Today I’m reaching back to a post I wrote back in 2016, just as relevant today as it was four years ago. Here are four quick tips I suggested for minimizing distractions with remote work:
1. Clear space for where you are going to work - Whether our workspace is a small table which folds back into the wall when we are done, or we have dedicated office space, clearing the clutter can be an important step in creating space to focus and be productive.
Consider where you work - what needs to be cleared? Spend 15 min this week clearing yourself more space.
2. Make sure you have what you need in order to do your work. Small issues can become big issues when working remote. An old laptop which crashes regularly, taking with it your hard work, becomes a liability. Slow internet speeds can also take a toll. While these issues might be minor pain when working remote once a month, if you need to work remote several days a week, the cost adds up. Consider what you might be tolerating in terms of equipment/resources that just aren't cutting it. What's the cost of replacing them? What's the cost if you don't?
3. Consider when you are at your peak for different types of work. Some of us like the early morning to get out thoughts down on paper, while others like to tackle calls first thing in the morning. Consider your style and preferences in terms of when you would like to get different tasks accomplished, and SCHEDULE IT IN.
4. Sometimes we get distracted because we don't allow ourselves time for a break, or we don't allow ourselves to get into the flow of one activity at a time. While there are many tips to time management that we've covered (check out all our time management tips here), months ago I wrote about the Pomodoro approach where you set a timer for a set amount of time (i.e. 25 minutes) and work until the alarm goes off). Other time management gurus recommend a 10-minute break every 50 minutes. What is going to keep you focused and at your prime in terms of productivity?
Let us know which tips you try out and what you find useful!
Enjoy your weekend,
Jennifer
A reminder that early next week the Fall 2020 Stand Out Virtually Incubator program will be kicking off, running to December 4th. Looking to amplify your virtual events, and build a stronger business case around them, in organizations or externally? Join us for live group calls, micro-learning modules and some weekly 1-1 coaching! Grab your spot here.
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