5 ways to AMP up productivity when working remotely

Written by Sandra Argese
on 23 Mar 2020

Times are weird, unexpected and ever-changing, with many now responsibly working from home in a bid to social distance themselves from others.

If you’re one of them, now is the time to leverage your digital resources, and take advantage of the online world.

(READ: COVID-19: Relief for WA small and medium businesses has arrived)

But while working from home mightn’t sound so bad, distractions, unfamiliar working conditions, and the replacement of work colleagues with your dog, cat or fish give you no choice but to learn the art of self-discipline. If you’ve never worked for yourself or in an independent environment, this could be challenging.

The good news is that it doesn’t need to be.

With the right setup and approach, you can navigate this somewhat odd and uncertain time – meet deadlines, execute objectives, tick off that to-do list and win at your job.
Here are some handy productivity tips to get the ball rolling.

Communication is key

The ‘in-office’ experience is often about face-to-face communication. When working from home, you can replicate this ‘experience’ by taking advantage of instant messaging tools (Slack, for example), email, or video conferencing services (depending on what your employer prefers to use) to keep communication clear, concise and up-to-date.

Keep Things Real

If you live with others, communicate with them your need to work from home. If you’re having video calls with clients or co-workers, maintaining a professional, work-appropriate demeanour is key.

Case in point below.

Buddy Up

While it might help your productivity levels if chatty co-workers aren’t talking in your ear all the time, that daily dose of social interaction could help eliminate the feeling of isolation or loneliness. Remember, you’re going from seeing familiar faces every day, to suddenly not. It might be worth finding a colleague you can speak to throughout the day to share thoughts with or to simply be there if you’re feeling the need to chat with someone about all things work-related.

Breathe in the fresh air

Chances are you might’ve seen the viral videos of Italians enjoying the outdoors by singing and playing instruments on their balconies to pass the time. Okay, so you don’t need to unleash your inner Australian Idol, but if you’re not showing any symptoms of the virus, you’re likely safe to take advantage of your backyard, outdoor alfresco, front yard or balcony during your lunch break or for a quick breather. Revitalise the mind, take in the fresh air, and remember there’s a world outside to enjoy.

Look after yourself

While working from home may give you the license to ditch the deodorant or go makeup-free, when your daily routine is being interrupted, it’s easy to forget to take a break, have a stretch, have a quick walk-around every 30-minutes or so, ensure you’re drinking plenty of water and stick to healthy eating patterns. Plan your day around taking these all-important breaks, allocating dedicated time to fulfilling each.

By the way, self-imposed rules about working in your pyjamas (or underwear for that matter) don’t need to be a thing. After all, whoever said typing out a professional email while wearing Batman pyjamas was a bad thing? Best you don’t videocall at the same time.

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