For some Metro Detroiters, working from home is nothing new, at least part time for a couple days of the week. But during the recent pandemic, many of us are dealing with the challenge of working from home for the first time, full-time.
Here are 6 tips to help you stay productive when you’re working remotely from your home office.
Get Dressed Up
It can be tempting to put on your favorite pair of sweats knowing you won’t be leaving the comfort of your home. But dressing up create a sense of normalcy, establish a routine and actually help you maintain work-life boundaries. For example, you associate your pajamas with rest and relaxation, so wearing them all day can make it difficult to mentally switch to work mode.
You don’t need to wear a three piece suit, but dress up in something similar to what you’d normally wear when outside the house.
Work During Hours of Peak Productivity
One advantage of working remotely is you may be able to adjust your hours to some extent. Are you a morning person? Or do you find you are more productive in the evening?
Schedule large projects during your peak productivity hours and spend your less productive hours on simpler tasks such as checking email.
Group Personal Appointments Toward the Beginning or End of the Work Day
As much as you try to keep your personal errands and work tasks separate, there are certain personal appointments that can only be scheduled during business hours, such as doctor or dentist appointments. Try to schedule these appointments just as you would if you were working from the office. If you typically wouldn’t schedule personal appointments in the middle of the day, don’t leave your home in the middle of the day either.
Schedule a “Power Hour”
Dedicate an hour every week to knock out a collection of smaller tasks that you just can’t seem to get to.
Be sure to schedule this hour just like you would any other important meeting or project.
Avoid Multitasking
A study shown by Stanford researchers found that people who multi-tasked were more distracted and had a harder time remembering what they were doing than those who didn’t multitask.
Instead of jumping to multiple projects and constantly switching gears, complete one task at a time and give each item your complete focus.
Set a “Quitting Time”
Separate your work and personal life by leaving your home office at a specific time every day.
It can be tempting to work later to meet a deadline but consider, would you be able to do so if you were working from the office?
Overworking not only blurs the lines between work and home life but can make you less productive in the long run if you are burned out on work for the days ahead.
Read More: Metro Detroit Lender Lists 3 Ways Telecommuting is Changing the Way We Buy Homes
About Michigan Mortgage Lender, Julie Krumholz
Julie Krumholz, is a mortgage lender at Superior National Bank in Rochester, Michigan. With over 35 years in the mortgage industry, Julie’s goal is to provide the best possible mortgage experience and the most competitive rates. Julie has vast experience in FHA loans, VA Loans, USDA loans, portfolio loans, MSHDA loans and more.
