How to Boost your Work from Home Productivity

Organisations around Singapore have introduced working from home arrangements over the past month. 

In a recent survey conducted by EngageRocket, the Institute for Human Resources Professionals and the Singapore Human Resources Institute, it was revealed that eight in 10 employees in Singapore wish to continue working from home at least half the time or more after the circuit breaker.
 
Yet, nearly one in two workers felt that they were less productive at home. 
Being productive working from home can be a challenge. There are possibly more distractions, further blending of work and life responsibilities, and greater effort required to communicate with your manager and colleagues. 

Here are some ways to maintain your productivity while working from home. 

1. Create a dedicated workspace
   
   It is easier to stay mentally focused and concentrate better if you designate a specific area in your home to get work done. Do as much as you can to create a dedicated, bespoke space that is conducive for working.
   
   This also serves as an important signal to those who live with you that you’re ‘at work’, which is essential now more than ever with the likely presence of family members.
   
    
2. Set up a clear work schedule and routine and stick to it as best as you can
   
   It is likely that working from home allows you to have more flexibility in your schedule. But it’s how you organise those hours in your day that makes all the difference.
   
   Start by organising your key tasks and outlining your goals to mentally prepare yourself for what to expect during the day. This schedule should ideally be flexible enough to cater for contingencies such as new tasks and urgent meetings.
   
   Having a consistent and steady morning routine will also help you separate the professional part of your day from the personal.
   
    
3. 'Overcommunicate'
   
   Working from home or not, clear communication with your manager and colleagues, and knowing exactly what is expected of you is key to your productivity.
   
   Stay on top of your workload by understanding what your manager and colleagues expect of you and meet those objectives in a timely manner. Maintain regular communication and schedule recurring online meetings or conference calls when possible to prevent any possible communication breakdown. Leverage the wide range of online tools to keep in touch with your colleagues, especially if you are used to working together in an office space. For example, scheduling weekly virtual coffee sessions to brainstorm project ideas or keep up on a personal and professional level.Keep in mind that communication should always be a priority, but in remote working, the need is magnified.
   
   It is also likely that your manager is new to this arrangement and may require reassurance that you are working from home effectively. This includes ensuring that you are present on all designated work communication platforms and adhering to agreed upon response times. Over time, you will be able to determine the right levels of interacting that build your manager’s trust in your productivity.

Is remote work here to stay? 

For many organisations, the adoption of remote working has been largely driven by COVID-19. 

With working from home being the new normal – now and possibly more so in the future – it can pay to learn how to maximise productivity while working under these circumstances.