Mastering good time management skills is imperative if you are to make remote working a complete success for you, and for your employer.
Many people really enjoy working from home and find that they are much more productive than working in an office environment, as there are fewer distractions. However, some might struggle to work efficiently in this way, and this can impact on all sorts of things like mental health, productivity, the quality of work produced etc.
How can you make the most of your time when working remotely?
1. Order your day
Training yourself to get through everything you need to in the day is hugely important and that requires time planning and management skills.
With technology making it much easier to work from home, this can also be a big distraction, i.e.: the TV, using your personal mobile phone, etc.
The first thing you must do when starting your day is to turn off the unnecessary technology that is likely to distract you (you can return to it when your day has finished, or you are taking a break). You almost need to pretend that you are at the office – and act like starting work is still as formal as it used to be!
When you are in your office space, or work area, you need to order your day.
This might involve:
- If you know you have a difficult report to write, schedule to start it midday as research shows that our brain is at its best at that time. productivity: When does our brain work the best in the day? – The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)
- Using your first hour to reply to your emails
- Having specific breaks
- If you need to, schedule a Teams meeting. Make it at the beginning of the day, so whatever actions are agreed, can be dealt with as the day progresses
- Create a list of daily or weekly priorities and try and stick to them
- Making your telephone calls brief and to the point
2. Use time management schedules and apps if they work for you
Whether you use an excel spreadsheet, a desk diary, or a dedicated software program, there are so many ways of keeping your time on track.
Some people like time-tracking apps (available from your online app store) and can be easily downloaded.
If you’re not a fan of apps, use your mobile timer or even a stopwatch. Whilst you might not always stick to the time, it gives you an idea of how well you are using your time and helps you to stay on schedule.
3. Try to find a workspace where there are few distractions
Having an organised workspace is so important when home working – wherever that might be.
If you struggle to find the focus to work from home efficiently, why not book a hot desking space at Desks by the Day, to remove yourself from all distractions. This can help to focus your thoughts and make you much more productive.
4. Create a ‘to-do’ list and stick to it
There is nothing more satisfying than having a ‘to-do’ list and ticking off the items you have completed! The more ticks, the greater the motivation to move on.
You might also consider setting some SMART goals with tasks that are: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Remember, make a daily, weekly or monthly ‘to-do’ list and try and stick to it.
If you give yourself 30 days to clean your house, it should take 30 days. If you give yourself 3 hours, it should take 3 hours.” Elon Musk
5. Do a time audit if you’re not getting through the workload
If you find you just can’t manage your time, do a simple time audit. This will help you to find out what the problem is, and how you might improve the situation.
There are lots of off-the-shelf time tracking apps and programs that you can use to help you identify any areas that are problematic.
This might prove to be a real game-changer for you and significantly raise your productivity.
6. Don’t be frightened to delegate
This can significantly lighten your load, leaving you to get on with tasks that are better suited to your time, specialism, etc.
If you are running short of time, feel you are not the best person to complete a given task, or simply need a bit of creative input, involving colleagues can often help, so don’t be afraid to ask.
Remember that delegating a task to a colleague can be really empowering on many different levels – it doesn’t mean you have failed, it means you are probably a very good manager!
Times and workspaces are changing – seize the moment
Since 2020, many more of us are working from home, and it is quite normal to struggle with time management.
With employers starting to relax their work rules allowing more people to work from home, it’s important that employees harness a few skills to make the most of their time if they are to be entirely productive. Flexible and hybrid working practices in 2023 | CIPD
In need of a hot desk facility to help structure your working day? Book it out using our online calendar.
We are desksbytheday.com – a modern venue provider for all your hot desking and meeting room hire requirements.
Want to hire one of our meeting rooms?
To find out more about Desks by the Day or to book a meeting room, office or hot desk click here or contact us.