7 Ways to Maximize Your WFH Productivity

In a post COVID-19 world, many businesses are just beginning to go back into the office and are slowly filtering back into a normal workweek, starting with a few days in the office and working their way up to 5 days in the office. While others have fully committed to working a hybrid work week for the moment. Here at The Sampson House, we’ve found a hybrid workweek works well for us right now. We’ve transitioned back to the office but still have two days, Tuesdays and Fridays, to “Work from Anywhere”.

No matter what your situation, working from home sounds so awesome with flexible hours, pajama dress codes, and snacking but…we’ve realized how that can easily turn into our worst enemy with all kinds of distraction. Anyone who works remotely knows the struggle of staying on task, getting work done, and being productive. For many of us, our office space is our only safe haven where our productivity increases and to-do lists decrease. That’s why we’re sharing ways you can remain on-task and be efficient while clocked in at home.

1. Follow the two-minute rule.

If a task, like responding to an email, is supposed to take you less than two minutes, do it right away. This minimizes the items on your to-do list. You can even set up a specific time during your day to reply to all emails.

This way, you can give your inbox the undivided attention that it needs. The two-minute rule also helps curb your procrastination as it motivates you to accomplish more after one task is finished.

2. Take five minutes away from your working space.

Having a tour around your house from kitchen to bathroom and the outdoor yard. This method is similar to the Pomodoro Technique. It’s simple and effective because the human brain can only focus on one thing for a certain amount of time.

Studies have shown that taking planned breaks increases your creativity and the quality of your work. Consider taking a five minute break every hour as a way to recharge so you can stay more focused and productive throughout the day.

3. Drink a glass of water when you start to feel sluggish.

We’ve all been there - you work so hard, that by the end of the day, you start to feel drowsy and sluggish. While it may be enticing to grab that 3 o’clock coffee, this is when you need to grab a drink of water. Drinking water is another way of oxygenating your brain which can further assist in your productivity and concentration.

4. Find your productivity/distraction-free zone.

Everyone has a productivity zone, a place where as soon as you sit down, you know to get down to business and concentrate. Often times, your desk is considered your productivity zone, but even then, you might find yourself distracted.

This could be because you can only focus when you have music on, you might need to temporarily block all social media from your computer or simply close extra tabs you have open. You can get the most out of your work day if you know what environment you are the most productive in.

Having a clean desk setup like your business space is not only important for workplace security, it is crucial for productivity and efficiency.

5. Focus on one thing at a time.

Set certain hours to concentrate only on your work. Working on three things at once does not increase your productivity. You won’t want to look after your kids or do laundry while thinking about work.

Multi-tasking can actually slow down your brain and make you less efficient because it takes a lot of time to shift mental gears from one task to another without losing focus.

6. De-clutter your working space.

A report issued by Office Max reveals that the messier the desk, the more overwhelmed and stressed people tend to get. Since people waste over two and a half hours a day trying to find information, a clean desk (or computer background) helps in retrieving information a lot faster without wasting any extra time scrambling to find something that is needed right away.

Taking time to de-clutter your desk might also help you de-clutter your mind and put you in a more calm state.

7. Take your time when eating your lunch.

Everyone loves lunch! Take the hour to enjoy your lunch with your family or roommates and come back to your space re-energized and ready to tackle the rest of your day's to-do list. 

Remember to work smarter, not harder. For many of us, our minds are going 24/7. If we don't give our brains a moment to pause and find ways to work more efficiently, we risk burning out. Follow the steps above for creating a better and more productive work environment for yourself.