For many of us, working from home is new. We’d never considered it before COVID-19 forced our workplaces to abandon more traditional working environments to keep us safe. Fortunately for many our growing use of the internet and cloud-based services meant that closing the workplace didn’t have to mean shutting down the business. In fact, for many, work has become more productive, more enjoyable and more profitable.
That’s not true for all of us, however. If you are still finding home working to be a struggle, if you are a procrastinator, or you find that everything seems to take longer when you are away from the office, here’s a look at some of the easiest ways that you can save time.
Set Up Some Shortcuts
The thing with working from home is that you can, to an extent, do it your way. You can create your own routines, find new ways to do things, and set up some shortcuts to save you time. You can use existing shortcuts, such as how to screenshot on Mac with a few finger presses. You can create keyboard shortcuts, and you can use apps like If This Then That, to multitask without taking more time.
Avoid Distractions
Working around the distractions of home life can be challenging. So, try not to. Clear out an area of your home and move all distractions out, or, work from a different location entirely. Some people are okay working on the sofa with the TV in the background and distractions all around; others aren’t. If you need to work away from distractions, do it.
Work Early in the Day
Working early in the day can be useful when it comes to saving time. Knowing that you can get it all out of the way and keep the rest of your day free for yourself can be a fantastic motivator. You might find that there are fewer distractions earlier in the day too, or at least that you find it easier to avoid them.
Get Dressed…Or Don’t
You’ll hear people say that getting dressed will help you to get into the mood for work, and then work more productively. But this isn’t true for everyone. You may find that actually, grabbing your laptop and working in bed in your PJs at 6 am is better. Find what works for you.
Mark the End of the Day
Often the problem that we have with working from home is that it also means that we live at work. You might find that this means you feel as though you never leave, which can be bad for morale and productivity. Start marking the end of your day in some way, maybe with a shower or some exercise, and you might find that you are more motivated to work quickly while you are “at work.”
Many businesses are using the current home working trend as an opportunity to experiment. If the results are good, they save office costs, and their staff can work productively, this may become the norm. We’re sure to see many more remote working positions in the future. So, take this time to find ways to adapt and to find your own ways to work well without wasting time.
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