Tips on remote work productivity
Remote work has become much more popular, thanks to technological advances and changing views about flexible work. The COVID-19 pandemic sped up this trend, with millions of employees immediately moving to work from home.
According to the 2023 Global Remote Work Index, Malaysia is one of the top 50 best places in the world for remote work and ranks second in Southeast Asia.
There has been much debate about the difference between the preference to work from office vs work from home. Naturally, working from home offers great flexibility and freedom. But, it also has unique challenges, especially in maintaining productivity. A Robert Walters study says that in Malaysia, professionals enjoy more flexibility. But they are also more distracted and less social. They lack a proper office set-up. Their biggest complaint is longer hours.
In this article, we discuss remote working challenges and share valuable tips on being productive & effective while working remotely.
Challenges of remote working
Without a traditional workplace structure and with many distractions, it can be hard to stay focused. Also, being in the same place alone for too long can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness, and you might also develop cabin fever.
Read more: 10 Remote Jobs You Can Do From Anywhere In The World
Octavia Goredema, career coach and author, wrote a Harvard Business Review article about her experience of isolation and loneliness while working remotely:
“When I began working from home, in addition to regaining my lost commuting hours, I loved my new ability to focus on my work without the distraction of an open-plan office environment. However, as time progressed, I started to feel lonely. I could laser-focus on my work, but I only engaged with others based on virtual meeting agendas or email. I noticed I was becoming less enthused and more withdrawn. I spent too much time scrolling social media because I was silently craving connection with others. I was slowly but steadily becoming isolated.”
It’s not limited to isolation alone. Here are some other challenges of remote working:
Time management issues
- One of the challenges of remote work is managing your time effectively. This is often due to the lack of a traditional workplace structure and the many distractions from working from home.
- Working from home in a non-traditional office space can make it hard for employees. They struggle to clearly separate work and personal life. As a result, many people work outside of regular hours and late into the evening.
Difficulty in maintaining focus and productivity
Working remotely comes with its fair share of distractions. Managing household chores, caring for family or young children, or getting drawn into social media and TV can easily distract you. These distractions can make it hard to stay focused and disrupt your work, making it tough to complete your daily tasks.
Communication breakdown
- Digital communication tools are crucial for remote work, which relies on key devices such as laptops or tablets and a stable internet connection. Good internet speed is important to avoid delays in getting crucial information, responses, or clarifications on tasks, helping you work more efficiently.
- Coordinating schedules and collaboration among remote workers across various time zones presents challenges. Organizing meetings, managing project timelines, and solving issues can be tricky, often leading to delays and communication problems.
Isolation and loneliness
According to Goredama, working from home sometimes isolates you, especially living alone. Lacking in-person interactions with colleagues can make you feel disconnected from the company culture, potentially impacting your motivation and engagement.
Technology issues
Remote work relies a lot on technology, so issues like internet outages or a broken laptop can disrupt your work and slow you down. This means you might spend time fixing these issues instead of focusing on your work tasks.
Bad habits
It’s easier to slip into bad habits when you’re remote working, especially if you don’t have a space in a work setting at home. For example, if you work at your dining table and the fridge is nearby, it's easy to keep snacking all day when your snacks are just a few steps away. On the other hand, without lunch breaks, you could forget to eat. Hence, it’s important to be mindful of your health habits.
How to be productive while working remotely
74% of Malaysians in the Robert Walters study agreed that more flexibility in working hours has boosted productivity when working from home. But, the above challenges may apply to or affect remote workers at all levels, from C-suites to executives. With the right strategies and mindset, you can maximise work productivity and thrive in a remote job.
Here are some effective tips for working remotely:
Have a routine and stick to it
Having structure and stability is crucial to ensure you maintain a consistent daily routine. Start your morning, which will kickstart your work day and help ease you into work mode. Go for a run, do yoga, meditate, or brew yourself a nice cup of coffee or tea.
As you would do in an office setting, set regular working hours and stick to them as much as possible. Also, set a clear end-of-day ritual, like having a meal, to help you switch from work to personal time and avoid working late into the evening.
Dress up
While working in your pyjamas is tempting, dressing up can boost your focus and productivity. This simple change helps you shift into work mode and maintain a productive mindset all day.
Minimise distractions
One of the major challenges of working from home is managing distractions like noisy children, household chores, or social media. The Robert Walters study found that 64 per cent of Malaysians struggle more with focus and face more distractions when working from home.
To minimize distractions, it's essential to take proactive measures. Consider using website blockers to cut out distractions, make clear rules with your family for quiet times, or use noise-cancelling headphones to block out background noise. These strategies can enhance your focus while working from home.
While you might feel tempted to watch your favourite TV show during work hours, saving television for after work is best. This helps you stay focused and productive during your designated work time. By doing this, you can create an environment that's more conducive to finishing your tasks.
Set clear goals and priorities
Working alone without a manager's oversight and the lively atmosphere of an office can be tough. It's easy to lose sight of your goals and priorities in such a setting. Do yourself a favour by setting clear goals and priorities.
Take time at the beginning of each day or week to do so. Write up a to-do list if it helps you prioritise your tasks better. On your to-do list, divide bigger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. Consider utilizing tools like project management software to monitor your progress.
Take regular breaks
Even though it might not seem obvious, taking regular breaks while working from home is important to keep being productive over time. Make sure to incorporate short breaks into your daily schedule.
Step outside for a quick walk, stretch for a few minutes, or simply step away from your desk to rest your eyes. Taking short breaks throughout your day can improve your focus, boost your creativity, and enhance your well-being. These pauses refresh your mind, allowing you to return to your tasks with renewed energy.
Practice time management
Are you juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities without the oversight of a manager? Then you need to practice time management. Good time management is key to staying productive, meeting deadlines, and balancing work and life when you work from home.
Explore various time management methods. Find what suits you best, such as the Pomodoro Technique or the Eisenhower Matrix. Pomodoro Technique involves breaking work into intervals and short breaks to improve focus and productivity. The Eisenhower Matrix is a tool that prioritizes tasks based on urgency and importance to enhance decision-making and task management.
Establish realistic deadlines for your tasks and use tools like timers or productivity apps to keep you on track.
Setting a conducive environment
Set up a dedicated work area with the right furniture, such as an ergonomic computer chair. This will help you separate your professional and personal life. Find a space that’s quiet, comfortable, and free from distractions. This could be a spare room or a corner in your living room.
If you don’t have the space, try a cosy and quiet nook in a neighbourhood coffee shop. Changing your surroundings and being around people can also help reduce cabin fever. Setting up a specific area for work can help you get into a work mindset and tell your brain it's time to focus.
How to communicate with colleagues remotely
Clear and regular communication is key for remote teams to stay in sync. When communicating with coworkers and clients, or getting feedback from your manager, be clear, quick, and proactive. Use tools like email, chat, video calls, and project management software to stay connected and keep everyone updated.
How to maintain work-life balance while working remotely
Setting clear limits between work and personal time is crucial for keeping a healthy balance between your job and your life. It's important to avoid being tempted to check your email or respond to work messages outside your designated working hours.
Doing so helps prevent the slippery slope of overworking and potential burnout. Remember to prioritise activities that recharge and rejuvenate you.
Spending time with family, enjoying hobbies, or exercising helps you feel better and work better. Prioritizing personal time and self-care helps you manage work demands and maintain a healthy life balance.
Reflect and iterate
Working from home is a constant learning process. What works well for one person may not suit another, as everyone has their own unique working style. Take time to think about your remote work and identify what you can improve. Try different strategies and adjust your methods to see what boosts your productivity. Try different methods to see what helps you work better. Keep tweaking how you work from home to become more efficient and do well in a remote setting.
Using technology to improve your work-from-home productivity
Technology is essential for boosting productivity and streamlining operations in remote work environments. By using communication and collaboration platforms like Slack, project management tools like ClickUp, and remote access solutions like TeamViewer, you can boost your efficiency and increase productivity. This allows you to thrive in a work-from-home setting.
Additionally, using cloud-based tools like Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive lets you and your team access all essential information from one central place, anywhere in the world. This is useful for remote teams, helping everyone stay connected and informed.
Final thoughts
Remote work gives you great flexibility and control over your schedule, but it also has its productivity challenges. To excel at remote work, set up a specific workspace, maintain a routine, cut down on distractions, define clear goals, take breaks often, manage time effectively, communicate clearly, balance work and life, and consistently improve your work habits. These strategies can boost your productivity and ensure success in remote work.
With the right strategies and mindset, remote work can be not only manageable but also immensely rewarding. For more career advice and tips, explore Jobstreet’s articles here.
FAQs
- What are some productivity tips for working from home effectively?
Setting a consistent schedule and clear boundaries between work and personal time is crucial to prevent overworking. This helps maintain a healthy balance and boosts productivity. Start by identifying your tasks and breaking down larger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. Allocate specific time slots to focus on these tasks, ensuring you have dedicated moments to complete them.
To enhance your productivity, leverage various available communication and collaboration platforms. Explore project management and productivity tools that can streamline your work processes. Consider using remote desktop and access solutions to optimize efficiency, especially remotely.
At the end of your workday, it's essential to disconnect and unwind. Shut down your computer and engage in activities that help you relax and recharge. Whether it's spending quality time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, reading a book, or engaging in any other activity that brings you joy, these moments of detachment from work will promote a healthy work-life balance.
- What are the factors affecting work-from-home productivity?
The physical environment where you work greatly affects your productivity. Not having an appropriate office setup is a key factor. To focus better and work faster, set up a dedicated workspace.
It should have proper furniture, such as an ergonomic computer chair. This helps separate your professional and personal life. Ideally, this area should be quiet and comfortable to cut distractions, boost productivity, and help you complete tasks effectively.
- What are the benefits of remote working?
Remote working offers many benefits for both employees and employers, from giving them better control of their schedules to eliminating stressful commutes to and from the office. Increased levels of stress and anxiety are often associated with rush-hour traffic. By skipping the commute, you can improve your mental and physical health and use the time saved to focus on work.
- Does remote working improve productivity?
Overall, whether remote working improves productivity depends on various factors, including individual preferences, job roles, company culture, and the support provided by employers. With careful planning, effective communication, and the right tools and resources, remote work can indeed enhance productivity for many individuals and organisations.
- How to measure employee productivity while working remotely?
If you're managing a team, set clear goals and performance standards for each member that align with the company's objectives. This should include specific targets and deadlines. Additionally, it's beneficial to have regular check-ins to go over ongoing tasks, discuss priorities, offer feedback, and tackle any issues your team might be encountering. Above all, as a leader, promoting open communication and transparency is crucial.
- What are the drawbacks of remote work?
While the advantages are great, remote work or working from home can be isolating, leading to loneliness, as there’s no in-person human connection with the rest of your team members. It also blurs the lines between work and personal time, making it difficult for some to establish boundaries. These can lead to overworking, burnout, and the inability to disconnect from work after work hours.
- Why am I unproductive when working remotely?
Working from home can be unproductive due to many things. These include a traditional office's lack of structure, making it easy to procrastinate. Distractions at home, such as chores, pets, kids, social media, and TV, also cause it.
Furthermore, the lack of in-person social interaction may cause feelings of loneliness, which can impact motivation and productivity. Hence, you need to identify and address the underlying factors by switching up your productivity strategies.
