With many workforces working from home or slowly beginning to return to offices in phases, employees may need some ideas for staying as productive as possible. For most, this is still a very disruptive, out-of-routine reality that they are trying to manage – not only in their work lives, but also in their personal lives.

So, how can you help your teams stay as productive as possible during this uncertain time? We have gathered a few valuable tips that can be implemented and practiced to boost productivity and hopefully keep your company or organization on track to accomplish and surpass its goals.

Remote workers can be more productive than those in the office

Though working from home is likely new or part of a company’s plan to keep employees healthy, remote work should not lead to lowered productivity.

In fact, before COVID-19 forced many employers to create work-from-home plans, working from home was potentially more productive than working in the office.

One study cited in Business News Daily found that employees who worked remotely worked 1.4 more days per month than their colleagues who worked in offices.

Other benefits also likely led to that increase in productivity, according to the study. For example, remote employees did not have to spend time commuting back and forth to work each day. They also reported feeling less stress than their coworkers who went into the office daily.

Here are five tips for ways you and your team can boost productivity while working from home.

1. Start your day as if you’re headed to the office.

It may seem a little strange at first, but try to start your day as you would if you were traveling into the office. Keep the same morning routine and time schedule, minus the commute, of course.

Dress the same as you would, too. If your office requires business attire, then don’t throw away that rule just because you are home. You will actually enter a better, more productive mindset depending on the clothing you are wearing.

Give this a try and you may surprise yourself with how easily it is to feel the difference between working in your pajamas and working in your normal business attire.

2. Create a space in your home dedicated to work.

When working from home, you need a space that is meant only for work. This space does not have to be a home office if you do not have a spare room or office space already set up.

Simply set up a desk area, or floating desk, that can be easily tucked out of the way when you are done working. Make sure this space is not near any obvious distractions, such as a TV or the kids’ play areas. It’s also a good idea not to set up in the kitchen, near laundry areas or anywhere else where those home tasks could distract you from work.

3. Technology can be your friend – and enemy.

Technology can certainly help many people increase their productivity levels. In fact, there are many free, easy-to-use productivity apps, including apps for scheduling, messaging, to-do list, client management apps and many more.

Other technology, such as noise-cancelling head phones or ear buds can also be helpful in drowning out or blocking distraction. There’s nothing wrong with a music playlist or even white noise, either.

Not all technology helps productivity, though. Take social media, for instance. As with an office work setup, it’s best to turn off social media when working from home. It’s best to avoid these types of apps and platforms throughout the day, as they can quickly waste away significant chunks of time that should have been spent working.

4. Limit interruptions as much as possible.

5. Maintain a work-life balance.

One downfall of working from home that managers will want to help their employees avoid is that it creates a more of a challenge in maintaining a proper work-life balance.

Workers in the study cited by Business News Daily said that they often struggled with work-life balance.

To keep a better balane between work and life, encourage employees to take breaks every so often throughout the day. These breaks don’t need to be long – about five minutes, perhaps – but just long enough to help them not succumb to work-related stress.

Employees should also be encouraged to follow set schedules each day, as they would in an office environment. Set work hours help remind employees to mentally clock in and out, even though they are not punching time cards at the office.

Communicate with your team

Now more than ever, communication is vital to a team’s success. Find ways to keep in touch with your team and check in with them on productivity, including task and goal progress.

One solution is a free conference call service. Audio conferencing is a favored option for teams that want efficient, effective and easy-to-use solutions for staying connected with each other.

Learn more about the many features you can use – and never have to pay for – with Conference Town.