Working Remote Productivity in 2022 – 5 Tips

remote work productivity

Many professionals are returning to the office as life and business return to normal in 2022 after the pandemic.  While many organizations are taking up the hybrid working model, some are still continuing with the work-from-home solution that served them so effectively during the lockdown. Organizations and employees have seen how challenging it is to maintain high remote work productivity.

But the fact remains that the advantages of working remotely far outweigh the difficulty of staying on task. Modern technology has made working remotely easier in 2022 than it was before. However, working remotely isn’t still a walk in the garden. Many remote workers struggle to stay productive as distractions abound. When productivity is hit, and you are still missing deadlines repeatedly, try these tips.

1. Draw a Clear Line Between Personal and Professional Life

The biggest problem people face while working from home is the inability to keep personal and personal life separate. The best way of resolving this problem is to find a space within your home that can be used as a designated office. This must be a place where you are least likely to get distracted or disturbed by others.

Enter and leave at fixed times, just like you would in an office so that it helps create a routine. Sticking to a fixed schedule can help create an office-like environment at your home. Do not do anything here that you wouldn’t do in a real office – snacking, gaming, sleeping, making personal calls, and so on.

You may not find it easy to stick to the rules initially. But make it a habit, and you will soon get back to your high productivity mode.

2. Remain Accessible and Keep Communication Channels Open

Even if you are probably miles away from your office and colleagues, you must stay connected during working hours to remain productive. The only way to stay connected and communicate with the team is to remain accessible and ensure the communication channels are open. You must be available for meetings, share your views, make suggestions, and generally contribute to the success of the project.

Remote employees who don’t keep communication lines open are not connected to their teams. They often don’t know what’s happening at team meetings and what tasks they have been assigned, and the deadline to complete them.

It’s also a good thing to see your colleagues, whether your job requires it or not. Even in this digital day and age, the value of personal contact remains unchanged. There are many robust tools available to help you connect with your team.

3. Switch Off from Social Media

Social media addiction can be dangerous for your career and your remote work productivity. Checking notifications during working hours can pull down productivity massively.  You may think it’s a matter of a few minutes, but social media channels have a way of keeping you hooked as you scroll from one attention-grabbing post to another.

The best way to overcome this problem is to turn off notifications. The sounds may tempt you, but if they are muted, you can remain focused on your work. Distractions won’t happen, and productivity will not be affected.

Installing a web browser on your work computer and using it for work only is another way of dealing with the problem. There are time trackers also available to keep you on the right track. It will monitor everything you do and alert you when you stray away from official work. They can also generate reports that indicate the time you actually spend working each day.

4. Set Boundaries with Family and Leave Clear Instructions

Your family members or roommates may not realize that when you work from home, you need to put in the same time and effort for your office work as you did while working from the office. You must impress upon them the importance of privacy within your workspace. Leave simple instructions. Make a rule that no one bothers you when you shut the door.

Once they realize that barriers must be respected, they will not bother you.  When you leave clear instructions about your working hours, they will understand that you need to be left alone during those hours. It will help you work without the fear of intrusion and can help improve productivity.

5. Organize Your Tasks 

A well-designed work plan can help you approach every day with a clear idea of what you want to do. Plan ways of achieving big targets by breaking them down into smaller tasks. When you are working from home, you can save travel time. Use the saved time to work more efficiently and conveniently.

Check your pending tasks and decide how much time to complete each one that you need. Divide the work over each session. There are management tools available if you are not able to do the organization part yourself. Staying organized at home while working can put you in control of your workflow. You will achieve high productivity when you do it consistently.

Conclusion

Working from home comes with many benefits. You can have a flexible schedule and spend more time with your family as you save on commuting. However, working from home also comes with its share of downsides like your remote work productivity due to things like a distraction. Also, constant interference from your family or pets can affect overall productivity seriously. Follow the tips provided to remain in control of your work processes at all times.