Due to the spread of the coronavirus, most companies have transferred their state to remote work. On the one hand, this has its advantages. We no longer have to get up early, push around on public transport or waste time in traffic jams. And all work tasks can be solved without taking off your favorite pajamas. On the other hand, for many, working in a relaxing home environment is a real challenge. When next to a soft cozy sofa, a refrigerator filled with food, it becomes especially difficult to catch the desired mood. Here are some simple tips to help you stop procrastinating and immerse yourself in your work.
Start exercising
Exercising in the morning helps to quickly get involved in the work process and prevent mental overload. According to scientists from Harvard Medical School, regular physical activity improves concentration, helps to remember information and increases mental productivity. The same conclusion was reached at Stockholm University. Exhausting workouts are not required to experience the positive effects. In addition, after sleep, our body is not yet ready for heavy loads. To get rid of drowsiness and lethargy for the next few hours, 10-15 minutes of simple aerobic exercise will be enough. The main thing is to do them every morning. If during the day you feel that your attention is scattered, do a light warm-up or dance to your favorite music again.
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Organize your workplace
Working from home can be tough to maintain a work-life balance. It will be easier to tune in to productive activity if you take care of creating a comfortable workplace. Of course, no one forbids doing business while lying on a bed or sofa. But this practice negatively affects our performance. In addition, if you constantly work in bed, the risk of insomnia increases (you can read how to get normal sleep back here). For organizing a home office, almost any room with only 45 cm of free space is suitable. Pay attention to the wide window sills, wall niches, pantry, loggia, wardrobe. A special partition, screen or small rack will help to separate the working area. If you're doing video conferencing, it's a good idea to consider the background in advance. Head to Pinterest for ideas.
Put on your work clothes
At home, you can afford to work in your pajamas or your favorite elongated T-shirt. This is convenient, but psychologists say that such a dress code negatively affects performance. It will be easier to focus on your work by changing into casual clothes that you might not want to wear on the couch. This simple technique increases self-discipline at times. Scientists at the University of Hertfordshire have proven that the brain adjusts to the purpose of the clothes we wear. As a result, the person begins to behave in accordance with the chosen image. Try to maintain the morning rituals that were a part of life before moving to remote work. If you are a man, do not be too lazy to shave. If a woman - apply light makeup, use perfume. This will help you become more focused.
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Make a plan for the day
Even the most challenging task can be difficult to focus on, especially when working remotely. Since we usually rest at home, it is not easy to tune in such an environment. But planning your day ahead of time will make it easier to organize your thoughts. A to-do list will help with this. Install a special planning application on your smartphone or start a notebook and in the evening write down everything that is scheduled for the next day. This way you will not forget about a single work task. And very soon you will notice that you have begun to do much more. Experts advise to deal first with the most difficult, and then with the easy and pleasant things. At the same time, it is not worth doing more than two tasks at the same time: multitasking makes us work slower.
Take breaks
Our attention often switches from one object to another. To stay focused throughout your workday, it's important to take a break every 1.5 to 2 hours. Don't wait for your body to take a break - plan your rest in advance. Otherwise, the recovery time will take much longer. Latvian researchers have identified the ideal balance between work and rest intervals. So, for high productivity we need 52 minutes of concentrated work and a 17-minute break. The latter can be spent on checking for updates on social networks, household chores or drinking tea. Better yet, use this time to your health. For example, take a nap, meditate, or do visual gymnastics. To make sure you don't miss a break, set a reminder on your smartphone.
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Eliminate distractions
Remote work is a constant balancing act. Every time we get distracted by mobile notifications, emails, or chatting with loved ones, our attention is scattered. It takes time to get back to work. Try to eliminate any irritants that might interfere with you. To do this, arrange with family members so that they do not bother you for several hours. Earplugs and headphones help muffle outside noise (include classical music or nature sounds). And with the help of special browser extensions, you can temporarily block social networks. Do not be afraid to miss something important: the one who needs to contact you can always call. The next time you want to distract yourself again, take ten slow breaths in and out.
Get enough sleep
Don't sacrifice sleep for another episode of your favorite TV show. Adequate rest is one of the conditions for high productivity and concentration. Conversely, sleep deprivation slows down brain activity and destroys short-term memory. When sleep isn't enough, we become distracted and put more effort into focusing on work tasks or remembering new information. You can avoid unpleasant consequences by adjusting the sleep and wakefulness regime. To do this, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time and spend at least seven to eight hours of sleep every day. If you feel sleepy again while working, take a nap. It's better than drinking coffee. It is easy to overdo it with an invigorating drink, and then the effect will be exactly the opposite.
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