Is it better to work from home or in an office? There are many advantages and disadvantages.
Here virtual office provider Rovva look at the pros and cons of working in a communal office building compared with working from home. To help, they have compiled a few top tricks to tackle your to-do list. These are the best productivity tips to improve time management, efficiency, and work-life balance today:
- Designate a workspace
- Set a schedule
- Dive in with forced deadlines
- Minimise multitasking
- Slow down on social media
- Switch up your to-do list
- Perfect the Pomodoro Technique
- Socialise on repeat
First, design and designate a workspace
A functional workspace is vital for the roughly 5 million people who work for themselves across the UK. Research shows that one of the most significant contributors to productivity is a dedicated space to tackle essential tasks. Our office experts weighed in on a few ways to tailor your home office to your needs:
- Choose a separate room for your dedicated desk: If possible, embrace the ability to close the doorto keep business in (and distractions out). An outside door with access to your office is useful if you welcome clients into your home.
- Go ahead, keep it cool: Be sure to regulate the temperature where you work. The optimal temperature for any office? Experts suggest 20°C.
- Spend time on storage: If your freelance business involves inventory, client files, or other equipment that requires extra space, take time to keep things organised. If you have too much to keep at home, you can opt for a self-storage facility to save on space.
- Let the light in: Natural light in office spaces can improve worker satisfaction and productivity– fun fact: this is true for freelancers, too. Plus, adding a few plants to your home will brighten up your space in seconds.
Perhaps the best part of setting up your space is that you may be able to claim up to 100% of some expenses for your home office. Many freelancers even deduct a portion of their Wi-Fi charges to account for the digital tools used for their freelance work.
Separating your workspace from the rest of your home is sure to bring peace of mind. At the end of your workday, step away from work and into your free time in seconds.
So a robust set up is vital, but how do I stick to a schedule?
With four out of five freelancers focusing on one to three projects at once, it’s no secret that a consistent routine is vital to staying focused. This is especially true when you’re working for yourself. When it comes to freelancing, timing is everything.
Minimise multitasking to maximise efficiency
Do you struggle to keep your mind on the task at hand? Staying productive with no one else to hold you accountable can define your success. However, with the right tools, you can feel free to be your own boss and increase productivity. The secret to staying productive? Start each day with a to-do list and tackle each task within short periods to give your mind a break.
Stop scrolling on social media
Research suggests that UK employees spend upwards of 13 hours a week on social media during work time. Whether you’re scrolling through Instagram or posting on Facebook, social media can stop you from staying focused on important tasks.
When starting a task, snooze your phone and get to work with an app that can help you manage your social media use. Apps such as Offtime, Moment, and Flipd can be great tools to curb your scrolling – and hide that smartphone.
Try the Pomodoro Technique to boost productivity
This method is a time management system that allows people to work with the time they have rather than against it. The Pomodoro Technique involves breaking your workday into 25-minute chunks separated by a five-minute break between each task.
These breaks are widely known as “Pomodoros”. After roughly four “Pomodoros”, you can take a more extended break of about 20 minutes. Rather than waste time, the forced intervals in this technique help to curb burnout while working from home. While it may feel unnatural to work in such small increments, many critics gave rave reviews after trying out the technique for a week.
Use your breaks to socialise
Now that you have the appropriate tools to tackle freelance life, don’t forget to socialise. Without regular hours and that casual coffee chat with your coworkers to break up work days, it can be hard to find new ways to connect with others while working remotely. Be sure to set aside a specific amount of time to connect with others or grab a quick meal away from your desk.
Navigating the world of freelancing is never easy. Whether you are running a seasoned business or just starting in the world of remote work, advanced knowledge of what project management hacks to try is critical. When your productivity aligns with your passions, you can set yourself up for freelance success for life, guaranteed.
