Working from home is all fun and games until you hit that first productivity block. With no one around to make you feel accountable and acknowledge your work, you just go deeper into your daily struggle with distractions, and you can’t seem to unplug long after your workday is over. This is not surprising, given that a remote work structure brings a complete shift from traditional workplace conditions. However, with a few creative ways to boost self-productivity and keep the passion for work burning, you will never notice the difference between working from home and in the physical office.
Here are ways to create a productive remote work lifestyle.
1. Revisit your diet
A healthy diet is crucial in attaining good health and this is one of the ways to protect yourself from many chronic diseases. Ensure that your plates have enough portions of meat, veggies, and fruits. Tone down the salt, sugar, and both saturated and trans-fat. Carefully think of lunch choices as one poor decision, say a heavy meal, can put you into an unproductive mood when the lunch break is over. You also might want to get to know the vitamins and minerals that you need to boost your immune system.
2. Enjoy small rewards
Remote work might feel a little rough and monotonous sometimes and workers from home might experience a sudden demotivational pull due to their routinary disposition. When you feel as though the environment lacks spontaneity and excitement, cheer yourself up by celebrating small victories and owe yourself a reward.
Maybe a glass of wine and a movie on Netflix can fairly compensate for your being always early at the virtual office. Use your paid time offs and do something you have been deferring to reciprocate bigger victories like when you receive a compliment from your boss or participated in a speaking engagement before an audience. This is a great way to renew your impulse.
3. Find your zen
To be productive, you have to stay focused and concentrated. When your mind is free of worries and troubles, you will be able to function smoothly, efficiently, and with all accuracy. Go on a retreat or just to a place where you can meditate, relax and reflect. It does not need to cost you the entire day. In fact, you can simply sit comfortably, away from the stressors, your laptop, and your mobile phone, and just enjoy a peaceful and quiet moment. Creative minds do this a lot to help them think and innovate.
4. Innovate ways
Learn and discover things that can help get the job done fast and easily but accurately. It could be memorizing keyboard shortcuts, internet bookmarking, or new software tools. Try task prioritization wherein you wrap up the least urgent tasks last or before the end of the week. Keep a notebook of all things delivered and plan ahead. These things allow you to finish earlier than usual so that you can have enough time for other more valuable things, tasks, or people.
5. Invest in rest
Work productivity is correlated to quality sleep. Studies revealed that when you are sleep deprived, your concentration abilities are reduced and therefore a decrease in your overall work performance can be observed. Analyze your sleeping patterns and orchestrate your sleep at night. Maybe all you need is to redecorate your bedroom to rekindle your love for sleep. When was the last time you changed your linens? The smell of fresh linens can be relaxing and easily put you in dreamland. Try using air humidifiers and essential oils. Quality sleep improves your chances of job delivery at maximum capacity.
6. Be sociable
Human beings are social creatures and talking to someone can partly take off the hefty load of stress on our backs. A little chitchat is all it takes to somehow ease our troubles because knowing we are heard and listened to already feels like a warm hug. It can make you feel less lonely and tired.
7. Earn extra out of a hobby
Make room for happy stress by investing in a small business. It should be something you really wanted to do or are fascinated by. In that way, you are having fun, destressing, and learning something new. Perhaps you can improve a simple recipe, learn how to make a scented candle, or paint a picture that you can sell reasonably.
Conclusion
Remember that the ultimate key in achieving a productive remote work lifestyle is knowing when you need to take a break. When you acknowledge the need to do things that make you happy, fulfilled, and satisfied, you can change the course of your life and make the remote work setup even more meaningful, less of a challenge, and more of a mindset for you.
