This article is written by Rebecca Fitton, National Management Trainee

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Working from home is now both a new way of life, and a constant challenge.

A lot of people still find it difficult – both in terms of achieving productivity, and the inherent lack of social interaction.

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I’ve put together a list of tips which help to set up a productive working week whilst also taking care of your mental wellbeing.

Set goals

Every productivity article will stress the importance of goal setting, but what’s particularly important is setting goals combined with blocking out time. On a Monday morning, write up a list of the goals for the coming week (I like to physically write these down — there’s something satisfying about physically crossing things off!).

Then divide these goals up into manageable chunks for each day, and again for every morning and afternoon. This means that at any given moment, you’re clear on the work to be doing and your expectations for yourself.

Utilise your mornings

When drawing up your weekly goals, put the most difficult tasks in for the mornings. The brain will be able to focus more on high concentration activities, save easier tasks for the afternoon when you have less energy.

Move your body

It’s easy when you’re working from home to forget to get up and move about, so schedule in time to move your body. This could be scheduled into the work day. I like to work in hourly slots of 50 minutes work, with a 10 minute break to stretch my legs and make a drink.

I like to physically write these down — there’s something satisfying about physically crossing things off!

It could also be a lunchtime walk around a local park, or even a quick five minute walk along the street and back again. Consider putting in “walk and talk” meetings with close colleagues, so you get the combined benefits of exercise, social interaction and productive time.

Put away distractions

It can be easy to be distracted at home, especially by phone notifications and social media. There’s an app called Forest which lets you “plant a virtual tree” for a set amount of time. If you leave the app, the virtual tree dies.

On top of minimising distractions whilst working, the app also adds to a sense of accomplishment and boosts motivation when you’re able to look back on a forest of trees at the end of the day, each representing a burst of productivity.

Select the right soundtrack

Of course, the music that makes an individual productive will often come down to personal preference. However, research does show that there are particular types of music that can aid concentration, specifically those without lyrics.

Film or video game soundtracks are designed to enhance the senses and so are a great choice whilst working, there’s a lot of pre-made playlists available online.

Some of my favourites are the Monsters Inc. and Harry Potter soundtracks! For some, ambient music is preferred, such as rainfall or jungle noise. These are also easily available online and can help to focus the mind into concentration,

Be kind to yourself!

Living through a pandemic is something that none of us anticipated to happen, and productivity at work is bound to take a hit. If it’s a little more difficult to complete a day’s goals, allow yourself forgiveness and try again tomorrow.  — Rebecca Fitton

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