Ever since the covid-19 pandemic struck at the beginning of the year, more people are working from home to keep inline with the government’s recommendations to practise social distancing and minimise contact. More people have been doing their work and tasks on their laptops and desktops in their dining tables or their own rooms. In addition, meetings, discussions and conferences are done on popular online meeting platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet.
While it is convenient to work from the comfort of your own home and you can save a lot on transport and other expenses, it can be less productive than working at your office or workplace if it’s not done right. This is due to various distractions such as television programmes, noise, your bed, and even family members or roommates. So how can you be productive while working from home? Let’s look into the various ways to do just that.
Optimize your Time
As the saying goes, time and tide waits for no man, since time is one of the most precious resources available to human beings. You can definitely achieve better productivity if you know how to optimize your time fully while completing your work and tasks. You can start by allocating the amount of time you need to work, according to your normal working hours. For example, if your normal working hours are from 10am to 6pm, then you should also strive to reserve that timespan while working from home. Only take your usual breaks, like lunch breaks, toilet breaks or a short tea break.
Avoid Distractions and Procrastination Like the Plague
After you have allocated the necessary time to do your work, you will next need to avoid any unnecessary distractions in your home, and strive to overcome procrastination as much as possible. You can begin by putting aside your electronic gadgets such as smartphones, game consoles, television remotes (yes these can be a major source of distraction especially if your television set is nearby), tablets, radios, or any item that can be sources of distraction. Next, choose a dedicated spot to do your work, like your room or study room. Then isolate yourself inside that dedicated room, especially from your family members and other distractions, and only come out when you are taking your usual breaks. The rationale behind dedicating a spot to do your work is so that you will have a serene space to conduct your work, and complete your tasks efficiently.
Ensure that you Get Sufficient Lighting
Believe it or not, sufficient lighting, be it from natural or artificial sources, is crucial in ensuring efficient productivity. With sufficient lighting, you will increase your concentration and be more focused, and able to work better. In addition, you can avoid long term damage to your eyesight that often stems from exposure to poor lighting. With that said, you should also ensure that natural lighting does not become a nuisance, especially during warm days. One way to work around this, while ensuring that you get sufficient lighting, is to install venetian blinds at your windows. If you are not sure about where to get venetian blinds, you can contact The Curtain Expert.