8 Secrets How to Be Productive Working from Home During Lockdown

Working from home during a lockdown is not the same as remote work. Before the coronavirus outbreak, employees who worked remotely generally have more flexibility to plan their day. They could go out, and they didn’t have children to entertain while trying to reach deadlines.

Now during the COVID-19 lockdown, millions around the world are trying to achieve the impossible. We have to become teachers, entertainers, chefs, and cleaners. And, we still need to complete our projects that would have normally been done in the office. The truth is, certain tasks are better done in the office.

A study published on ScienceDirect.com showed that dull tasks are performed better in the confined space of your cubicle as there are fewer distractions. Even folding laundry can be more exciting than some of the trivial tasks we must do at work.

Communication is another area that suffers when working from home. There is less group contribution, and it also takes longer to receive feedback, which may slow down your progress. Interestingly, some studies show that working from home increases productivity and leads to better health and well-being of workers.

The trick is learning how to be productive when working from home during a lockdown. One may think it’s just a case of opening up your laptop, but the following methods will help you adapt to your new situation.

8 Ways to Be Productive While Working at Home During the Lockdown

1. Create your new working environment at home

Whether you are on lockdown alone or with your family, you need a separate area for work. Certain areas of your home are for relaxing, such as the living room or bedroom. Other areas, such as the kitchen, have high traffic plenty of distractions. Your workspace needs to be in a quiet area of your home away from disruptions. Discourage your family from entering, and at the same time, don’t let your work overflow into the family area.

Your working environment will depend on the type of person you are. Some people need clutter while others need order. You might like some music, or you may need silence. Consider headphones with noise cancellation if you are easily distracted.

2. Stick to your usual schedule

You will notice that you will feel more productive if you stick to your normal schedule. So, wake up at the same time, get dressed as you normally would, and arrive at your new working environment at the same time as you would at your office. Sticking to your usual timetable will help your body and mind maintain your usual rhythm.

3. Develop a daily routine that works for you and the family

You are going to miss the office, maybe not straight away but the time will come. It used to be that you left your home in the morning and came back in the evening, and everything was more or less in its place. With your partner and children at home, each time you walk out of your workspace, it will look like a disaster. There will be more dishes, more cleaning, and probably more cooking. The best way to ensure you are productive is to make sure you are working with your family and not against them.

Set smaller goals for you and your children. Sitting them down to do one hour of schoolwork will be much easier if they know there is a reward at the end. This also gives you a solid hour to make progress. Make the most of nap times, and although in other situations we would frown upon it, the TV. Don’t expect to be able to work for 3 or 4 hours straight. Short bursts of amazing productivity will keep you on track with work and your home life.

4. Isolate yourself, don’t alienate yourself

Before COVID-19, the majority of us would groan at yet another meeting for no reason. If you have been on lockdown for any significant amount of time now, you would probably jump at the chance of one. There is an array of apps for sending work instant messages and video calls, and now is the time to use them. Continue to share your ideas and project progress with others.

5. Exercise however you can

Working at home under lockdown gives you time to get more involved with your children. Being confined to indoors is going to take its physical and mental toll. Taking part in some form of physical activity will release endorphins that will improve your mood. Daily exercise should be part of your new routine. There are some great exercise routines on YouTube for the whole family to do.

6. Take advantage of natural light

Like exercise, nature has been proven to reduce blood pressure, improve mental health, and boost concentration. If you can, try and work near a window. The natural light is good for us, and a view of nature will have a calming effect. If you can’t, even pictures of nature on the wall (or screensavers) will help.

7. Process your emotions

Working from home during the lockdown brings a rollercoaster of emotions. There’s the satisfaction of completing the working day, no lengthy commute, and more time with the kids. But we also need to cope with anxiety, financial stress, and cabin fever. So, take time to process your emotions—whether that is writing a journal or having a glass of wine with your friends on Skype.

8. Take the opportunity to prove yourself

Once COVID-19 has been overcome, it is more than possible that companies will start increasing the number of hours that employees work from home. And once life returns to normal, this will be an amazing advantage for you. While we are working from home, make an effort to prove that you can excel when working from home. Hit your deadlines and make sure your work is excellent. Take free online courses to expand your skill sets. Be the person who is instigating communication. And above all, be a positive person, because the world needs it right now.