Hey – since the big old pandemic happened… have you noticed your work productivity has seriously plummeted? Yeah… we can empathize with you.
That’s why we want to share our favorite tips for ‘Working at Home’ that will drastically make a difference in your workflow and overall mental wellbeing. The moment we started implementing the next 5 habits we are about to share, our work-slump turned into a work-success!
- Schedule every-thang (including phone calls)
Please. Never underestimate the power of a perfect schedule.
Schedules will keep you on the move, on time, and organized! Literally, drill down the time you have for phone calls to the time you have for the gym, and plan your day accordingly. However, not only should you be planning your day, but you should be planning your week! Try even including the time to plan in your schedule! We promise that once you feel organized, the stress will drop off, and you’ll be running your day in a calm, efficient manner!
- Hit the snooze button on distraction
Take it from us – the moment incoming texts, Instagram notifications, and irrelevant emails are out of mind… you’ll see an increase in your productivity! So try hitting the DO NOT DISTURB button while working from time to time!
Sure, you may have some relevant information to attend to on your phone. Still, if it’s a task that requires you to be device free or social media free… we highly recommend putting the digital distractions away or on silent!
- Use 4-task then break work schedule
Similar to the Pomodoro Technique for time management, our 4-tasks at a time rule is just as efficient!
At Kait Studio, we work by tackling our 4 most important tasks for the day early in the morning, so we’re freshly motivated. This correlates to something called the ‘flow state,’ which typically is at its peak after a good-night’s sleep! Flow state is essential to focusing and achieving goals. Therefore, narrowing down your focus to 4 things and then breaking before picking up another 4 tasks can help you enter that ideal work-state!
- Be strict with your hours
Do not, we repeat, do not bend on your regulated work hours. You deserve to have time to yourself, and without it, your productivity will slow down. Therefore, it’s a good idea to add autoresponders to your email.
A good outline for an autoresponder is to include:
- A thank-you for reaching out and confirmation that email was received
- Your office and holiday hours
- Client vs. inquiry response wait times
- A friendly sign-off
There is no reason that you should be working 24-hours around the clock, especially at home. It’s essential to set those boundaries, so you don’t go crazy! So pour yourself a glass of wine once in a while and power it down!
- Have an email routine
Believe it or not, but answering emails throughout the day actually slows down your workflow. You will consistently feel chained to answering clients at every given moment. You are also subsequently training them to expect an immediate response from you.
Unless the email is urgent and integral to what you are currently working on, it can wait until first thing in the morning, or alternatively, at the end of your workday. Trust us, you’ll get a lot more done without the little interruptions slowing you down.
We can’t wait to hear how your productivity has increased with these tips! If you have any extras to share with us, be sure to DM us on IG with your best strategies. And remember, working from home doesn’t need to feel stressful, but it’s up to you to make it successful!
