This Is How I Get Through My Day

From the outside, it might look like people who work from home have more self-discipline or drive than others. But it is not that remote workers have more willpower or passion for productivity. It is the habits and routines that they consistently build and diligently follow. With some practice and diligence, there are little tweaks anyone can make to their routines to turn their remote work expectations into a consistent daily reality.

Instead of jumping into the impromptu tasks waiting in your inbox, plan your morning the night before. Stick to that plan no matter what. It’s easy to prioritize things that others ask of you, but be wary of restructuring your entire day and losing sight of your initial goals. If a new task comes in that isn’t 100% urgent, designate a time that you’ll work on it uninterrupted or try to delegate the problem solving as much as possible until you have time to deal with it. If your mornings tend to start like this regularly, consider waking up earlier to be proactive, or make it known to your colleagues or clients that you’re happy to answer their emails in the afternoon if it’s not urgent.

If you’re still having a hard time identifying priorities, try working backward by recognizing work that’s not a priority. Eliminate those items and assess what’s left. You’ll have fewer things to consider and a more comfortable time deciding what’s necessary. Managing your time goes hand in hand with managing your mental energy. The more time you fight with your mind on which task you should be doing, the more mental bandwidth you’re using up that won’t be available later when the real work begins. Make quick and intentional decisions to focus on what will serve you most, and do it.

There are mental consequences of dealing with constant interruption. By allowing ourselves to be distracted, we’re weakening our brains’ ability to focus on “deep work” in the long term. It takes unlearning our habits of constantly checking notifications and requiring validation from our devices to retrain your brain to take full advantage of deep work. Luckily, the same technology that provides endless distractions can also be used to minimize interruptions when you’re looking for a break. Apps like Forest and Zero Willpower exist for this very reason. They block specific sites and apps from your phone or computer for a certain amount of time to help you focus and minimize the madness. You can also set goals for the amount of time you spend doing deep work every day and keeping a running tally as you go. Not only is it motivating to watch your counts grow, but it also makes you more conscious of distractions that can derail your focus.

It may be tempting to work flat out, especially if you’re trying to prove that you’re productive at home. But it’s vital to take regular ‘brain breaks”. A research discovered that the best workers typically worked intently for around 52 minutes and then took a 17-minute break. These restorative breaks can be as simple as staring out the window or reading the newspaper, anything to allow your brain to recuperate briefly. The brain is like any other muscle; it needs to rest. Go for a walk or get some exercise, then get back to work.

Real balance comes from within and is a result of the choices you make. The first step is to set firm boundaries for yourself and refuse to waver on them. Make it a habit to unplug at a specific time each evening. Force yourself to keep to your schedule by setting up a date with friends or have an exercise class you go to at 5 pm without fail. Incorporate a scheduled “off” day into your week to reset. Go on an adventure, or give yourself the time to binge-watch your favorite show with no guilt and no thoughts about work. Treat your day off with the same importance you place on your workday.

There’s no right answer or secret sauce to being an incredibly productive person. There are just small, deliberate steps you take every day to work towards a place that makes you feel good about what you’ve accomplished and entirely guiltless when you unplug for the night.