How to be Productive Working from Home? My Tips

Due to the recent situation, working from home has become the new normal all over the world, for a lot of people whose jobs allow to do so. Big tech companies like Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Twitter announced that their employees will be working from home without a definite ending date.

Working remotely was already a trend before the outbreak. More and more employees are looking for opportunities to work remotely, either full time or some days a week.

Companies are also embracing this idea more and more and are switching away from the old-fashioned way of working in an office, controlling people when they arrive or when they go.

But what are the pros and cons of working remotely?

The common assumption of working from home is that workers are less productive than the ones working from offices. But many studies show otherwise. A study conducted by Airtasker shows that employees working remotely not only benefits them by eliminating the daily commutes, it also increases productivity and leads to healthier lifestyles. It’s a win-win situation as workers also value the flexibility they get, but often it comes at the cost of their work-life balance.

At Icecat, we are also working from home while alternating it with some days at the office in small groups. This is a big change for some of us, as we were used to working in an office environment every day. For some people, it is difficult to do this on a daily basis, so I want to share some tips about what helped me to be productive at home:

• Do not stay lying on the couch or in bed.
  It’s better to make a little spot for yourself at home just for work, so it will give you the feeling that you are changing environments. This also helps to eliminate distractions.
  
• Keep good communication lines with your boss and colleagues.
  While working remotely, communication is more difficult than in an office environment where everyone works together. Try to communicate as much as possible with your manager so you always have clear tasks but also to reduce loneliness and get more of a team feeling.
  
• Take breaks.
  Same as in an office environment, take coffee breaks, take a snack, walk around the house, call a friend… etc. It is almost impossible to be focused for hours and be productive at the same time.
  
• Keep a to-do list.
  It always helped me to plan my day to have a to-do list with the tasks I have to carry out that day. Of course, there might be other tasks coming in-between, but you will be able to keep the overview and prioritize better.
  
• Keep a positive attitude.
  Sometimes, working from home can get boring and lonely, but try to find things that keep you motivated!
  

Laura van der Blom