Today’s technology makes remote work easier than ever. With Zoom office backgrounds, you can even host a professional business meeting from your laptop. However, working from home sometimes comes with distractions. To keep your productivity high, check out these tips for staying on task.
Desk Position
Your environment plays a big role in your ability to focus. For instance, you may hear the TV if your home office shares a wall with the living room. As a result, it’s crucial to set up your home office in a space away from the house’s busiest areas.
Desk position also has a significant impact. If you can, place your desk near a south-facing window so you get plenty of natural light. While artificial light has its uses, natural light offers several benefits:
- Improves mood
- Boosts productivity
- Improves sleep
If you video conference regularly, you should also think about the space behind your desk. It’s best to have a minimalistic background to avoid distracting other attendees. Of course, a Zoom background with logo can do in a pinch.
Eliminating Distractions
While technology is an invaluable workplace tool, it can also be the biggest distraction. Social media is the worst offender, luring you away from a boring task for just a quick peek. However, five minutes can quickly become half an hour on Facebook or Instagram.
Instead, stay away from these time sinks. If you struggle to do so, plenty of apps can block access on your computer, ensuring you remain focused.
If you live in a noisy neighborhood or apartments with thin walls, you may benefit from noise-canceling headphones. These eliminate ambient noise, allowing you to work without interruption.
Creating a Plan
One of the best ways to boost your productivity is to create goals at the beginning of each day. What do you want to accomplish before you clock out? Make a list as you boot up your computer.
Once you have a list, prioritize the items. Put the most urgent ones at the top. For example, if a project has a deadline coming up, place it in the top spot.
Make sure to allocate time for long-term projects as well. Breaking up big projects into small tasks and working on them each day ensures they don’t sneak up on you.
Finally, dedicate one 15- or 20-minute block of time to answering emails. Otherwise, you may spend more time cleaning out your inbox than you intend.
Taking Breaks
Taking breaks is crucial to staying productive. The human brain can only focus for about an hour before getting tired, so schedule a 15-minute break every hour or so. Additionally, set aside a generous hour for lunch to ensure you get the nutrition necessary to focus.
Taking these breaks around the same time every day is a good idea. Doing so creates a routine, which is essential when you work from home, as it distinguishes between “work time” and “personal time.”
Now that you know the best way to stay on task, it’s time to tackle your next project. Whether you want to find the best Teams virtual backgrounds or network with coworkers, you can take on the challenge.
