Do you want to use your time productively and get as much accomplished in your work? If so, you can build personal habits. Personal habits can help you focus throughout the day. Especially when you are working remotely or working from the office. About 70% of people in the U.S. work remotely at least once a week, while 53% work remotely at least half a week.

Staying productive at work is a new challenge for many employees. Because working remotely changes many aspects of your life, productivity is not just about how much work you can do in a day. But it's also about how you approach your work. In this article, you can try some personal habits that boost your productivity at work.

Tips to Boost Productivity at Work

1. Keep a to-do list and prioritize tasks

Do you often miss deadlines and feel tired of the amount of work you have to do? If you answer "yes" to these questions, of course, you need to keep a proper "To-do List.” You can list everything you need to do, from the most important tasks at the top to the least important tasks at the bottom.

Prioritizing such a list ensures that all tasks are written down in one place. So that you can remember everything that matters. You also know what you need to pay attention to immediately and what you can postpone later.

“To-do List” is essential if you want to get rid of work overload. If you don't use it effectively, you will come across as unfocused and unreliable people around you. If you use it effectively, you are organized, and you will be more reliable.

With VirtualSpace Task Labelling - you can prioritise multiple task projects.

2. Stay connected with your team

Remote work is becoming a new normal for most companies due to Covid-19. For some employees, no commuting to the office means more quality time at home, more exercise, better healthy habits, or a better work-life balance.

However, it’s becoming a challenging condition when coworkers are the main source of human interaction in daily life. So it’s important to feel connected with others at work for employees. It's an integral part of their well-being to avoid burnout and fatigue while working from home.

You can prioritize the time of daily conversation with your coworkers. Say hello by chat messages or call, even if you only have 10 minutes a day. Ask them how they feel, and how they work, or you can ask for help if you need support.

It often seems that you don't have enough time to connect with your coworkers, but you need to make time for it. Starting to prioritize this aspect of your work, you will find a big boost in your well-being.

3. Avoid multitasking

A study shows that our brain is constantly changing when we multitask, especially when the task is complex and requires full attention from us.

This multitasking task may not have a significant effect when you’re performing simple and routine tasks such as listening to music while folding laundry. But, if the task is complex, multitasking can affect your life.

Multitasking affects the time duration to complete a task, it slowly makes you lose concentration and even reduces the quality of work. Therefore, it's not good if you give your attention to two separate tasks.

It's a good idea to focus on one task and complete it before proceeding to the next task. You can use the project management app to avoid multitasking. Project management helps you see the tasks that have not started and the tasks that have been completed.

4. Set a schedule

Before you set your schedule, what do you expect as part of a remote employee? What is your remote team's expectation to achieve the goals?

You can choose when to work if you're working remotely. If you have enough flexibility in your team and responsibilities, you need to know the most productive times at work and keep your chosen work schedule.

Working from home is also about efficiency. So that working when you're least productive can be the least efficient at completing tasks.

Consider your day as if you were in the real office, so you can focus on your working hours. If you're working from home, you may want to check your emails or notifications at all hours. Creating "office hours" at home makes clear communication for both you and your coworkers.

5. Take breaks

Regular breaks can help you focus on your daily work more than you think. Taking breaks when working may sound counterproductive. But, you need it to give you more focus.

According to a recent study by the National Institutes of Health, you can even learn new skills by taking breaks.

Take a short break to eat a meal, stretch, or take in the fresh air. It may refresh you, and you can be ready to focus when you get back to work. You can also consider adding a long break to your schedule to go to the gym, do your hobbies, or attend learning classes.

6. Customize a cozy workspace

You can get comfort while working from home by choosing a proper workspace at home. Choose a spot with natural light, or set up a proper light.

Working in a proper workspace can help you minimize distractions. If you live in a tiny home, you may not have many options as you live in a larger home. But, you can avoid bed to customize a workspace. Don’t stay in the same area to refresh your mind.

If you have kids, customize a workspace close enough to them. So that you can supervise them. For example, you can work in the dining room, while they're doing activities in the area nearby. But, you can try the right shared space or use a different room if your kids' activity can impact your work environment.

It's okay if you can't set up a workspace with an ergonomic office chair. Setting up a chair and table, or other flat surfaces to put on your computer or laptop is also good to try.

Customizing a cozy workspace isn't always about a fancy desk setup. Moreover, you can customize a cozy workspace that fits your home as well. Use your creativity to customize your space. Plants or wall art, anyone?

7. Take care of your physical health

Taking care of your physical health is important to keep a positive attitude. It can nourish your body and mind while working from home. Work out a little each day, even if you just move your body for 30 minutes a day. Your body and your mind will feel better.

Try to eat healthy food. It doesn't mean you have to go on a tight diet to get the benefits of eating healthy foods. You can start to schedule healthy foods and physical exercise daily.

Don't forget to go outside, even if you just spend 5 minutes a day sitting outdoors. Notice a positive difference when going outside can refresh your mind.

You can combine your outdoor activities with your daily exercise. Do a lot of outdoor exercises such as going on a walk or bike ride, or just sit outside as you sip your morning coffee.

Building some good habits is not an overnight process. But taking small steps every day can lead you to achieve your goals. Try the VirtualSpace platform to support your goals in work and life!