Remote work is becoming more common and accepted, with 22 million Americans working fully remote jobs or hybrid schedules that split work time between the office and home. Remote workers are typically 35-40% more productive than office workers, in part because they are less likely to be distracted.
Being efficient in a remote office environment requires changes to your lifestyle and work structure, and some essential office technology (you can’t expect to work efficiently from home without a reliable internet service, for instance). Without a supervisor, you need to be intentional about your efficiency until the best practices for remote workers become habits.
Habit 1: Start with a Clear Morning Routine
A predictable morning routine makes it easier to get into work mode. Otherwise, it’s all too easy to let yourself get distracted by social media, texting, or housework. Routines give you structure, which helps you be more efficient.
The exact nature of your pre-work routine doesn’t matter, as long as it’s consistent. You might shower, have a coffee, and spend an hour doing a non-work activity like reading every morning. At the end of this routine, start work at the same time every day.
Habit 2: Use Time-Blocking to Prioritize Deep Work
“Deep work” describes an uninterrupted period when you focus entirely on a task. Everyone has a different time when they’re at their most efficient. Once you know what that time is for you, you can use it to prioritize important work.
This means time-blocking or calendar batching to create focused workflows for many people. Time-blocking simply means dividing your workweek into blocks of time and assigning particular tasks to specific times. Doing so lets you plan your week and helps you manage deadlines and prioritize tasks.
Calendar batching is a slightly different strategy, where you group similar tasks and assign time blocks in which you always work on those types of tasks. It’s a more general productivity strategy than time-blocking, which schedules time for specific projects.
All you need for either strategy is an online calendar like Google Calendar or a workspace app like Notion. To keep you focused while blocking out time for short breaks, consider using Pomofocus.
Habit 3: Set Up Tech That Works With You
Your tech and office equipment directly impact your efficiency, so choose equipment, software, and even furniture carefully. An ergonomic mouse and a well-made office chair help reduce wrist and back strain so you can work more comfortably. A webcam, microphone, and noise-cancelling headphones help you get the most out of video calls, while high-speed fiber internet improves all online activities, from video conferences to working with cloud-based software.
Habit 4: Optimise Internet & Run Regular Speed Tests
Optimising your router helps you improve your wireless network while protecting yourself and your employer or clients from security breaches. For dedicated home offices, consider installing Ethernet cables, which provide faster, more secure data transfers than Wi-Fi.
Regularly testing your internet speed is a good idea, so you can catch any problems before a big presentation or project. Use an online speed tool once a week to ensure you’re getting the speeds your internet provider advertises.
Source: Brightspeed Internet Speed Test
Consider switching to a different ISP if your speed tests reveal consistently underwhelming internet speeds. Choose one that offers reliable, high-speed fiber internet, helpful customer service, and excellent online reviews. Your internet is the foundation of your home office, so don’t try to cut costs in this area.
Habit 5: Establish a No-Distraction Zone
Remote workers don’t have to worry about Gary from Accounting interrupting “for a quick chat,” but they still need to deal with distractions. From kids and pets to dishes that will “just take a few minutes” to put away, the home offers plenty of obstacles to work.
One significant factor influencing a remote worker’s ability to maintain a no-distraction zone, especially for parents, is the availability of affordable childcare. This is where government programs, like child and dependent tax credits, can play a crucial role. By providing financial relief for families, these credits can help offset the cost of childcare, enabling parents to secure dedicated care for their children during work hours, thereby significantly reducing distractions and boosting productivity.
Have a designated work space and set work boundaries with family members or roommates. If you can set aside a room as a work office, keep the door closed while you work.
If you don’t have room for a separate office, a pair of noise-cancelling headphones can help block distractions. Don’t forget about the many distractions the internet offers. Use app blockers to help resist the temptation to check in on social media or visit your favourite online store or news site.
Habit 6: Make Breaks Intentional
Regular breaks help combat stress and replenish your mental resources. Avoid using your breaks to doom scroll or answer a few emails: that’s not a break, it’s just more computer or phone time. Plan for a five-minute break every 30 minutes so you can stretch, walk, do some yoga, or grab a glass of water away from the computer.
Habit 7: Maintain Clear Work-Life Boundaries
Effectively working from home requires hard start/stop times so that you can make a clear distinction between work and life. Without clear work-life boundaries, you could work overlong hours or, conversely, spend too much time away from work.
Set established hours for work, and don’t deviate from them. Have a daily ritual to start the workday, such as checking email or reviewing your calendar. Have a ritual to indicate work is over, such as tidying your desk or writing down your goals for tomorrow. Once the ritual is complete, leave your workspace and don’t return to it until the start of the next work day. Some remote workers put a lock on their office door. Locking and unlocking the door helps them set boundaries between work and at-home hours.
Habit 8: Communicate Before You Need To
Regular communication with managers, team members, and clients is essential if you work from home. One of the best practices for remote workers is to take a proactive approach to communication. Send updates, emails, and requests for information well in advance, to give people time to respond, especially if you work in a different time zone from your coworkers.
Message boards and other asynchronous tools allow information to flow freely when people are online at different times. Remember, clear communication builds trust, especially when dealing with supervisors who may have doubts about the efficiency of remote work.
Habit 9: Audit, Adjust, Repeat
Efficiently working from home isn’t about perfection. It’s about making small, incremental choices that stack up to real productivity. Choose one or two of these habits and test them over a week. Start with some of the smaller, more straightforward suggestions, such as an internet speed test to assess your current internet plan. The best practices for working from home will change over time, so you’ll occasionally want to reflect on what’s working for you and make some tweaks to improve productivity.
