The Covid-19 lockdown has forced many of us to work from home. It may have sounded like a start-of-the-year bonus at first, but in reality, it can be tough.
It’s a fact that technology has enabled massive personal productivity – computers, spreadsheets, email and other advances have made it possible to seemingly produce more in a day than ever before. So, it’s tempting to conclude that individual productivity must be soaring. It’s not.
Here’s the rub: Adapting your usual daily routine at work to a home environment comes with a few challenges. After all, you are in your personal space and not in a professional environment. Sure, the kids need to be fed and educated, the house should be cleaned and off course, the washing is mounting. So, while juggling all of this, how productive are you?
You could measure productivity by the number of essential tasks you’ve managed to complete in a given time frame. Time is a precious and non-renewable resource, and keeping an eye on how you spend it, is truly vital. You may not realise just how much of your time goes wasted on routine and non-essential tasks and distractions every day; time that you could have invested in more meaningful projects instead.
We have a few strategies on how to stay productive while working from home:
- Work smart. Keep track of your progress in a visual format and update it as you complete tasks to keep you motivated. Take regular breaks and recharge between intense work sessions. When feeling truly stumped, switch to a different task and tackle it the next day with renewed energy.
- Start your day with the most important thing. Tackle the most important or most challenging tasks during the first half of the day, while your mental energy is still at its peak.
- When you feel stuck, finish off smaller tasks. It will give you a sense of achievement. Use that positive momentum to keep your positivity snowball rolling.
- Stop chasing perfection. Be more realistic about your goals and standards. Working on a task for days to make it perfect (instead of delivering any result) is counteractive. If the work you’ve done ticks all the boxes, then it is good enough and it’s time to move on to the next task.
Our lives have turned upside-down, and the Coronavirus pandemic has forced us to re-imagine the way we work. However, with unprecedented times come unprecedented measures, and as a human race, we adapt and make the most of the situation that we find ourselves in.
So, structure your day and stick to your regular routines as much as possible. Evaluate what went right and what went wrong at the end of each day and make sure to repeat what works, and change what didn’t.
Business as usual, right? Let’s tackle the rest of the lockdown with positivity and productivity.
Have a great week, everyone!
Source: remote.co, payfast.co.za, sciencefocus.com, hbr.org, actitime.com, novoresume.com, trustmark.org.uk, omniatranet.com
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
