WFH 101: Stay Productive Wherever You Work

As working from home becomes a reality for more people around the world, productivity can be a challenge if you’re not used to working remotely. For this edition of 52 Weeks of Productivity, we created a simple set of tips that will help point you down the right path if you’re working from home, now or in the future.

Define your space

Choose a counter, corner or room and make it your work bubble. When you walk in, or sit down, you need to know that you’re at work and not at home. Setting defined boundaries is the key to feeling purposeful and productive while working from home.

Organize your office

Remember, your office is wherever and whatever you choose to make it. So, make it great. Start by streamlining your workspace and try to avoid accumulating stacks of paper. Try popular productivity methods like bullet journaling, Pomodoro or GTD to organize your thoughts and tasks. In addition, use free paper to digital app, like Adobe Scan or Acrobat Reader, to turn piles of paperwork into discrete digital documents. Less (clutter) is more (productivity).

Stick to a schedule

Solid schedules promote productivity. You don’t need to physically clock in and out of your home, but you should determine your working hours and communicate those times to your co-workers. When you stick to a set schedule, you’ll know when you’re supposed to be on the clock and when you’re off. If you create a defined line between work and home, both will benefit, and you won’t end up constantly wondering what you should be doing when.

Use collaboration tools

No matter where you work, everyone feels more connected when they collaborate. You can access cloud-based business tools, like Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Sign, Google Suite or Microsoft Office 365, inside or outside of the office, to keep business moving from anywhere. Slack, Teams, Adobe Connect and countless other chat and video apps are also helpful for keeping in touch with colleagues or clients.

Take breaks

Take frequent 5 to 10-minute breaks. Working from home shouldn’t turn you into a couch potato. Get up, walk around, fill your water bottle and go outside. Routine breaks, with a bit of light cardio and hydration, help clear the mind and reset your focus.

All in all, working from home doesn’t have to be as disruptive as it may feel at first. If you define your space, organize it, stick to a schedule, collaborate with colleagues, and take time for yourself, you’ll realize that you can still be productive in a new work situation.