Productivity Hacks for Remote Work: Leveraging Tech for Success

Remote working is an undeniable reality in today’s digital age, freeing us from the bounds of a physical office. Upwork’s recent study predicts that by 2025, the remote workforce in America will increase by 87% to make up 22% of the total workforce. This rising trend signifies a promising shift towards a flexible and accommodating work culture. However, working remotely brings its challenges, particularly in maintaining productivity. To help you navigate this vast and sometimes challenging landscape, we have prepared tips to help you work from home productivity.

Working From Home Tips

#1 Structure Daily Routine

Remote work offers numerous advantages, but it also brings some challenges. If not managed properly, the flexibility to work at your own pace may result in wasted time. Developing a strict daily routine establishes a clear distinction between “work” and “home,” enhancing focus and time management. According to Stanford professor Nicholas Bloom’s research, working from home led to a 13% increase in productivity due to reduced commute time and an improved work environment.

#2 Customize Your Office

Creating an inspiring work environment with carefully selected ergonomics is crucial when working continuously for long hours. Merely sitting somewhere in your home won’t suffice for starting a work-from-home routine. It is highly recommended to dedicate a room and establish an office-like environment with ergonomically supported computer desks, tables, chairs, and hardware.

Of course, earning your bread and butter is important, but equally essential is caring for your health by ensuring the right sitting posture. Although office furniture might be a bit pricey, it is a one-time investment that guarantees uninterrupted and healthy work-from-home routines.

#3 Record All Important Calls

It’s easy to imagine a situation where your boss or customer called you and you discussed important details of the work for a long time. If the work doesn’t need to be done now, there’s a good chance you’ll forget some aspects. You can write everything down in detail in a notepad or use the app to record phone calls. With Call Recorder for iPhone for iOS, you can listen to the conversation at any time and “refresh” your memory. Recording phone calls is not that difficult, you just need a good application like the one mentioned above. This way you can do the job as accurately as possible while meeting all requirements.

#4 Ensure Cybersecurity

To become a productive remote worker, the most crucial aspect is an uninterrupted network connection. Your internet downtime can negatively impact meetings, collaborations with teams and clients, research and development, work updates, and file uploads. To prevent this, subscribe to the best network provider in your area, offering substantial bandwidth.

Failure to follow these guidelines may lead to a potential data breach, especially in terms of cybersecurity. Large organizations strictly enforce security policies for remote workers. However, smaller medium-sized employers tend to neglect this aspect, putting their data at significant risk.

According to a study conducted by HELPNETSECURITY, remote workers are 38% more vulnerable to cyberattacks. It is crucial to implement unified security policies for both in-office and work-from-home scenarios to protect sensitive data.

#5 Set Up Proper Lighting

Setting up a home office often neglects the importance of proper lighting, yet it profoundly impacts productivity and well-being. Optimal is natural light due to its mood-enhancing and energizing effects. For workspaces lacking access to natural light, ensure sufficient artificial lighting. Place your desk near a window or employ a combination of overhead and task lighting to create a well-lit environment that reduces eye strain and boosts alertness.

#6 Highlight Periods of Concentration

Cal Newport, a well-known computer scientist, and author, endorsed time blocking as a time management technique in his book ‘Deep Work’. This approach involves dedicating specific time slots to different tasks, allowing for a structured workday. According to Newport, these focused periods result in high-quality productive output.

#7 Take Regular Breaks

Taking long, continuous periods of work may cause mental fatigue, diminishing the quality and speed of your work. To enhance productivity levels, it is important to include regular breaks throughout your day. The Pomodoro technique, a proven method used in numerous professional fields, comprises dedicating 25 minutes to intensive work, followed by a five-minute break.

#8 Sync With Cloud

You should not rely solely on your computer’s hard drive or any other local storage device to save your work. Instead, utilize online tools like Google Docs for content creation and the Microsoft Office 365 suite, which automatically syncs your work to cloud storage. Nowadays, there is a growing trend of using various SaaS applications that cater to different work requirements. To ensure convenience, there are many free or freemium apps available in the market. Simply subscribe to these applications, log in with your credentials, and start working.

Conclusion

One of the biggest challenges for anyone working from home is staying productive and focused. Many people have trouble concentrating at home and the tips listed should help. You will have to develop self-organization; these tips will set you in the right direction.