Being productive while working from home
It is not easy to work from home. I have been an independent collaborator working from home for over two years now. And it took me a good one year to steady my productivity whilst working from home. Why was it so difficult?
Like many, I love the idea of WFH, albeit I thoroughly enjoyed my stint working with people and teams in an office setup. Working from the comforts of the residence gave a sense of own-office ownership. When I was still an office goer there were days when I had to WFH. I used to find myself being most productive those days, mainly because I did not want my team to think that I am sitting leisurely at home while they are diligently running around. So I made sure there were work updates and intermittent email communication to show that work is progressing at the pace it has to. And at 17:30 hours I will lose my interest and move on with other chores at home. But from 8:30 in the morning up until 17:30 in the evening, I was mindful of my team working hard at the office and I was focussed on my work at home.
However, surprisingly such was not the outcome when I started to work independently at home. Meaning, when I started working without a team to report to or to co-create.
It was primarily because I did not have high-performing peers surrounding me and motivating me to be on my toes and at my best. Also, since WFH is equivalent to ‘I was just at home’, my parents call me any time for casual talks, in order to give me company from ‘not getting bored’.
So, a day in the life of myself as an independent collaborator working remotely at home looked like this:
It was a series of crests and troughs, and troughs were triumphing. Over a week’s spread, my low days were often more than high days. I just couldn’t peak my productivity levels similar to my days at the office.
So then what effected the change?
1. I stopped being hard on myself. I LET GO.
The more I engaged in conversations with remote workers, the more I realised that this crest-trough map is not unique to me. Every one of them had journeyed through the low and high days of productivity. The workaround was, to let go of the high expectations we have of our abilities. It is ok to be productive for one hour, and let go of the next hour, then come back to focus for half an hour and then let go again. I tried this. I let go of the high standards I had kept myself to. And this happened:
By not being hard on myself and by intentionally coming back to focus on work at various intervals, I was getting into a rhythm.
Over days this rhythm helped build my routine. I even schedule calls with reference to my rhythm. For example, I know that around 13:30–14:30 is my low-time, and I avoid calls at that time.
Building my rhythm had put me out of my mental misery of feeling unproductive at the end of the day.
2. I planned the day before
Just before sitting down for work, it was usual for me to list the tasks to be completed on a post-it. The tasks are listed in the order of priority. As and when I complete those tasks through the day, I checkmark to denote the completion. That act gives me a sense of satisfaction.
But somehow that BAU habit did not work this time. I just couldn’t focus or put my mind to the task at hand. One of the reasons was that I had listed the tasks just then. And I hadn’t mentally allotted sufficient time for each of those tasks beforehand. Meaning, I had a lot to do in a little amount of time. And that overwhelmed me and distracted my focus.
So I bought a little pocket calendar and kept it by my bed. Just before switching off to sleep, not only did I start listing down what all I did that day. I also listed my task plan for the next day.
This way I was not over-committing myself.
Not just that. If I was unable to complete the set task that day, entry making in the pocket calendar would remind me of that dissatisfaction. Which in turn made me more determined to set the record straight the next day.
3. I picked my corner and made my desk
The design of our workspace impacts the outcome we generate. Entering such a space would put your brain in a zone. It could be a zone for relaxation and being lazy, or one for being creative and productive. So I picked my zone:
- It is preferable if it is a corner space, has sunlight and where one can mentally block movements and other people’s distractions. Essentially a chic work bubble with a view of the outside.
- The space should also allow for closing the door during calls, for complete privacy.
- In addition, the worktable should be free to be left untouched for days. Coming back to the mess of the previous day helps to mentally ease into the zone.
Usually, such a space ends up being a corner in our flexible guest bedroom, or a secluded zone in the drawing-room.
4. I seated myself well
It is important that work happens in a comfortable work chair. No sofa. No dining chair.
Many studies have shown correlations between body language and moods, confidence and communication. And I have personally felt the difference in my focus and attention when I work from a dining chair versus an office chair.
So, it is important that I work in a comfortable work chair. Period.
Additionally, one could even change to formal or non-home attire for WFH. Even what we wear influences our mental state, body language, and thus our actions.
In conclusion,
It is not easy to be productive while working from home. We are isolated from our team. There are many levers for distraction, including our own selves. And home is a space familiar for relaxation and family, and unfamiliar for working.
However, productivity is not unachievable at home. Besides the four proven tactics listed, the key to achieving productivity working from home can be explained through this wisdom that I have borrowed from an acquaintance:
“The secret sauce to success when trying something new is to willfully float through the incoming wave of initial discomfort and land comfortably on the other side.”
