It’s been close to a month since the circuit breaker measures were implemented which led to many of us working from home. According to a Qualtrics study, two-thirds of the respondents feel less productive since they started working from home (Singapore Business Review, 2020). Here are some tips for you to stay productive while working from home.
1. Have a proper working space
While many are tempted to work from the comfort of the bed, remind yourself this is a no as it is harder to get into the work-mode. Working in your bedroom may end up blurring the lines between your work and personal time, and may even affect the quality of sleep you get in the long run. Instead, have a designated workspace to help you set clear boundaries between work-mode and home-mode. It is good to have a space that is similar to the one at work to emulate your usual work environment.
This also means having a clean and well-lit working space. Keep your work area uncluttered and remove the things not needed from the area. This will help to optimize your focus and allow you to think clearly as you work. Working in a clean environment is also beneficial to your physical health!
You may also wish to invest in equipment that will make your working space more comfortable. For example, a comfortable ergonomic chair that can allow you to concentrate on your work or a portable aircon to keep you cool as you work. Do not want to buy an aircon? You can rent a 12,000BTU portable aircon from us!
2. Plan and stick to your schedule
Without the tradition workplace that you are used to, it is important to keep a more structured daily schedule than usual. Start each day of the week by writing down your to-do list and what you wish to accomplish each day. This will then help you better plan and create a suitable schedule that you can follow. Be disciplined in following the schedule you have set for yourself so that you will feel more structured and efficient, and will help keep your attention focused.
3. Take breaks in between
Working the entire day in front of the screen can take a toll on your body. It is good to get up when you are feeling tired or distracted and take a mini-break. You can perhaps choose to grab a healthy snack, walk around your home, do some stretching, etc. for a few minutes to help yourself decompress and go back to work more focused. Doing some light exercises during breaks can also help reduce the muscle soreness and stress in your body, as well as stimulate blood circulation, boosting your energy.
While you take actions in trying to make working from home productive, remember to establish a work-life balance too. Walk away from your workspace when you need a break or when the day has ended so that you do not put yourself at risk of burning out. It is really important to take care of yourself now when you are working from home so that you can maintain your productivity levels too.
To sum it up, remember to have a designated working space to define the boundaries between work mode and rest mode, have a day-to-day schedule to keep to as well as taking breaks when necessary and maintaining a work-life balance.
