Productivity, in one sense, is one of the ways that we measure the output of our time at work and our value to our team or organization. It is also something that many of us struggle with at various times in our careers, including when facing disruptions to our regular work routines or changes in our work environment.

With this in mind, here are a few general tips to help you become more productive when you are working from home, or working remotely from your office. 

• Know yourself - Consider when you are most productive. Then, if possible, plan your most demanding or high attention tasks during that time. Realistically evaluate the length of time it takes for you to complete certain tasks. Chunk tasks and schedule your day accordingly. Pause and think about what type of help you may need and allow time to let others know.
• Start off well - Use the first 10-15 minutes of your workday to get centered and to set the tone for the rest of your day. Make sure that you have the necessary tools to help you focus and to work with minimal distractions. 
• Create a "Done!" List - Instead of a traditional to-do list, which for many of us defaults into a wish list of tasks that we often try to complete, focus on the top 2-4 priorities for your day. Write down the associated goals and turn your intention into action.
• Make decisions - Even the best advice or tips will be ineffective if you are not willing to apply them, or more importantly, committed to the goals that you set in the first place. Make decisions about what needs to be done. Deciding will help you to free up your time to focus on your key tasks and allow you to decide proactively what should be delegated or removed from your list.
• Communicate effectively - How we communicate through our day can make a difference. For example, could that 1-hour phone exchange have been handled better as an email? Or could that phone call that turned into an hour conversation have been better managed as a chat message? Use time and technology to your advantage.
• Break it up - Take brief planned breaks throughout the day. Breaks can help to counteract the monotony of the day, refresh the mind, boost creativity, and reduce stress. Add a brief walk or some intentional movement such as stretches, if possible, to combat tension in your body.
• Boost your skills - Need to refine an existing skill or to learn a new one? If so, carve out time in your week to take advantage of free articles, webinars, and tutorials or cost-effective courses. From a math refresher, business communication, computer skills, speed typing, to project planning; there are countless opportunities available to make you more efficient and productive. 

Another way to stay productive when working from home is to consider advancing your education. Peirce College offers affordable degree completion programs, certificates and graduate programs that can be completed 100% online - an ideal format for busy adults who cannot put their lives on hold to attend class on campus. To learn more, contact our Enrollment Specialists.