I usually lay out a conscious plan of the next day’s work activities at the end of the previous day. This reinforces the work that needs to be done, and it also helps to lighten the tempo towards the end of the day. The benefits of remote working provides flexibility (it is also a double-edged sword, and I will share more later), and I find it essential to have a schedule to ensure I am able to complete my tasks as planned.

 

By having control of the work that needs to be done, I find myself less stressed-out in my work environment and therefore become more productive in completing tasks.

 

 

I organise my To-Do List using Evernote (I know it may not be the best tool for project management, but it has served me well over the past year. Do share in the comments if you have any other suggestions to better organise a To-Do List!). The list provides an overview of the tasks that I need to complete for the day, for the week and for the month. This helps me plan the work that needs to be completed, and allows me to prioritise my tasks accordingly.

Apart from organising tasks needed to be done, I also keep track of my projects’ status using a separate Evernote document. This allows me to manage my projects more comfortably and plan activities ahead too.

I know what you guys are thinking… This sure doesn’t look organised!

 

 

The truth is, I am really comfortable with working in my organised mess, and you should also take some time to optimise your workspace to suit your preference too. More importantly, there should be a clear boundary between your workspace and other family spaces to ensure proper work-life balance!

 

 

To simplify it… There are days where I will feel motivated to get things done, and there are also days where I struggle with productivity/motivation… I’ve realised that breaking huge tasks into smaller blocks make the work less ‘scary’ and a lot more manageable/achievable. In between the smaller blocks of tasks, I usually take a short breather to stretch or just grab a quick snack.

Rinse and repeat… Engaging in ‘light’ and ‘heavy’ tasks at an interval helps to motivate me in getting my work done efficiently throughout the day. I always find the ‘light’ tasks as a form of reward for completing the ‘heavy’ tasks, and it allows me to ‘recover’ my energy before working on the next ‘heavy’ task.

 

This method has served me very well over the past year, and I highly recommend you to try if you haven’t!

 

 

The benefits of remote working is that there is flexibility when it comes to managing work/tasks. However, it also means that there is a whole lot more discipline and time management required to get things done.

 

This brings me back to my previous point about breaking tasks up into smaller blocks. Knowing that most of my distractions are actually intentional (the ones where I take a quick breather after completing my smaller blocks of tasks), it actually reduced the subconscious ones from happening (browsing news articles etc.).

 

If there are times where I require extreme focus in completing a task, I would either close the door behind me or wear a earpiece to reduce audible distractions.

 

Remember to reward yourself! Even going for quick washroom breaks frequently is a form of reward too! That aside, I usually catch a quick breather and stretch whenever I complete a small block of task. Of course, as mentioned earlier, I would occasionally head to the fridge or cabinet to grab snacks to reward myself too.

 

Hahaha, it’s like a treasure hunting session for me. I am not sure what is in the cabinet, but I know I will leave with a good loot!

And don’t forget that since we are spending a lot more time seated (we do not need to travel to and fro the physical office), always remember to stretch during short breaks!!

 

The toughest part of working from home is that we lose the physical aspects of communication. Gone are the days where we can easily walk over to a co-worker’s desk to ask a question or communicate about a subject matter. Nowadays, I find myself communicating with the team mostly via Slack, and we also organise impromptu Zoom calls if required. Our Monday team meetings in the office allows us to casually catch-up on the projects’ status, have F2F discussions on project matters and maintain our regular social connection too.

 

The inconvenience from remote working has definitely resulted in a lot of missed interaction opportunities, but it has also forced us to be more adaptable with new ways of working. That being said, do remember to consciously communicate with your teammates. After all, humans are social animals and we thrive through interaction with others.

 

Yes literally, pat yourself on the back! Although there is flexibility when it comes to remote working, it requires a great deal of discipline and time management, which isn’t easy. Always remember to practice self-care (to prevent risk of burning out), and take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments. It is okay to make mistakes, that is how we learn! 🙂

To whoever reading this, hope you are coping well during this global pandemic. Remember to take frequent walks and short breaks, and maintain regular consistent working hours too! 

 

The list above is based solely on my personal WFH experience. Do share below if you have any tips or tricks that have aided you in your work from home journey!