Are you looking to maximize your productivity and work comfortably while working via remote? It’s not an easy task for even the most seasoned work force. It can be a struggle without discipline and having the proper environment to work in.

Here are some helpful tips for working remotely and boosting your productivity. Whether you are new to working remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic, or just need a refresh, we are putting this handy list at your disposal.

Tip 1: Creating the Proper Workspace

Rather than take the idea of working from anywhere to an extreme, you need to put some thought and possibly an investment in to your area. • Dedicate a space as your home office, a central location with work related equipment and materials at your fingertips. This area does not need to be fancy, but it should allow sufficient room to perform tasks and be ergonomically friendly. • Pay attention to how much noise is in your area. Quiet areas promote better concentration and promote professionalism when conversing via voice or video chat. When setting up the proper office you want to locate it as far away as possible from sources of noise, such as the television, laundry room or other areas prone to noise. An office door that closes is a plus and a good pair of noise-canceling headphones such as from Bose can really help. • Assure you have good lighting, a faster Internet connection speed and appropriate Wi-FI coverage, as well as a personal space heater and fan.

Tip 2: Reducing Distractions

From working from your comfortable couch to playing with your cat, there can be countless distractions when you work from home. • Explain to everyone in your household the importance of respecting a closed office door. • Get rid of temptations. Close tabs and other things on your PC that might distract you. Consider web filtering that block specific sites, such as social media platforms, during the time you’re working. • Keep a pad of paper next to the computer to jot down extraneous thoughts and eliminate the possibility of forgetting something if you don’t act upon it right away. At some point transfer your notes to a digital source such as a word document or task entry in Outlook. Then discard the pad page. The same goes for post it pads. This helps to eliminate clutter and keeps you organized.

Tip 3: Form A Routine

Being productive during your workday takes some planning, and a lack of structure can lead to feeling aimless, overwhelmed, or on-call 24/7. • Come up with a ritual to mark the start and end of each work day. This action triggers your mind to get in to the correct frame. A step could be as simple as getting a hot cup of tea to start your workday and a change of clothing to something more casual to end it. Get in to the habit of creating a to-do-list for tomorrow before calling it a day, while the information is still fresh in your mind. This again can be done in a task list integrated with your Outlook application, Contact Management Software or other tools you use.

Tip 4: Utilizing Tools

Whether you’re a techy or end user, playing around with different software applications is important in finding the one that functionally works you. Many carry 30-day trials providing the opportunity to test drive the tools you will be using for work. In some cases your employer, if you’re not self-employed, may provide such tools, whether with desktop software or cloud-based utilities. • Use one centralized or shared calendar for both professional and personal obligations, perhaps color-coding it, to promote readability and priority. This can help avoid errors and will prioritize your schedule, avoiding conflicts like scheduling a client meeting for the same time as your kid’s soccer game. • Look into application tools that meet your specific needs. Don’t get too caught up with sitting all day. Try a fitness app that reminds you to get up and stretch regularly or take a quick walk. • Challenge yourself to be more productive. The more focused and on task that you remain the more you’ll get done in a day. Use alarms within your application tools as hard reminders.

Tip 5: Interacting with Others

Remember that remote work shouldn’t be about becoming a hermit. Socializing is a vital part of your mental health and your career. Taking breaks is an important part of your work day. If you don’t take them fatigue and lack of enthusiasm can set in. While it’s important to stay disciplined and on target with your tasks it’s equally important not to push yourself in to a burn out stage. • Find ways to stay in touch with your colleagues. Dial in to a conference call early just to shoot the breeze. Interacting regularly on company voice and video calls can increase enthusiasm. • Investigate alternate places to work on days when you’re feeling isolated. The coronavirus pandemic has put a hold on visiting coworking spaces, coffee shops, and other social gathering places. It’s important you make up for this in one way or another. • Maintain a satisfying social life outside of work. Schedule virtual happy hours with your friends and family, visit your favorite social media sites regularly and most importantly spend quality time with your family after your work is done for the day.

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