10 ?WorkfromHome Tricks to Boost Productivity and Combat Stress

If you have not yet fully adjusted with working from home, here are 10 simple tricks that may help boost productivity while working from home.

1. When at work be at work. Even when you're at home.

There is one fundamental flaw in the human brain that we can take advantage of. And that is, the brain doesn't distinguish the reality from fiction. That's why you feel scared when you watch a scary movie. And your facial expression changes when you imagine yourself biting a juicy lemon. Using this flaw positively will help us in many ways.

Trick your brain that you are actually at work (and yes, of course, you really are) even you are sitting at home. Feel the office ambiance and sit professionally, watch your posture, don't slouch on your couch. You're an executive, not a potato.

2. Assign a comfortable office space in your home.

A bed is designed for sleeping, not for working. So do not make your bed your office. Otherwise, the bed will send signals to your brain attracting you to feel sleepy.

A convenient desk and chair are important to protect your back especially if your job requires long sitting in front of the computer. Make your workplace clean and tidy. I personally believe that a clear working space no matter how small helps in clear thinking and making good decisions.

If you manage your people in a remote work setting, it is vital to check if they have the proper tools and equipment which are not limited to providing laptops alone. A chair with good back support is important too. You wouldn't want to hear your employees complaining about back problems after several weeks of working from home. Take care of your people's well-being and they will also take care of your business.

3. Make a plan and establish a routine.

Finish your day before starting it. make your daily to-do list and write what you need to accomplish during the day, week, and month. Set short term and long term goals. Starting without clear goals in mind will more likely attract a sloppy day. Establish a daily routine and a work pattern. Come to your home office on time as you would in your real office.

Having your goals and routine in place will make you more disciplined, organized, and accomplished. Don't drag yourself into thinking that since you are working from home you've got a lot of extra hours and use it as an excuse to procrastinate. Use your extra time wisely in upskilling yourself or having more quality time with the family.

4. Exercise. Fuel up your brain and body.

"When your body moves, your brain grooves" as Jim Kwik puts it. Your brain functions at its best when it is well supplied with enough oxygen. Exercise increases your blood circulation that brings energy and nutrients to your brain and internal organs.

Exercising before starting your day's work is an effective energy booster for the brain and body. If you are new to exercising or haven't done it in a while, there are many indoor walking exercises on Youtube that are easy to follow and a sure-fire way of feeding your brain with energy.

5. Take a shower, dress nicely.

It's true that your bathroom is not going anywhere and you can take a shower later. But being clean, fresh, and smelling good before grabbing your keyboard makes you feel great and just ready for the day. Dressing properly is also important. Even though your pajamas are the most comfortable clothing you can ever think of, it is not advisable to wear them when you are working.

Being too comfortable will attract you to crawl back to bed. Dressing for work is a trigger that conditions the brain that you are at work. If you have a pile of nice smart clothes in your closet which you never wear but can't give up (we all have, right?), this is your chance to use them. It may sound crazy, but it will create that vibe and will also help your kids understand that you are seriously at work.

6. Cut down on social media and compulsive news reading.

Social media, news binging, Netflixing, aimless clicking, and wasting time on the internet are productivity killers. These activities, just like eating sweets and junk food trigger the production of dopamine in the body. If you are binging on these things, then your body produces higher levels of dopamine that will create an imbalance and will make you crave more for those things; and when you start doing your work you will start to feel bored as it is not giving you the same level of dopamine.

So trick your dopamine and use it wisely by cutting down on activities that trigger its production. Unless it is related to your job, e.g. digital marketing, never open social media or news before you start your work. Instead, make it a reward after you have ticked off the major tasks in your day's to-dos.

7. Eat the live frog first.

Mark Twain said, " Eat live frog early in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day".

Here, live frog means your most important or difficult task. Rather than putting it off at the end of the day, do it early morning and it will give you a feeling of accomplishment to set the tone for the rest of the day. By tackling your major task first, you will not have to think about it the whole day.

8. Take mini-breaks to do simple house chores.

After 45 minutes of productive office work, take 15 minutes of physical activity to do one simple house chore at a time like putting the laundry in the washer, cutting veggies for salad, feeding your pet, arranging the table for lunch, or picking up toys in the living room. Then go back to work and resume your productive day.

If you are a Mommy like me, you understand the stress of juggling between your job, house chores, and parenting even during the pre-pandemic times. Now is the chance to convert work stress into endorphins with proper time management. See remote work system as an advantage to effectively do your work within the comfort of your home and with your loved ones around.

9. Adjust to your new "co-workers" and special guests. Accept distractions gracefully.

If you have kids at home you may be already encountering distractions. The most effective way is to put the whole family onboard and let them understand the value of your job. Let them know that with the current situation outside, people need to continue working at home to provide for the family needs. Let them be aware of your work schedule and when they can or cannot interrupt you.

Treat the kids as your "co-workers" and so they can feel some sort of pride, responsibility, and respect. Of course, there will be spontaneous distractions from kids and even from your pets at times. Accept distractions gracefully, hug your kids, talk to them, and come back to work. If your kids are still small and your spouse is also working from home, manage your schedules accordingly so one would be in charge of the kids while the other one is working, and vice versa.

10. Celebrate your progress. Congratulate yourself.

In the darkest of times, positive stories are powerful. Share small wins with your team or "zoommates" during your video conferencing. This will also encourage them to share their small wins and lift hearts up.

Team spirit and togetherness can fuel up the diminishing energy levels of employees. Results tracking helps a lot in seeing your progress and accomplishments. Congratulate yourself for not making any excuses and see your worth as a contributor to your organization's resilience during this period of unprecedented downturn.

While we watch the world change all of a sudden, we need to make big adjustments and practice effective change management in almost every aspect of our lives. If you are blessed and lucky not to be among the many laid off or furloughed, you must keep your spirits high to attain new homeostasis in working. Being motivated may not be too easy especially when you are amidst many uncertainties. But we need to adjust to the new realities and accept that the pre-pandemic workplace may take time to come back (if it will).

Although some countries started relaxing quarantine regulations, stricter policies in the workplace are being implemented to ensure the health and well-being of the people. Office hygiene and sanitization are easy to implement but that is not the same as true social distancing. While the world is waiting for the new vaccine to fight Covid-19, working from home has become the new normal. As we weather the downturn, it is important to realize that while many things are not in our control, we should focus our awareness on the things that we can control. And that includes the way we handle our jobs remotely.

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Bibliography:

Kwik Brain 054: How to L.O.V.E. Your Brain – Jim Kwik, 2020. Jimkwik.com [online]

Accelerating in a Paralyzed Environment - Kotter, 2020. Kotter [online]

Exercise and Depression, 2020. WebMD [online],