Working from home on a daily basis may have been a novelty six months ago. However, for many of us, it’s now a way of life. This implies that as the novelty wears off, we’ll need to establish healthy habits. We want to guarantee that we’re focusing in addition to being productive during working hours. In this way, we will be avoiding the “temptation” to do another load of laundry during our working time. At the same time, we will make sure to switch off at the end of the day. Here are 8 great time management skills to help you increase productivity and allow you to balance home and work duties effectively.
Skill #1. Establish and stick to a regimen.
Maintaining a routine provides structure. Walking the line between work and personal time can be stressful, so sticking to a routine is essential. Get up and eat breakfast at the same time every day, and schedule an alternate “commute” time before going to work, during which you can exercise, read, or listen to music. Most importantly, when your workday ends, stop working. This means to stop reading your emails, shut down, and concentrate on your family.
Skill #2. Establish a distinct work area.
If you haven’t done it already, possibly because the kids are out of school, now is the time to find a peaceful spot away from other people and distractions. Make a designated work area. In addition, make it as pleasant as possible. Finally, make sure you have everything you need in one location.
Skill #3. Take breaks.
It is very important to take breaks. It can feel as though we need to be “on” all the time. Further, it can feel like we have to be always available to our coworkers. However, working from home isn’t good for your mental health if you must be available all the time.
Therefore, to manage your stress levels, take a lunch break in addition to regular screen breaks. Taking a break from work to think about something different, whether it’s a cup of coffee or a walk, will help you be more productive. In addition, you can try a 10-minute workout if you’re feeling tense from not moving around.
Skill #4. Keep in touch
Although working from home has many advantages, you may also feel more alone. Therefore, pick up the phone or set up video conversations. Human interaction is vital for our mental health. Therefore, if you’re having trouble, talk to your coworkers or your boss. Take the time to inquire about how others are doing.
In addition, you can schedule a digital coffee break. You could also start a Friday online get-together to socialize electronically. If possible, meet in person for lunch or coffee. Just having a moment to chat with someone can relieve the tension and allow you to feel renewed.
Skill #5. Establish Time and Space Boundaries
Boundaries might assist you in focusing your thoughts and prioritizing your day. While working at home, setting boundaries with other members of your household is vital to mental well-being. Yes, it’s true you’ll have more freedom when working remotely. However, you may also have to deal with people at home who believe you’re only there to help them.
Therefore, speak with your roommates or family members about your needs. Sit down together and discuss your schedule. Furthermore, you can do the same with supervisors and coworkers. That way, you can relax and spend time at the end of the day without having to worry that your coworkers might interrupt your time.
Skill #6. Improve your time management skills.
Start by making goals. In addition, make to-do lists for yourself that schedule and prioritize your work. Further, practicing the “4Ds” can also help you deal with email stress:
- Delete: about half of the emails you get should be deleted.
- Do: If it’s important or can be done fast, go ahead and do it.
- Delegate: If it’s possible for someone else to handle it.
- Defer: schedule time later to deal with emails that will take longer to respond to.
Skill #7. Consider the long term.
We may be working from home for a while, so it’s worth looking into solutions to make it easier and better. There are different software solutions available in addition to many ways of working to improve collaboration with others. Furthermore, there are several different approaches to setting up a work-from-home setup. Therefore, take some time to consider the options in order to optimize your situation.
Skill #8. Be gentle with yourself.
Working from home might be difficult, so keep in mind that it isn’t always simple. In addition, remember that this is an unusual scenario, so be gentle with yourself. Give yourself enough time to take care of things. Be forgiving of yourself. Accept that you may not always be as productive as normal. Finally, be realistic about what you can accomplish given the conditions.
Image Credit: Arina Krasnikova; Pexels; Thank You!
