Many companies around the globe have adopted work from home policies to curtail the spread of COVID-19. If you have spent the better part of your career working in an office, transitioning to remote work can be a significant adjustment.
All of a sudden you have to transform your spare room, bedroom or dining table into a functioning home office. There’s also the likelihood that everyone you live with is also at home, which can make completing your daily duties a little overwhelming.
Given that working from home has become a reality for many people around the world, let’s dive into seven work from home tips to supercharge your productivity:
1. Set up a dedicated workspace
First things first, designate a specific spot in your home where you can get all of your work done. Pick a space which is quiet and easily accessible and commit to working in this space everyday. Set up everything that you need within reach to successfully complete your tasks.
2. Create a routine that works for you
Working from home shouldn’t mean you skip your morning or nighttime routine. Try to keep your morning routine in place to set yourself up as though it were a normal day in the office.
Get up at the same time, do some light exercise, take a shower, make your morning coffee, whatever it may be that puts you in a good headspace to power through your day.
After work, be sure to schedule some social distancing activities to catch up with friends and family or simply wind down and relax.
3. Get dressed as if you’re going to the office
We get it—the temptation to sit in your pyjamas all day is real. But don’t let temptation get the better of you! Just as watching TV in bed is proven to disrupt your REM sleep, working in your pyjamas can have a negative impact on productivity. Research shows your alertness is affected by what you wear and dressing in casual clothing can cause employees to feel less focused.
Professor of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire Karen Pine said, “When we put on an item of clothing it is common for the wearer to adopt the characteristics associated with that garment. A lot of clothing has symbolic meaning for us, whether it’s ‘professional work attire’ or ‘relaxing weekend wear’, so when we put it on we prime the brain to behave in ways consistent with that meaning.”
Besides mentally preparing you for the day ahead, you’ll also be ready when a spur of the moment video meeting is announced or when you check in with a coworker for lunch.
4. Update your to-do list every morning
When working from home, it can become challenging to keep track of priorities, tasks and deadlines. You can stay on task by starting your day by writing down and reviewing your priorities first thing in the morning. This will allow you to mentally unload and plan out your day in a strategic manner.
Be sure to set goals and time limits for each task and after you complete it, cross it off your to-do list. Prior to finishing up work for the day, jot down a few things that you need to accomplish the following day to kick start your day.
5. Make sure to move a few times a day
If your work day allows you to, it’s a great idea to go for a short walk, stretch out your body or spend some time exercising in your backyard. Exercise naturally boosts endorphins, which increases happiness and productivity levels.
Plus, getting outside after being cooped up in your home all day can be very refreshing. If exercise throughout the day isn’t an option, perhaps introduce walking phone or conference calls into your routine. It’s also really important to stretch to maintain your posture. At a minimum, take a minute or two to stretch throughout the day.
6. Keep up your communication
Humans are naturally social beings—that’s why it’s critical to keep communicating with your co-workers, managers, industry contacts, family and friends, even when you’re working from home.
Phone calls, emails, messages and online meetings are imperative to ensuring everyone is kept on task and in the loop. Be sure to schedule conference calls via Zoom, Skype or Microsoft Teams to keep yourself and your co-workers accountable.
It’s also really important to keep your company culture alive while you’re working from home. Take time to schedule virtual lunch dates or coffee catch ups with co-workers to stay in touch.
7. Play some ambient music
Another great work from home tip is to play some ambient music or white noise to imitate the hum of the office. Not only does this help set the scene of a normal day at the office, but it can also increase your productivity and alertness.
Try using apps like Spotify that allow you to choose between playlists for different ‘moods’ to help you focus, boost productivity or relax when you’re taking a break. Youtube also has many white noise, ambient music and office music playlists to choose from.
Thanks for reading this blog on work from home tips for real estate agents. You might also be interested in Best Virtual Inspection and Auction Software, How PropertyMe Can Help You Work Remotely, 7 Time Management Tips for Real Estate Agents and 100 Boredom-busting Social Distancing Activities.
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