More than 4 million people in the United States work remotely at least half the time. The number of people who work from home increased by 140% since 2005. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to these statistics, landing millions of people at home.
Many companies had to arrange special remote work courses to help employees improve their work efficiency out of the office. While some people struggle to make the remote environment work for them, others prefer to stay at home.
As the pandemic is winding down, the number of at-home workers is slowly falling. However, many employees ask their employers to allow them to continue working remotely. Whether you are one of them or just starting your remote work journey, these tops hacks can help you increase work efficiency.
1. Create a Dedicated Work Space
When you work in the office, you have a dedicated workspace that tends to include a desk, a personal computer, a desk chair, and other office furniture. When you start working remotely, the absence of such attributes can be confusing.
Many people decide to take full advantage of working from home and start their workday with a laptop in bed desk. While it may seem convenient, such an approach lowers your efficiency by making you feel too relaxed to focus on matters at hand.
Even if you don’t have a separate room to create a home office, you can section off a part of another room to design your office space. Once you enter this space, you get the feeling as if you are at work, thus maximizing your work efficiency.
2. Dress Appropriately
If you are at home, you can wear pajamas all day, right? Not at all. Similarly to creating a dedicated workspace, you should always dress appropriately during the workday. While you don’t need to wear a suit, you have to reduce the degree of the casualness of your attire.
This is especially important for employees who use video-conferencing software to communicate with other team members. Asynchronous communication is a great method. Before practicing it you can know more about what is asynchronous communication? Without proper attire, you don’t just make the meeting less efficient, you could offend your team members.
3. Set Boundaries
Unless you are living alone, you have to set boundaries for roommates and family members who can interfere with your work.
Explain to everyone who shares a home with you the importance of giving you space and time to do your job. Otherwise, you may be constantly distracted. This can have a severe effect on your productivity.
If you have children who need attention, try to schedule your workday around their activities so you have at least several free hours a day for productive work.
4. Create a Schedule
According to Allshore, dedicated .NET developers staffing company, one of the main benefits of remote work is the ability to work on your own schedule. Unless your work is tied to many other people, you can choose a convenient time to do it. Figure out at which time of the day you are the most productive.
Some people can do excellent work in the morning and slow down in the evening time. Others feel sleepy and unproductive at the beginning of the day and start showing results starting late in the afternoon.
Design a schedule with your preferences in mind. With the right approach, you may be able to complete a day worth of work in just several hours.
5. Acquire Equipment and Tools
When you work in the office, you have access to the equipment and software necessary to get the job done. Once you start working from home, you’ll feel a lack of the much-needed tools. Before accepting remote work opportunities, make sure to speak with your employer about software and equipment.
If you’re a freelance worker, you should invest in quality hardware and software for work. For computers, you can save on a unit by opting for a refurbished desktop computer. When you buy refurbished, you save up to 40 percent and still get a fully functional, powerful computer. Consider choosing refurbished IT items for your other work tools for more savings on hardware costs. Then you won’t have to settle for free but limited versions of the apps you need for work.
The employer should provide you all the tools necessary to keep you productive. However, some employers never act unless you ask. So make sure to assess the situation quickly and ask for the tools timely.
The Takeaway
Today, 56% of employees in the United States hold a job with remote operation potential. Even after the pandemic is over, you may find yourself working remotely.
Working at home comes with numerous benefits, many of which contribute to increased productivity. To make sure you stay productive while working remotely, consider taking advantage of the above tips.
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