Home office tips from UpperKey to stay productive

October 28, 2020 Lally Hale

During these times, remote work is more or less a must. This period is one of the hardest ever for businesses to stay afloat and keep their employees productive. Home office takes some time to get used to, but you can get a lot out of it. Remote work is said to be even more effective and 84% of remote workers prefer working from home. Many companies were forced to make the switch to home office. Some took this opportunity and made the most out of it by obeying a few principles.

But how to stay productive and balanced during these times of social distancing and isolation? Here are 10 tips from UpperKey international expert property management firm from Paris .

1. Create a morning routine

It allows you to stay on the same level every morning. Routine makes it easier to start working and by following a day-to-day scheme you can comfortably start working. Have some breakfast, drink a good coffee and most importantly – keep a good mindset towards work. If it’s possible, prepare for work by creating a plan of what you’re going to do.

2. Separate your workplace from the rest of your home

It’s never a good thing to have your workplace, or your desk, right near your bed. It’s a good practice to have a separate, work-dedicated room. When you enter the room, it should feel like entering the office. To clarify, you enter the room – you’re ready to work. Tell your family that during this time – you won’t participate in the family life. That’s the first thing UpperKey advises to do when they hire someone who’s at home office.

3. Keep the door closed

Distractions during work hours can be a real pain. Be it your family, animals or housekeeping making noises, always make an effort to be focused on work. Closing the door helps. If you leave it open, then it’s a signal for other people that you’re available. When really, you’re not.

4. Have breaks

You can’t be 100% productive. Take breaks, as that, counterintuitively, makes you more productive than staying at your desk all the time. Trying to work even when it’s not going well will only annoy and stress you out. If you feel tired, exhausted or like your brain is on fire – take a half hour break. At UpperKey it’s advised to take 15 minutes of break for each hour you work.

5. Keep your desk organized and well-equipped

It helps to have a feel of organization and tidiness on your desk. Good work equipment like a comfy chair, a standing desk and good enough laptop or PC are vital for you to be productive. Noise canceling headphones are a good addition to your home office peripherals.

6. If you have a hard day, do at least some part of the work

Everyone has those days where they just can’t seem to gather themselves up. Be persistent about it and do at least some part of work you normally do. Don’t beat yourself up over it, as nobody is every 100% productive every day. These days happen and the way you pick yourself up from it is what matters.

7. Answer your emails

Communication can be hard right now, we are limited to using technology. Find some time to reply the emails or other messages. Make an effort to do it regularly, don’t leave unanswered emails just sitting there littering your inbox. Sometimes, not answering emails can lead to a situation where some part of work is at a standstill.

8. Don’t work too much

You need to know when to stop working. Set time boundaries for yourself if your workplace doesn’t have fixed hours of remote work. Don’t create a situation where work runs your life, as that will make you burn out quicker than you think. Another thing is not to work 8 hours a day. After 5 hours, one’s thoughts start to go astray and unfocused. Keep it at a maximum of 6 hours at work, and don’t forget about breaks!

9. Plan your work around when you’re the most productive

Some are the most efficient in the mornings, others in the afternoons. Apart from meetings, plan your workday around when you feel the most comfortable working. You need to use that time of the day when you’re in your peak performance.

10. Turn off your phone

By this I mean get rid of all the technological distractions. You don’t want to be distracted by social media, or other time consumers. When you take breaks, leave your phone. Take a break from all the technology. Go for a short walk, get some fresh air – it really helps with staying productive.

Conclusion

By employing these intuitive tips, you and your employees can stay productive when in home office. When onboarding new employees, tell them what they should do for it to stay that way.

Find some new tasks to stay motivated and excited about your work. Maintaining a good level of motivation is crucial for workers to stay happy and feel like they’re appreciated. During these unprecedented times, it’s pretty hard because of no physical contact, isolation and social distancing. But it can be done.

Thanks to Dima Suponau, former Microsoft, CEO & Founder at Number For Live Person for sharing a huge amount of expertise in this field.