9 Productivity Life Hacks to Impress your Boss While you’re Working Remotely

Useful Skills to Improve Work Efficiency

Working from home does not mean spending all the time in your pajamas, overlaid with food. This requires a certain amount of responsibility and self-discipline.

To be honest, I really miss the office and my beloved colleagues, and, frankly, I miss our lunches in the office too. And I have to learn to stay productive so as not to make the bosses and the whole team worry about the result. Tips to follow the regime and get enough sleep are obvious. What else can you do to make your remote work day truly a workday?

# 1. Don’t work in pajamas

This doesn’t mean you need to put on a suit (unless you have a video conference with the head of your company), but wearing jeans and a long sleeve top or a cozy jumper is the best option for working from home. Don’t stay in your pajamas or sportswear all day. Do not forget to change after your home workout, do not sit at the computer in a sports bra. Clothes will set you up for your work schedule. You can come up with “working” bows for every day.

Bonus: when you’re done, change your jeans to sweatpants, and you will immediately feel relieved that the work day is over, and you can watch your favorite Netflix series with a clear conscience.

#2. Maintain Your Normal Morning Habits

One of the advantages of working from home is that there is no need to waste time getting ready and traveling. You can set the alarm two minutes before the start of the working day and, as soon as it rings, just roll over in bed to open the laptop. It’s tempting. But Unproductive.

Instead, spend more time on the part of your morning rituals that you love the most: do a shower scrub or face mask, calmly prepare your favorite breakfast. Anything that makes you a little happier in the morning will do. Just don’t change your regular routine. Don’t forget to shower, morning coffee, or your usual morning workout.

Did you enjoy listening to your favorite podcasts on your way to work? Then listen to a podcast while you prepare breakfast or stroll to the nearest store before the start of your day. Move around before you sit down at your laptop. Try to devote more time to your morning beauty rituals. Now you don’t have to put on makeup, but you can devote more time to skin care. In general, do whatever has helped you set yourself up for a long day at the office before.

#3. Stay out of the bedroom

Allocate yourself a dedicated space for your new “office”, regardless of whether your apartment is large. Put your laptop on the kitchen table or convert the coffee table to work. Free up a chair or sofa space for your “office”. And never work in bed. The bed is only for sleep (and sex!). Working in bed will make you tire faster. Worse, it will train your brain to associate bed with stress rather than relaxation. And when the quarantine is over, it will become much more difficult for you to fall asleep.

#4. Have a coffee chat once a week

At a distance, we all feel disconnected from the workflow and less motivated. If you are used to having coffee breaks or brainstorming sessions with colleagues, schedule virtual “coffee chats” at least once a week – exchange news and ideas, ask your boss work questions. Do not disconnect from the work environment.

#5. Schedule tasks

To impress your boss, show how self-disciplined you are, even outside the work environment. To do this, set yourself a deadline for completing a particular task. Write down every task you do during the day (including watching your Instagram feed or playing with your cat). By understanding how you spend every minute of your day, you can easily determine when (and most importantly, how) you are wasting time. Some breaks (for example, playing with a cat) may be necessary relaxation and rest from the computer, but scrolling on Facebook or Farfetch is a waste of time.

#6. Keep a notebook and pen with you at all times

One of the favorite benefits of working from home is that when we are quiet and alone, more ideas come to our minds than if we were in the office and distracted by a thousand other things. Always keep a notepad and pen with you so that you can immediately jot down an idea that is being born, or take notes if your boss or coworker unexpectedly writes or calls you. Of course, both the phone and the computer have a “note” function, but do not underestimate the power of writing in pen on paper.

#7.Find out when you are most productive

If your work schedule is flexible, it means that you start work when you work best. Not everyone is most productive during the first 9-5 hours, so look at which hours of the day you have more energy and concentration. Maybe it’s early in the morning, so your best time to work is from 7 am to 3 pm? Or your abilities are best revealed in the evenings.

This also means that your office hours are for work only. Take breaks when you need them, but don’t get distracted by personal activities during work hours. Make sure you stick to your schedule and let your team know when they can reach you to discuss business matters, and when you will be unavailable in the work chat due to lunch preparation.

#8. Create “windows” in work mail

Before getting ready for work, the first step is to clean your inbox. It’s like freeing your head. Spend time answering emails in the morning. And then focus on one task, not giving in to the urge to check your inbox again. This will help you focus on one thing instead of feeling torn apart. If you need to check your email constantly, try scheduling windows at 30 minutes or an hour. You will be much more productive than if you check your mail every five minutes.

#9. Don’t forget about yourself

Sometimes working from home, especially in times of crisis or virus, can cause severe stress and fatigue due to isolation. Feeling unmanageable or out of touch with the rest of the team can lead to devastation and reduced motivation. Therefore, it is so important not to forget about yourself at this time. Listen to the background music that energizes you and cheers you up, or, conversely, soothes your anxiety. Light your favorite candles or essential oils. Take breaks when you need them (this means that you can’t eat lunch in front of a computer screen – go to the kitchen, prepare lunch, and calmly devote this time to yourself). Remember, the more we take care of ourselves, the more productive we become.

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