Stick to a routine
It’s important to keep setting an alarm, getting dressed and following your normal routine when you’re working away from the office. Presenting yourself as if you’re going to the office can help you to feel professional and switched on. You may not have to commute to work, but don’t let that stop you from setting a time that you’ll start working from. Creating and maintaining structure can be the difference between a productive day and an unproductive one.
Create a space to work in
To keep motivated throughout your working day, you might need to de-clutter an area of your house and create a working space This may include an office with a desk, or a more innovative set-up in the dining room. The room with the least noise or a view of the garden might encourage you to focus more than the sofa in front of the TV. It’s all about avoiding and minimising distractions to help you to focus on your tasks.
When you enter the workspace, treat it like your office and a place of work rather than a place of rest. Leave the workspace on your breaks to separate it from areas of relaxation.
Take scheduled breaks
Take the same lunch break you normally would and schedule regular short breaks into your day (perhaps a 10-minute break for every two hours of work). This will help you to stay focused when you’re working by creating clear boundaries between work and breaks. Schedules help us to know when to concentrate and when to relax, contributing to increased productivity in the concentration periods of our day.
Engage with your colleagues
It may not feel like work when you aren’t sitting beside your colleagues, but you can still interact with them remotely. Inviting them to a Skype meeting or conference call and discussing what you’re working on will provide motivation to increase your productivity. Seeing their faces will also help you to remember that while you’re not in the office, you are at work.
Staying productive when working from home or remotely isn’t always easy, but if you follow these four tips and maintain structure in your workday, you’re sure to achieve your daily goals!
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Details
- Publication date
- 27 March 2020
- Authors
- European Labour Authority | Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
- Topics
- Business / Entrepreneurship
- EURES best practice
- Hints and tips
- Youth
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