In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses are instructing their employees – where possible, and within reason – to work from home.
For a lot of people, this is the first time they’ve ever had to juggle their work/life balance in the one place. Understandably, this transition is very jarring and unexpected, and for some new remote workers – the change could even be permanent.
With over 5 years of experience as a remote freelance copywriter, working from home has become second-nature to me. While I’m by no means an expert on the subject, I have picked up a few productivity ‘hacks’ along the way, which may help make the transition a bit easier for you and enable you to work at your absolute best.
1. Take a break every 30 minutes to an hour
Prolonged sitting is linked to a range of short and long-term health problems including back pain, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and musculoskeletal disorders, to name a few.
Aside from the obvious health risks, if you’re uncomfortable in your chair, then your productivity will suffer too.
To combat this, Safe Work Australia recommends taking a break from sitting at least once every 30 minutes.[1] During this time, you can do a few simple stretches, have a snack break, do some quick house chores, or check on the family. Either way, any form of movement will help reduce the health risks of sedentary behaviour.
If you have the budget, an adjustable standing desk will enable you to transition between sitting and standing throughout the day, which can help alleviate the symptoms of prolonged sitting – although this shouldn’t serve as a replacement for regular stretching and exercise.
2. Block out or minimise disruptive noise
There are two schools of thought when it comes to working with background noise: some people thrive in total silence, while others prefer a bit of background noise in the form of low-level music, traffic, or low chatter.
Whichever you prefer, make sure your home office is set up in a way that keeps background noise to a minimum, or at least at a level you can control.
If you have no choice but to work in a noisy environment – i.e. you have parenting duties, or you live near a main road – then put on headphones and listen to some music. Keep in mind that some styles of music may be more distracting than others, especially when it comes to vocals. For this reason, try switching to some form of instrumental music, as this may help fill the void of silence and help you get into ‘the zone’ without distraction.
3. Vary up your tasks throughout the day
Working on just one task or project for an entire day can get dull and monotonous.
To keep things interesting, where possible, try to switch between multiple tasks or projects throughout the day. This will help alleviate boredom and fatigue, and keep you engaged with what you’re doing until finishing time.
On top of this, if you hit a roadblock with a certain task, you can switch to something else for a while and then return to the problem with a fresh mindset. Who knows, you may have that sudden moment of ‘eureka’ you were waiting for earlier.
4. Find other ways to stay social
One of the biggest advantages to working in a commercial space is the social aspect. You’re constantly interacting with co-workers, customers, students, and the general public. But, when you switch to working from home, you could be spending up to 8-9 hours a day by yourself
Fortunately, with a reliable internet, it’s easy to keep in touch with the people that matter to you in your life. Consider having scheduled video calls with your peers during lunchtime. Join an online forum to get involved in a community with like-minded people. Or go for a quick stroll around the neighbourhood.
5. Structure your day
When working from home, it’s easy to sleep in and get distracted during the day, especially when you no longer have management constantly looking over your shoulder. While this sense of freedom is nice for a while, you might soon find yourself falling behind on your workload.
To tackle this problem, try to wake up early in the morning (or whatever time fits your schedule), and at the same time every day. Studies show having a consistent wake time will improve your quality of sleep and give you more energy to get through the day.[2]
From there, create a schedule that outlines the tasks you need to do for the day. And don’t forget to schedule in regular standing breaks too. You can do this before going to sleep, or make it your first priority when you wake up (after breakfast, of course).
However, in some lines of work, it’s a bit excessive to create a schedule every day, especially when you’re working on just one or two major projects. In this case, there are still ways you can break down large projects into smaller, individual tasks.
For instance, you can use a work timer to track your hours. Simply set the timer for one hour (or 30 minute) intervals, and try to get as much done as possible in that time-frame. Once you reach the end, take a short 5-minute break, and then reset the clock to go again.
Sure, this may sound a bit silly at first. But, after a week or two of working from home, you may come to realise just how easy it is to lose track of time. What once took you only an hour or two in the workplace, now suddenly takes an entire afternoon, and you won’t really understand why.
By using a timer, you get a clear indication of exactly how much work you’re doing, and you can identify where you need to improve. After a few days, you may be surprised at just how much more efficient you are. As a result, you’ll feel more satisfied at the end of the day, and you might be able to finish sooner as well – giving you more time to unwind.
Do you have any hints or tips that help you be more happy and productive while working from home? Feel free to share a comment below.
[1] https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sedentary#excessive-sitting
[2] https://www.verywellhealth.com/30-days-to-better-sleep-3973920