In the next two articles, I’ll be sharing tips to enhance your productivity. If you are so inclined, you can be far more productive working from home than even in the office. This is because you could transform some of the time you spend commuting and interacting with others, doing more work. Here are the tips:

Know the Ground Rules

Do you have to run a nine-to-five schedule, or can you get flexible with it? Which tech tools would you need to get your job done? Slack for group chats, Zoom for video conferencing, or Trello for project management? If you have a manager, it’s important you’re on the same page regarding their expectation of your work. Spell out the ground rules, obtain the appropriate equipment, such as internet access, a laptop, pass-codes, and instructions for remote login. Ensure you do trial runs and solve any problems that might impede your work. If you work for yourself, you still need this fundamental preparation.

Get Started Early

One of the things that ‘incentivize’ our productivity is the sense that we’re going to work. The time we spend commuting makes us realize there’s a target we must hit. If you’re working from home, you have to ensure you retain this attitude. Since it can be more challenging to transition from your pillow to your computer, you need a strategy for getting started on the right note. Delve into your to-do list as soon as you wake up. Starting a project first thing in the morning can help to set a productive tone for the day.

Set Up a Functional Workspace

If you’re working from home for the first time, you probably don’t have a designated home office. You need to have a private space in your home dedicated for work. As much as possible, try to separate your work space from the rest of your home.

(Watch out for part 2!)