As a remote employee, remaining focused and on task throughout the workday can be a challenge. Without the accountability that comes with working in an office, it can be easy to become distracted with the demands of your home life or to slip into a comfortable routine of working from anywhere. However, in reality, failing to separate work and home life can create an unproportionate work-life balance and limit your productivity and motivation in a role.

Whether you’re still searching for your perfect remote role or are looking for new ways to stay productive while at home, try these six tips below.

Work in a designated space

While working from your couch or bed might sound like a great idea while working from home, in the long run, this practice can make it difficult to draw the line as to where work ends and normal life begins, disrupting your work-life balance and hurting your productivity. Instead, designating a certain space solely for work can help your mind and body differentiate between when you’re working at home and when you’re just at home. Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean your designated workspace needs to be an elaborate home office in its own room. Simply sitting at a desk away from your personal space can make all the difference in staying focused on work when you need to.

Keep a routine

Without the need to interact with your colleagues face to face every day, it can be tempting to simply roll out of bed minutes before your work day begins. However, not keeping a consistent routine can make it difficult to successfully transition in and out of work, thus damaging your productivity if you are preoccupied with other tasks or rushing to jump into your morning meeting. To keep a successful routine, try waking up at the same time each day and creating a morning routine for yourself before work begins – grab a cup of coffee, go for a walk, or catch up on the latest episode of your favorite podcast. Whatever it is you decide to do, creating a routine can help you feel ready to start the day.

Eliminate distractions

A huge perk to remote work is the freedom to be on your own. However, without a feeling of accountability from colleagues or the company of your supervisor close by, it can be easy for this perk to turn into a distraction. With that being said, help yourself stay focused by eliminating distractions whenever possible. For example, depending on your specific role or remote setup, this may look like putting aside your personal phone during work hours or staying away from loud coffee shops and busy common areas that tend to skew your focus.

Set boundaries and expectations

Having distractions through the work day can throw off your focus and limit your productivity. If working remotely means you’re also working alongside your family or roommates, it’s best to set boundaries and communicate your expectations with one another beforehand. For example, you’ll want to make sure anyone that will be around you knows what your work hours are and when you’re available for discussions outside of those hours rather than during them.

Take regular breaks

Taking breaks through the work day is essential to staying focused. However, as a remote employee with the ability to take breaks whenever you please, this doesn’t mean going out and about, running errands during the day or completing household chores while you’re supposed to be working. Instead, be sure to take appropriate breaks throughout the day to keep your productivity intact without overworking yourself. For example, try balancing different tasks with breaks in between or timing your amount of work (like with the pomodoro technique!). Paying special attention to when you’re on task and on break will help you stay productive and limit your chances of either working too much or not enough.

Remain engaged with company culture

The biggest hack to staying productive at work is feeling welcomed and included in your company. As a remote employee, it can sometimes be difficult to form the essential relationships and connections needed to feel completely engaged with your work. This is why it’s important to take advantage of the resources your employer has to incorporate all employees into the company culture. Join relevant employee groups, participate in out-of-work activities, and if possible, consider meeting with coworkers in person every now and then. As a result, feeling engaged with company culture and truly a part of your organization will ultimately have a positive impact on your productivity levels.

Check out Nexus’ available jobs here or contact us today to get started. For more resources on remote work, stay up to date with our blog.

Six Tips for a More Productive Remote Work Experience