The times are changing for workers in most countries of the world. The increase in the number of Internet-based jobs and widespread access to technology is rapidly changing the face of the labor market.
As a result, more and more people have the option of working remotely. Some company employees can work from home several times a month, while others are home-based workers for good.
This sounds like a dream-come-true scenario before you start doing this kind of job. In practice, it takes meticulous time management and organizational skills if you want to be productive. Here are some practical strategies for maintaining a high level of efficiency in your home office.
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Use the saved time wisely
Most people who need to travel to work complain about the time they waste commuting.
If we know that the time is an asset, you won’t have this loss as a home-based worker. According to the data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau and shared by CNBC, an average American spent 27 minutes travelling to work. This amounts to about 45 minutes in both directions, traveling to and from work.
Apart from wasting time, commuters are more exhausted and might be less productive over the course of year of commuting.
As a home worker, you have almost one extra hour every day that can be used wisely. In the light of time management and organization, you can spend that time reading materials about your job to improve your skills. And if you have a family, it would be wise not to take away from the quality family time after work. Therefore, you can do your home workout routine or go to the gym – if any nearby – during that saved hour.
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Divide the business day into chunks
Getting distracted by non-work tasks is one of the common problems of home-based workers. Let’s face it – when you’re at home, there are always things that need to be done, especially for family persons. From daily shopping to various chores, it’s not difficult to get distracted from your core business tasks.
People who don’t anticipate this start feeling frustrated and this can affect both their productivity and relationship with their family members.
A proactive approach to this issue is dividing your business day into chunks. After the first (saved due to non-commuting) morning hour, try setting a goal to work on your business tasks for two or three hours. Then you can take a one-hour break and go to the shop or do one portion of the chores.
When you come back to your desk, you’ll be happier because you’ve dealt with one part of non-business obligations. After working for another chunk, you can have lunch and relax a bit. What follows next is the final chunk of your work efforts for that day.
By combining your business tasks and chores efficiently, you’ll be a free person by 4 or 5 pm, depending on when you started working. Hence, you’ll have enough time to hang out with your family or simply relax.
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Avoid socialization during the workday
People who are only starting their home-based quest might think that now they’ll have enough time for various activities. Our proposed daily schedule from the previous paragraph showed you how to handle housework and home-based work.
However, thinking that you can get up whenever you want, go out to have breakfast, have a coffee with your friends, and successfully handle your job is a misconception.
If you scatter your attention too much, you’ll end up being inefficient in everything you do.
Therefore, it’s better to avoid going out during your working hours. After-work socialization will be more comfortable because you won’t be thinking about the business tasks you still haven’t done.
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Adequate online presence
No matter if you’re an SMB-owner or an independent freelancer, it’s necessary to make a plan for a proper online presence.
As explained by the experts from a web design company based in Houston, remote workers can land clients from different parts of the world if they learn how to showcase their professional skills.
In that light, creating a portfolio of previous works is a must. It can either be in the form of a website or a folder containing examples of your best work. If you’re a beginner, think about making up a business task where you would show your talent and acquired skills. The guide shared by Millo.co has some great points on creating such a portfolio.
Apart from that, engage social media for business promotion. As a freelancer, you can land your clients via Facebook groups and freelancer platforms. LinkedIn is another useful business network so build a reputable profile there, as well. Also, company workers working remotely can benefit from these networks either by landing side jobs of finding more attractive employment options.
Working from home offers more options for efficient time management but it requires a fair level of organization and self-discipline. Our practical ideas should provide a productive framework for the beginning of this work-based period. If you manage to keep everything under control, remote work might turn out to be a more lucrative solution than travelling to work. So, try these strategies but don’t be afraid to test your own methods to ensure smooth and productive remote work.
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Author Byline: Liam Collins is a tech pundit and Web enthusiast working at TuiSpace.com. He spends most of his time reading and writing about the current affairs in the world of information technology. When he isn’t working, he likes going for long bike rides and walks in nature.