Last year when COVID hit and many companies chose to have their employees work remotely, a hot topic was how to ensure employees would stay productive while working from home. However, I’ve been working remotely for over 13 years, and I have to say that I am honestly more distracted when I am IN the office than when I am working remotely. Prior to working remotely, I was in an office setting for 8 years, so it’s not like I’m completely unaware of that environment. It’s just that the office environment has its own set of distractions. So, here are a few tips that I’d suggest following, no matter what your work environment is:

Create a Clutter-Free Environment

Research has shown that physical clutter can negatively affect your productivity and ability to concentrate. So, it’s important to keep your workspace organized and clutter-free. A US study reveals that the average worker can waste up to one week a year looking for misplaced items. Don’t be the average worker. 

Manage Interruptions

Certain interruptions are unavoidable, including a team member asking for assistance or your boss requesting a “quick” meeting. However, it’s important to be proactive and let the people around you know of your situation. For example, if you have a deadline to hit and need to concentrate, just let them know that you’d appreciate not being interrupted that morning, afternoon, or day. 

Shut Down Notifications

Turn off your phone’s notifications. Turn off your computer’s notifications. Log out of your social media accounts. Essentially, turn off any distraction that might keep you from accomplishing your tasks. You could even go as far as turning your phone off for brief periods of time or set it to ‘do not disturb’. While many feel multitasking is an effective way to be productive, the opposite is true. Research has shown that trying to multitask takes a toll on your productivity and that shifting between tasks can cost up to 40 percent of your time. 

Set Goals & Treat Yourself

Create a to-do list for yourself every day and give yourself deadlines. Try to tackle the most difficult task first and then move on to the easier tasks to reward yourself. Getting that big job out of the way will only boost your productivity for your remaining time. 

Take Care of YOU

Last but not least, make sure you are taking care of yourself. Eat a healthy breakfast every morning, as having an unhealthy breakfast or nothing at all can leave you feeling tired and distracted. Try to get a good night’s sleep, which will reflect how productive you feel the next day. And get up and take a break and even go outside if you can. Even a 30-second microbreak has the potential to increase your productivity levels up to 30 percent. You can even go for a walk over lunch or if you’re lucky like we are at Caliber, sit at the picnic table outside your office and enjoy your lunch. Being outside brings all sorts of health benefits, helping you stay on track while at your desk. 

 

We’re all human and we therefore won’t always accomplish every single task on our list every single day. However, setting yourself up for success will still increase your overall productivity and make for a more pleasing work environment.