6 ways to be productive at work

Remote work may be a boon to companies and employees alike, in terms of lower costs and flexible schedules, however, it is not an out and out win. The comfort and lack of routine at home can make it very challenging for employees to focus and work productivity can take a plunge. Fortunately, successful managers have come up with 6 things employees can eliminate from their work life in order to keep themselves grounded and efficient throughout the work day.

Distractions

This one is a no brainer. Clutter, TV and gadgets, all count as distractions and should be minimised. Phones can be set on silent and meeting reminders, however urgent or important can be restricted to hours before from the actual event. Make a judgement call depending on how important what reminder is and enable and disable notifications accordingly.

Multitasking

Much as we pride ourselves on being able to do multiple things at a go, it is not the best idea to do this because it is simply not fair to any of it. Instead of being in a meeting and not concentrating on the proceedings, it is better to be fiercely protective of your time and pick meetings that absolutely require your presence and are important to your work.

Working without breaks

While it may not look like it, an office environment offers a lot of small 5- or 10-minute breaks — think of those gossip sessions by the water filter or those coffee breaks in the pantry — they all help to give you a breather. Make it the same case when you work from home. Give yourself breaks at reasonable intervals to clear your mind.

Delegate/automate

Make it a rule that if you find yourself doing one task in the same manner more than three times, you will hand it over to a junior. It helps save time and builds productivity. Although, what do you do if you are that junior? Automate, of course. Technology offers plenty of ways you can generate weekly and monthly reports and do other similar administrative tasks with ease.

A messy calendar

Clutter can be distracting on screen as well as in real life. Block off chunks of your time for certain work and aim to get them done within the stipulated time. Working from home can blur the lines between work hours and personal time. Try to hold meetings within actual work hours and work diligently within them. Finish work at a reasonable hour and keep your personal time sacred.

Cluttered workstation

Too many things on your desk can make you fidgety. Try to work in a well-lit, comfortable area with proper internet connectivity and a charging station for uninterrupted work. Keep a clean, uncluttered space for work, get into the habit of keeping away files you are done with and leave your desk clean and prepared for the next workday. A small, thriving plant can give the place a dose of nature and greenery.