Remote work provides employees with a newfound sense of freedom and flexibility, not just in how they work but also where they work. People appreciate having more time to enjoy homemade coffee, flexible schedules, and spend some quality time with their loved ones.
However, when you have plenty of deadlines to meet and countless projects to tackle, you need some sound time management techniques to ensure you have an amazing work-life balance. These realistic time-management techniques will help you get more done on your available time without getting stressed or working past your scheduled time.
How to manage your time when working remotely
Whether working from home is new to you or you’re a seasoned pro, there are many ways you can make remote working better and less stressful. But what works for one telecommuter might not work for someone else. That means you will only learn through trial and error. You get to experiment, test out, and change various approaches to find what works for you right now.
There’s a reason many people think remote work sounds like a dream until they actually do it – they are unable to manage their time.
Distractions are everywhere – try to reduce them
While it may be impossible to fully avoid distractions no matter your task at hand, you can take a few steps to minimise them.
Organise your workspace in a way that will promote creativity and productivity while reducing interruptions. Place your equipment so the things you need will be in immediate proximity when you need them. Also, don’t forget to keep your workspace tidy and clutter-free. To get your work done, you can:
- Take regular breaks to prevent distractions caused by burnout
- Play white noise or music that helps you concentrate
- Make sure your phone is in “do not disturb” mode
- Inform your family members about your work schedule so that they don’t disturb you
Take your do-do lists seriously
Even the savviest list-maker can benefit and stay on top of their duties with a do-do list. At the start of every day, create a list of your urgent tasks, as well as those that don’t necessitate immediate action.
Check your list during the day, making off items as they’re completed and making sure you’re on track to meet your duties. Make sure you review your list and set priorities for the next day. By doing so, you will begin your workday without worrying about other tasks. To stay motivated, mark every task complete the moment you complete them. When you finish each task, you’ll be encouraged to start the next.
Set timelines and deadlines
Deadlines are a powerful tool to help you manage your time and stay on top of everything. Make sure your to-do lists include estimates of how different long tasks should take. Then, with the larger and more urgent goals in mind, think about the smaller steps you need to complete, and set deadlines for yourself for each of those tasks.
Throughout your workday, check back to make sure you’re not spending too much time on any one step.
Prevent Overworking
It’s easy to slack off when working from home, as easy as it is to overwork yourself. But keeping track of your time when you’re working from an office is easy. There’s a fixed hour to punch in and out, and you will know it’s time to go home when you see your colleagues leaving.
However, remote working leaves no room for these indicators. Almost every task, no matter its priority, can keep you busy, and you might not have enough time left for your personal life. To avoid overworking:
- Shut down your work devices after work hours
- Have an alarm to announce the end of the day
- Ask other team members to notify you when it’s time to stop
Use productivity tools
Now it’s possible to know how productive you are during the day. Using productivity tools can help you unravel your most productive hours and what activities distract you. A piece of reliable software can help you keep track of the tasks you need to complete, record the time it takes to finish every task and project, and give your full report on how you spent your day.
You can also complete your productivity tool arsenal with a user-friendly PDF page remover to make sure you don’t spend too much time looking after one on shady websites. Since you are a remote employee, you might not have the necessary tools at home, and their absence might make your remote work problematic.
Play to your strengths
Once you’ve set up deadlines, consider ordering your tasks to help you stay on target and keep you motivated.
For instance, if you’re a morning person and feel as you start the day, consider handling the nitty-gritty tasks first. Conquering more challenging tasks when you’re in the best mental form likely means you can accomplish them faster, leaving you more time for less urgent tasks later in the day.
On the other hand, if it takes you a while to get going in the morning, starting your day with the most challenging tasks may not inspire you or not drain your energy. If that’s the case, start with a less demanding task or one that requires less mental strength.
Don’t forget to reward yourself
Small rewards for completing a certain amount of work can be a great motivator – just make sure those rewards are healthy. Taking small breaks, treating yourself to tea, or listening to a favourite song after getting over a particular task can be extremely rewarding and soothing.
By implementing these methods, you will master time management, leading to a more productive and efficient workday. We hope these tips will help you become the telecommuting pro you want.
