Remote Work Newsletter:

June 15, 2022

split screen illustration showing the same employee working from home. The left panel showing them setup in a professional looking home office, the other working in the kitchen with distractions around.

Maximizing Your Productivity While Working Remotely

If you haven’t already, it’s essential to assess how you’re working from home and make adjustments as needed. Distractions are all around, especially when you’re working from the comfort of your home. Any workspace has productivity killers, and a lot can hinge on your ability to avoid distractions. In a remote setting, it’s up to you to be just as motivated and focused as you would be in the on-site workplace.

Beware of these common at-home distractions:

Roommates, family, friends, and pets
Housework and chores
Emails, instant messages, phone calls, and texts
Social media and online browsing
Entertainment, including television and radio

Being a productive remote worker comes with responsibility, self-reliance, and resourcefulness.

A group of executives in a meeting comparing health benefit costs.

Set yourself up for success with the following ten tips:

Establish a designated workspace – so you can mentally enter work mode.
Dress like you’re at work – to help inform your brain that it’s time to work.
Plan your working hours – and tackle the most complex work when you have the most energy.
Set deadlines – and focus on achieving them.
Avoid multitasking – and be aware of workspace stressors that trigger time-wasting behavior.
Manage interruptions – by setting boundaries with kids, pets, and roommates.
Avoid chores – and save housework for before or after the workday.
Take care of yourself – and start the day with something you find rewarding. Make note of how you are feeling.
Time previously used to commute to work - can be used to workout, meditation or for taking a walk.
Separate work and personal time – by sticking with your workday schedule and logging off as planned.

Overall, setting clear boundaries with co-workers and anyone at home will help make the remote workday more productive. If you’re feeling burnt out or often distracted, talk to your supervisor or manager about how they can help.