Keeping productivity to its highest has been a problem in the COVID-19 pandemic. We often don’t feel like working because of a boring situation. If something like this is happening to you, we can fix that.
I have been working from home for more than a year and a half. Being a freelance writer, I spend my whole day at my work desk in my bedroom.
When I was working in the IT sector, going to the office every day was my routine. So, work from home was a big change for me and I eventually adapted to the change. You can too.
Of course, I too feel lazy sometimes. But to keep my productivity high, I have started doing a few things. One of them is reading, but there are more things you can try out.
I thought, maybe some of my hacks will help you make your workflow smooth. This blog is about helping you boost up your productivity.
How to increase productivity?
1. Plan Today’s Agenda
Start your day with a fresh morning tea/coffee and write down the agenda of the day. I am a tea person. So, I grab my notebook and jot down what I need to do in a day while having tea.
Or you can use your notes app to plan the day’s agenda. Make a check-list of work-related things and personal stuff in your to-do list of the day.
Usually, I prefer working on my content writing work in the first half of the day. With a fresh mind, I often finish my work within 3 to 4 hours. The rest of the day is for my personal work such as working on my upcoming book, planning, and posting on IG or Quora and planning blogs for my website.
At the end of the day, I put a check-mark or ‘Done’ tag in front of my assignments.
2. Work in a fresh environment
A fresh environment is responsible for the majority of productive work. Trust me, you will feel way better if your workplace or work desk is fresh.
I changed my work desk alignment near the window and now I am having fresh sunlight, an amazing view from the window, and a productive day.
If you don’t own a simple table, I suggest you buy one from amazon. A simple folding table or portable table would also work if you sit in a fresh room. Avoid sitting on a cozy bed, you’ll feel sleepy.
3. Organize your home office
A mess on a table can reduce your productivity. The more you keep your desk tidy, the more you’ll feel fresh to work.
By the end of the day, I shut down my laptop and keep it neatly on a table. I keep all the chargers in a drawer next to my desk and put all my pens and notebooks where they belong.
If I keep everything on my desk, the pile of notebooks will create a big tower and I won’t be able to work.
It’s better you assign a specific drawer of a cupboard to your stuff. For example, the things I need the most are in the drawer of my desk, very handy. My pens and highlighters are in my pen-holder, so I can grab them easily.
The notebooks I use rarely are in the bottom compartment of my desk and all my other electronic devices and chargers are in the drawer next to my desk.
Every Sunday, I clean every corner of my workspace, first with a dry cloth to clean the dust. Then with a wet cloth to clean the stains of fountain-pen ink or anything.
This has been my desk cleaning routine for the past 6 to 7 months.
4. Take a break
When I feel tired of writing, I open my kindle app and spend some time reading. If you are not a reader, take a break and watch an episode of your favorite show. Or go on a walk in your society. Or simply, as Joey would do, take a nap.
Taking a break at least twice in a work routine is important. Your body and brain need to chill out a little. Make some maggie or a milkshake, sit in the balcony, and take a break for 10 minutes.
One break can make you as fresh as you were in the morning.
5. Try new things
When you work for 9 or more hours a day, it’s natural to feel like not doing anything anymore. This is where you put everything aside and try something new.
For example, I tried doodling and it was fun. Then I started learning new dishes and cooked quite a few delicious meals. One day, I sewed a cotton face-masks using my old dress (It didn’t go very well as the mask started falling off :P, but it was fun)
Give your hobbies a chance to make you feel good about yourself. When you do something different than work, you’ll feel productive and motivated.
Finally, force yourself a bit. Yes! It’s important to go a bit hard on yourself once in a while. Otherwise, you’ll be lazy and will start taking breaks often in a day. Of course, taking a break is mandatory, but your goals are important too. To increase your productivity, kill your laziness, and balance everything.
Try this for a week or so, and post a comment below, DM me on IG or send me an email to share your experience. Trust me, it feels amazing when you check-mark all the goals in your to-do list.
Give yourself a reward to congratulate yourself on the achievements of the month.
