Many of us were recently thrown into the teleworking world, some for the first time. It wasn’t easy for people to figure out how to do it, and how to stay productive while working from home. While everyone’s experience with staying productive while telecommuting is different, there are three things that have been super helpful for me.
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Telecommuting was awesome for me… until it wasn’t.
I started teleworking, or working remotely, about two years ago. My former company started a policy that allowed us to work from home one day per week, and I jumped on the opportunity. I used the day to get my work done more efficiently as well as get some things done around the house.
As weeks went on, I started to play with my work from home days a little bit more. I spent mornings getting work done in a local coffee shop and took calls in the afternoons. Some days, I’d go work from a friend’s place.
Then, after I quit my job and went out on my own, I was suddenly working from wherever there was WiFi without ANY sort of accountability. I began sleeping in, working until all hours, and sometimes getting on my computer while still in bed. I lost any sense of structure to my days.
Top 3 ways to be productive while telecommuting
I realized early on that I needed to give my days some structure. Here are my top tips for people who want to be more productive while telecommuting:
1. Create a morning routine
Yes, I said it. Sticking to a morning routine is KEY to being productive while teleworking.
Whether you adhere to a miracle morning or simply commit to an alarm clock and simple morning routine, find something that works for you. It’s ok to start small.
I started by simply committing to drinking a full glass of water before 8:30 every day, no matter what. Then, I added 5 sun salutations before 8:30. Then, I bumped it up to 8 am. It goes on, but now I have a morning routine that has me in to ‘work mode’ by 9 every day.
2. Prioritize your day
Not only do successful work-from-homers prioritize their days, but they do it the day before. Let me give you an example.
My to-do lists are often scattered and have things added to them throughout the day. It leaves me feeling overwhelmed at the end of the day rather than accomplished. To combat this feeling, I rewrite my to-do list at the end of each day.
Before rewriting my list, I sort out what the most important things are. Then, I rewrite my list for the following day with the most important activities at the top of the list. Then, I make sure I have what I need to get the top 3 done the next day.
When I know the day before that I am set up for success the following day, I can rest easy and walk away from my work.
3. Start the Pomodoro Technique
In short, the Pomodoro Technique is short work sprints followed by even shorter breaks. The work sprints are strict: no distractions, no exceptions. There are plenty of Google Chrome plugins that help with this, or you can simply set a timer.
I’m weak when it comes to my phone, so using a phone as a timer is no bueno for me. I use the Marinara plugin on Chrome and set a timer for 25 & 5 minutes. I work for 25 minutes, then get up and do something else for 5.
When I’ve prioritized my day, I simply start with the most important thing first and set 1-3 sprints aside to finish it. For example, I know that if I need to write an article today, I’ll set aside one sprint to write it and the second to refine it.
I pair the Pomodoro Technique with the Pareto Principle and Parkinson’s Law. They’re better explained here, but they essentially say that if you have a set time to get something done, you’ll get it done.
Further reading on being productive and telecommuting:
- Becoming a digital nomad: Keys to success
- Worried about being alone? Check out this article on how to avoid loneliness
- An older note on female solo travel