How to be more productive while Working From Home during a pandemic?
With almost 60% of the UAE workforce working from home, we have had to adjust to an entirely new system of working. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to be productive in an environment that was usually synonymous with relaxation and resting. With this in mind, here are six easy tips you can try to improve your productivity while staying safe and #WFH.
Early Bird
Early to bed, early to rise. By starting your day early, you give yourself time to sit, think, and plan your day. You can use this time to enjoy a hearty breakfast, make a cup of coffee or even cram in a bit of exercise. Having a morning routine in place positively contributes to your productivity during the day. When you get up early, you are more calm, creative, and clear-headed, a perfect time to tackle the bigger tasks on your list first or in other words, eat the frog.
Prepare your day the night before
Create a daily plan the evening before. By penning down all your tasks for the next day, you simplify your workload and streamline your focus. This maps out your entire day and effectively helps reduce your stress and anxiety levels, while also making sure nothing slips through the cracks. Basically, your job for the day becomes to stick to the plan as best as possible.
Tip: Write down all your tasks and as you go down the list, cross them out. This will help you to see how far along you are on your to-do list and make you feel in control and accomplished for the day.
Take small breaks during the day
Did you know that even a 30 second microbreak can increase your productivity levels up to 30%? Taking regular breaks is an absolute necessity for maintaining productivity throughout the day.
Always ensure to take 10- 15 mins to relieve your eyes from constant strain and stretch your body out. As well as your physical health, breaks are also crucial for your mental and emotional wellbeing, helping you avoid getting worn out. This will help keep your motivation levels consistent and allow you to come back to problems with a fresh mindset.
Tip: You can use these tiny breaks to replenish your body with water and food to keep from getting burnt out and exhausted.
Avoid multitasking
Multitasking shatters your focus. A widely spread misconception is that more tasks can be accomplished by doing multiple things at once. However, the opposite is true. Doing several things at the same time takes a toll on your productivity and shifting between tasks can cost up to at least 40% of your time. That’s because your focus and concentration is constantly hindered due to having to switch between tasks. By prioritizing the urgent tasks on your plate, you can allocate sufficient time for each task and make sure to stick to your own deadlines. You’ll be surprised by how much more you’re able to get done this way.
Tip: Close all the tabs open on your browser and turn off your notifications, to help declutter your mind, reduce distractions and focus your attention on the work at hand.
Group similar tasks together
Similar to the point above, time management is key in being productive while #WFH. Eliminate your time wasters, by batching related tasks together. For example:
- Writing tasks – press releases, media alerts, pitches
- Administrative – responding to emails etc.
- Business development – researching, webinars etc.
- Calls – pitch calls, client calls, team calls etc.
This helps you streamline your task into a seamless process. By breaking them down like this, everything becomes easy to manage.
Buffering Time
Don’t pack your schedule to the brim. Cramming all those tasks is a sure way to set yourself up for failure and exhaustion. To avoid that, leave five to ten minutes in between each task on your to-do list to give yourself room to react to things and wrap up tasks without rushing through them, thus ensuring that you give in your best work.
A rule of thumb to keep in mind during these trying times is that change doesn’t happen overnight. Start small and be consistent. Don’t be hard on yourself if you slip up, just dust yourself off and try again the next day. Developing beneficial habits takes time, but so long as you keep at it, you will soon enjoy the fruits of your labor.