6 ways to increase ‘Work from Home’ productivity

To make sure that you are effectively managing that balancing act between family time and work, consider incorporating these 6 steps into your work from home routine:

1.    Switch out of the PJs (seriously!)
As tempting as it is to lounge around and work in your comfiest PJs, studies have shown that people who ditch the PJs for actual clothes tend to be more productive.
Beyond psychologically getting you in the right mindset for work, you’ll be ready to handle any kind of video chat or check-in with a teammate. You’ll be prepared to get work done, and you will be mentally and physically prepared for the day.
Even if you don’t leave the house, dress for work as if you were in the office.

2.    Carve out a designated space for your work
It might be tempting to set up a laptop on your bed, on your couch, or where you eat your breakfast, but having a designated workspace to do your work is important. It gives you a structured area to focus on managing your work.

3.    Stick to a routine
Whatever your preferred morning routine is, stick to it and start your day the same every day. By having an established routine, you will likely see your productivity levels increase and have an easier time getting tasks complete. However, please note that the college is not expecting you to sit in front of your laptop or classes for 8 hours a day so there will be some flexibility required.

4.    Different ways of communication
Whilst a lot of communication will now be through Emails, Microsoft Teams Chat or Learnzone, you can also plan telephone conversations through Microsoft Teams , rather than relying on email and instant messaging. When you spend the day working on your own, actually calling people and having a conversation can be much more stimulating and indeed productive than a chain of emails. 

5.    Document everything
In an office it’s easy to make decisions in the moment. Working remotely there can be room for misunderstandings. By leaving a trail of where you were and why key decisions were made you can allow others in your team to pick up where you left off. Try to have as much communication as possible online. When everything's shared and public, it allows new people to catch up quickly. 

6.    Break times are crucial!
Take regular breaks to move your body! Selfcare if important, take breaks away from your computer screen by making snacks or log into ‘virtual exercise’ classes that can be found online.