How to Manage Your Time When You Work From Home
Working from home can be a real win-win for people and companies alike and seems to be more popular than ever. A lot of people just don’t find the commute to a shared office space to be ideal, and that is a growing trend. A recent survey found that when given the choice of a 10% raise or the opportunity to work remotely, 53% of respondents said they would choose to work remotely. Maybe it’s the added comfort level, privacy and freedom from a lengthy commute that make remote work so popular.
But there are benefits for companies as well: Besides saving on office space, by adopting this flexible workforce model companies profit from a new talent pool that can be reached in a much larger geographical range which also allows for a wider coverage of time zones.
While working remotely is clearly very appealing to most people, it might not be the right choice for everybody. Working remotely can lead to distractions, being unproductive and not working in the desired way. While there are countless benefits to the remote life, there are a few ways that you can learn to manage your time and plan your workday in a more efficient and productive way.
Schedule breaks
Distractions can be seemingly endless when you work from home, for example sounds and noises and tasks on your mind with things that you need to get done. Purposely scheduling breaks can be one of the most helpful ways to keep your brain fresh, active, and creative. Don’t feel guilty about it, and plan a few minutes to give yourself a rest! Depending on your work and your schedule, try to take at least a few minutes every hour to stand up and move around, away from your screens or stretch. Consider using a time tracking app, like Toggl, to help you manage and monitor your time. This particular app has lots of tools to help you manage your time and kickstart your productivity.
Reward yourself
Use classic positive reinforcement to help yourself stay motivated. Set little goals throughout your day, and reward yourself for meeting them. Whatever it is that helps to motivate yourself, whether it be a snack or a cup of coffee, use it to help you stay concentrated and feel positive about your workday.
Stick to a routine
While the flexibility of remote work is surely one of its appeals, most people do better with some sort of routine. Little practices like getting up at the same time every day, establishing some sort of morning and lunch routine can really make you function like a well-oiled machine. Stick to your schedule, but also keep some space to adjust your time as needed for unforeseen events!
Optimize your environment
Think about an environment that best suits your personality, needs, and work goals. Maybe you work best in a bare, clean room; or maybe a more creative office space feels best and most right for you. Reflect on how you work most productively and efficiently; and try to make your remote work environment fit with your needs.
The biggest takeaways here are to remove distractions and plan ahead. If you schedule in breaks and plan your time properly, you can surely be a successful and productive remote worker. It can be helpful to keep a log or a journal about how you use your time and any unexpected distractions that may come up. You may have to experiment a bit, but with enough preparation and planning you’re sure to be successful in working from home!
43% of all companies in Germany expect remote work to rise within the next few years. Many large corporations in various industries, from entertainment to lifestyle electronics, have implemented flexible work solutions.
We believe that offering remote solutions has become a key for growth, success and expansion, and will be a major workforce trend for the future.
What are your thoughts on this growing trend of flexible employment? Let us know in the comments!
