Remote Work Is a Good Idea
There is a preferred work environment for everyone. Some prefer complete solitude, while others need the hustle of a coffee shop to stay focused. But, no matter our individual preferences, none of us enjoy working with noisy colleagues.
Here are some statistics to consider:
- There is a 61 percent belief that noisy coworkers are the most distracting factor at work;
- To maximize efficiency, 86% prefer working alone; and
- There is a 40% perception that spontaneous meetings are a huge distraction in the workplace.
The good thing about working remotely is you don't have to deal with all these distractions. Although it may sound harsh, the best advice is to solve your own problems. Do not ask questions that Google cannot answer. Don't put yourself in a position where you need to be micromanaged.
The Pomodoro Method
Working nonstop for a long time starts to fry your brain. On the other hand, experts claim that working in 90-minute increments increases productivity.
There is a limit to how long the human mind can work before it has to rest, which is 90 to 120 minutes in reality. So give yourself a break after 90 minutes and focus entirely on the most critical item on your priority list.
You may want to explore the Pomodoro Technique if you aren't satisfied with recurring 90-minute work periods. Focus on one assignment for 25 minutes. Then, take five minutes to rest. Make three more repetitions of this method.
In case your workplace has an employee wellbeing program, chances are you've already introduced the Pomodoro method. If not, consider doing so in the future.
How to Overcome Procrastination
Typical workers spend 2 hours a day procrastinating. A typical individual takes 23 minutes to regain focus after being sidetracked. Sound familiar, doesn't it?
Some of the distractions we enjoy are keeping an eye on Twitter, reading the news, organizing our inboxes, and cleaning our desks. A frightening aspect of our behavior is that we are quite adept at convincing ourselves that such distractions are part of our job description. With the increasing size and importance of assignments, most people are becoming more prone to procrastinating.
However, we should not let ourselves be fooled: when we delay, we focus on the worst aspects of our endeavor, which makes the task seem even bigger. Rather, follow our favorite advertising campaign: Simply do it and consider your priorities list.
Don't let email be your afternoon escape, even if you avoided it in the morning. Individuals check their email 36 times per hour on average. This amounts to 13 hours spent reading, deleting, sorting, and sending weekly emails. You don't have to respond to an incoming email immediately. Keep a regular schedule of checking your email throughout the day instead of rushing.
Creative Exhaustion
Creativity is a crucial trait of a successful employee, whether you spend your days creating art in Illustrator or crunching figures in Excel. But how can you stop an afternoon brain cramp when creative thoughts appear out of reach?
Keep your research time limited so that you can overcome procrastination. Getting lost in a sea of GIFs and further away from your starting point can be an easy trap. So to jumpstart your momentum and prevent afternoon headaches, turn your gaze away from your device.
On average, people spend 7.4 hours per day in front of a computer screen. Taking a diary into a brainstorming session will prevent dry eyes. Consider drawing a flowchart or doodling to get a better sense of the scale of your project.
Finally, use your downtime to brainstorm. There is no denying the fact that many of our best ideas come while driving or taking a shower, so it is important to be able to leave work at work.
Mastering the Art of Working Remotely
In recent years, remote labor has been on the rise. But, in addition to its apparent advantages, working remotely also has its disadvantages. The benefits are a 30-second commute, greater flexibility, and more control over your surroundings.
Remote work can be difficult to separate professional and family lives without physically separating them.
Additionally, you may find it difficult to focus while roommates, children, and spouses are in the background.
Establish a Home Office or Desk
If you feel like working from your bed or sofa, we recommend doing so for a change of scenery. Working from home, however, requires consistency. Establish your main workstation at the kitchen table or at a desk during the day.
It will help you associate that location with efficiency, productivity, and work. In addition, you get bonus points if you equip the site with dual monitors, a charging station, and anything else you need to get the job done.
Prepare Yourself for a Lot of Communication
Working remotely makes your team members and management less likely to become entangled in unexpected verbal brainstorming sessions. Consider checking in with them more often than usual. Communicate your objectives and initiatives to your team or collaborators.
Get your coworkers together for a coffee chat or remote Zoom meeting. Be sure to clarify any unclear details in emails or virtual meetings. Despite being away from your workplace, don't let yourself go unnoticed.
Setting Your Logoff Time
There are many challenges associated with working from home. For example, some days, you'll want to log out at 3, while on other days, you'll want to work until 8 p.m. Having the freedom to work from home is excellent, but don't let it compromise your well-being.
By setting a logoff time, you’ll be able to stay productive until the end of the day, and you’ll know exactly when it’s time to watch TV, cook dinner, or go for a walk with your spouse.
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