How To Stay Productive Whilst Working Remotely

Whilst working remotely has its benefits, you need a lot of self-discipline. Often people struggle to stay productive when managing their own schedule when working remotely.

To make sure you’re able to stay productive whilst working remotely, follow these tips.

Workspace

Not having to commute to an office every day is a huge benefit of working remotely but it also requires you to find your own space to work from, whether that be at home or while travelling. Finding a spot to work from each day is important, as you’ll be able to establish a routine and train yourself… This space is where your work happens. Even better if it’s the same spot each day. If you’re on the move or can’t create a working environment from home then try finding a nearby cafe or co-working space to work from.

It’s important to have good lighting and to not be in a space where you can easily fall into ‘switch off and relax’ mode. Therefore, I would avoid working from bed and if you do like working from the sofa, then make sure your TV is switched off during your workday.

Take Breaks

If you’re working your own schedule, make sure you take regular breaks. Sitting on your laptop, looking at your screen and scrolling aimlessly certainly isn’t going to improve your productivity.

Your brain needs a screen break to recharge and increase motivation. Working remotely means no commute, so it’s likely you’re not getting out of the house, either.

Schedule a couple of breaks throughout the day, go out for a walk and if you’re travelling, and in a new location, use that time to explore your current city. The fresh air will help you start fresh once back at your laptop.

Keeping your body and mind healthy will increase productivity.

Routine

Having a morning routine every day can help you increase your productivity. Be creative and find what works best for you.

I’m not suggesting you structure every minute of your day, but creating a simple yet efficient morning routine will help prepare your mind and body for the day. Find something you can do wherever you are in the world.

I put the kettle on as soon as I wake up, prepare a green tea and a lemon ginger shot, which I enjoy whilst reading for 30 minutes before starting work. What’s your current routine?

Limit Distractions

Another way to stay productive whilst working remotely is to remove distractions.

Let your friends and family know when your break time is so they can limit interruptions.

Switch off your notifications and stop checking your emails every 5 minutes — you can check them just before break time. Falling down the rabbit hole of social media is a daily distraction for me.

My phone is set to Do Not Disturb once I start work and I have a 1-hour daily limit on Instagram to remove the meaningless scrolling. If you can do this too, the more productive you will be.

Tools

There are many apps and tools to support your daily productivity and organise your work. Find a combination that works for you: Keep track of your daily notes and to-do lists using Evernote and manage larger projects with Trello. Both are available on the web & mobile.

Investing time in scheduling your to-do’s will certainly help you stay productive. I’ve been doing this for years; I use Trello to manage my ongoing projects and Evernote for everyday to-dos.

Each morning I review my to-do list and rearrange it into priority order. If for whatever reason I am not able to complete all tasks, they are moved into the following day’s to-do list.

Organisation is key, if I don’t add a task to my to-do list, it won’t get done as I’ll end up forgetting it or get distracted with a different project.

Switch Off & Rest

Be sure to set your work hours, otherwise, you’ll find yourself working through the night, or at least very late. Once you’re done for the day, close your laptop and switch off notifications. Make sure you have enough time to wind down and get enough sleep. You don’t want to be checking your work emails from bed as you won’t be able to switch off, leading to a restless night’s sleep.

Love What You Do

This may seem obvious but if you love what you do, naturally you’re more motivated to tick off your to-do list and get lost in your daily projects. Forget that Monday morning feeling, try to find a job that gets you up in the morning.