Hybrid working arrangements have become the norm post-pandemic. If you live in a co-living unit and work from home for a couple of days a week, you may relish the opportunity to sleep in a little later or to even have time to squeeze in a jog before you start your day. Still, working from home requires some form of self-control and time management. Follow our tips on how to stay productive throughout the day.
Dress for work
Working from home comes with some freedoms. You don’t have to dress up in super formal attire, for one. Rather than working in your pajamas or a t-shirt and shorts combo, you may want to consider dressing up a little – perhaps in “smart casual” attire.
Psychologically, this may help you to focus a little better because it’s as if you’re actually going to the office … except that your office is now your bedroom. Plus, if you have a Microsoft Teams or Zoom call, you’ll also look more presentable.
Set a schedule
Having a structure to your day can really help you to focus during your work-from-home days. A schedule will keep you on track as you plough through your tasks. Carve out your time into time blocks.
If you’re a morning person and work best during these hours, you may want to focus on work which requires deep concentration, for example writing up that report, replying to urgent emails or doing that spreadsheet analysis.
Break up your tasks into smaller chunks so that you do not feel too overwhelmed if you have to tackle something huge all at once. Tip: use productivity apps such as Notion to keep you on top of tasks and deadlines.
Take regular breaks
Don’t forget to schedule regular breaks. After all, you don’t want to strain your eyes or have a headache from staring at the computer for hours on end.
You can even take advantage of those breaks to squeeze in some exercise – how about some jumping jacks, sit-ups or hold that plank to burn those abs! Grab a coffee if you need a quick pick-me-up to replenish your energy.
Exercise
Yes, exercise can do wonders for your productivity. During your lunch break, you can head to your condo gym or go for a quick dip in the pool. If there’s a fitness class nearby, you can also head to one.
The benefits of exercise are numerous: it can keep stress levels down, improve sleep quality, combat fatigue and increase your energy.
Bonus: Squeeze in some time for personal activities
One of the benefits of working from home is that you don’t have to waste time commuting. On your work-from-home days, you can even schedule a dinner with a friend close to where you live since you have an extra hour or two saved from not travelling. Otherwise, if you’ve been saving up some time to binge watch your favourite series on Netflix, this is the time to do it!
