How to Be Productive While Working Remotely

From a distance, working from home looks great. The illusion is that it gives you more flexibility and agility to get things done. But research has found that working from home can be challenging, especially if you don’t know how to focus your energy or schedule your time.

In my work as an executive leadership coach I have found that people who work effectively from home share certain habits. Here are some of their techniques to help you stay productive while you’re working remotely:

They create a routine. People often think that a routine will kill their creativity and make them feel too constrained. But establishing and sticking to a routine is a great way to stay motivated and engaged, which in turns helps you be more productive. Without the structure of a traditional workplace, an individualized routine can help keep things balanced and moving forward.

They create a to-do list for tasks. You may be going into working from home with a lot of great ideas about what you’ll be able to accomplish, but the best way to make sure those things actually get done is to set an intention and write it down. Create a prioritized to-do list to stay on top of your responsibilities. As a bonus, you’ll get the satisfaction of crossing items off as they’re completed.

They minimize distractions. Squeeze all the productivity you can out of your work hours. You may not have scheduled meetings, coffee breaks, and impromptu discussions as in the workplace, but you have to learn to tune out housework, laundry, family discussions, and trips to the fridge. Keep yourself focused and on task.

They set limits on work. Home may have its distractions, but it’s also easy to get lost in your work and let time pass without a clear end to the work day. And when you do, you run the risk of burning yourself out. That’s why it’s crucial to separate work from your personal time. Work hard but set limits, giving yourself healthy breaks and setting time to shut down work and make the transition to personal life.

They set up a workstation. Designate a place for work and corner it off. That way, when you’re there, your brain is cued to focus on work. And when you need a break or the end of the work day comes, walking away will help you mentally leave work behind until you pick it back up after your break or the next morning.

They practice self-care. Last, but certainly not least, when you work remotely it is of prime importance to take care of yourself and to stay in tune with your energy levels and mindset. Studies have found that those who work from home tend to keep working even through illness. Give yourself space and time for balance and—when you need it—healing.

Lead from within: Working remotely can be a challenge, but learning from those who do it best can help us all do it better.

#1 N A T I O N A L  B E S T S E L L E R

The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness

After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.

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• The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
• The Deception Trap of Leadership

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