Working from home is becoming the new normal amid the recent COVID-19 outbreak.
This isn’t the only reason why many workers and companies are embracing the work-from-home culture though.
Recent studies suggest that apart from better work-life balance, 77% of remote workers are more productive when working from home.
According to Charles Coldman, a researcher who also offers thesis writing service, 7 out of 10 American employees are currently working from home.
However, there is still a challenge.
While modern offices are equipped with technology and infrastructure that increase productivity, most homes don’t have these technologies.
This makes it challenging for employees who are not used to working remotely.
Don’t worry. If you’re looking to improve productivity levels while working at home, we’ve got your back.
In this article, we’re going to share with you 3 technologies, aside from a computer monitor, that make remote working more productive.
The reality is that there are tens of thousands of tools and programs that have been developed to aid remote workers, but the question is:
Which of these technologies have made it possible for more employees to work from home?
Here are the top technologies every remote worker should not miss in their arsenal to improve productivity and efficiency.
We’ll also answer the question of “how does technology improve productivity at work?” and share with you some practical work from home tips to maximize your productivity.
Let’s dive in.
1. Video Conferencing Services
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, people have been advised to observe the social distancing directive to control and minimize the spread of the virus.
Unfortunately, face-to-face meetings are crucial for the success of any business or company.
After all, meetings are what make managers, workers, and other company staff stay on the same page while working toward achieving the company goals and objectives.
That means that if there are no face-to-face meetings, there must be a way workers can hold meetings with their managers, company bosses, and other staff while observing the directives enforce by world health organizations.
That’s where video calling services become useful.
Zoom is currently one of the world’s most popular video chat platforms that have made big gains as workers are embracing remote working.
Google Hangouts and Skype are also other technologies that help to improve communication for remote workers.
Undeniably, video conferencing lacks the same feel as in-person meetings; however, it has become one of the most helpful and effective technologies for remote employees.
Video calling services make employees keep feeling connected to the company, work, and their co-workers. These technologies also keep workers updated on project timelines, news, and deadlines and optimize project collaboration.
2. Instant Chat Tools
Video conferencing is great but not everything requires virtual meetings. Sometimes only a quick chat can do the trick. This is especially true when it comes to communications between co-workers.
Besides, while email is the go-to channel of communication for many, workers may lack the time to refresh their inboxes constantly.
Numerous studies suggest that email checking distracts employees from work every 10 minutes. Worse, it takes about 25 minutes for a distracted employee to concentrate fully on the task again. This translates to approximately 28% of the average workday that is spent on email alone.
This is where instant chat tools like Quip, Slack, Skype, and Telegram become helpful.
The best thing is that these tools allow real-time communications hence enhancing collaboration and improving productivity.
3. Project Management Apps and Tools
Staying updated on different plans, project deadlines, and timelines can be challenging without in-person meetings. Sadly, these challenges aren’t easily overcome.
Thankfully, project management tools can help to consolidate operations in one platform.
With remote working, project management apps and tools allow employees to collaborate and communicate synchronously and asynchronously.
Project management tools like Asana, Trello and many others have made it possible for people to work from home productively.
Additional technologies that make working from home more productive include:
Microsoft Office 365
Microsoft Office 365 boosts productivity for remote workers in many ways.
First of all, it offers familiar and effective tools that let people work better together anytime no matter where they are and on any device thanks to Microsoft Office 365 cloud-based deployment.
For instance, workers can store everything they need within OneDrive for Business that offers 1TB of storage for every user to access documents remotely thanks to the integrated file-sharing and cloud storage services.
Microsoft Office 365 SharePoint allows users to access, edit, and collaborate on files in real-time while keeping track of tasks with Microsoft Project.
The adoption of Artificial Intelligence has also enhanced user experience and reduced redundancy and boring tasks.
This has reduced the time for the creation and revision of documents.
The new PowerPoint Designer feature comes with already-built slides you can choose from and create great presentations.
What’s more, Office 365 comes with a ton of tools including Microsoft Teams that allow collaboration through video calling, instant chats, etc.
Digital Assistants
Digital assistants are the fastest-growing consumer technology on the market today. In fact, voice assistant adoption is projected to triple to 8 billion by 2023.
Digital assistants, also known as voice assistants can make calls, take notes, and many other things.
That means that using a digital assistant at home, you can continue to work as you cook or perform other important household chores.
If you don’t have a Google Assistant, an Amazon Echo, or Siri-enabled Apple product then it’s time you get one to improve work from home productivity.
Work From Home Tips to Maximize Productivity
Apart from using technology, (of course, technology comes with its own additional costs), there are many ways to improve productivity.
Here are some productivity tips for remote workers.
Get ready for your work as you usually do
Our brains are programmed in a certain way that our social and personal outlook can influence the decision we make.
Oftentimes, working from home is associated with the freedom to do as one wishes.
Some people even work without panties.
Dressing up is something that most remote workers don’t bother about.
However, when working from home, you should get ready for your work as you normally do.
Putting on sweatpants or pajamas gives you comfort but wearing them at all times may not help to maximize your productivity.
Well, of course, it doesn’t mean you should dress formally. Just dress in a way that signals your brain that you’re at work.
Create a dedicated home office
While working from home means comfort, freedom, and convenience this can come at the cost of decreased productivity focus and missed goals.
It’s easy to fall for the temptation to sleep when you have deadlines to meet.
This is especially true if you try to work in your bed.
To stay productive, you should choose a particular space away from distractions so you can focus.
To create a dedicated workspace; you don’t have to spend too much.
- You can use the corner of your room where there is maximum natural lighting.
- Have a comfortable chair and desk you use without feeling any discomfort.
- Gather all your required materials like pens, a diary, etc. so you don’t have to wake up every time.
Ensure your dedicated workspace resembles that of your office.
Have consistent working hours
When working from home, it’s easy to be unaware of the amount of time that has passed. This is especially true when working on an interesting project or work that has sensitive deadlines.
Being a workaholic isn’t a problem but when done within the working hours otherwise, it’s an unhealthy practice.
When working remotely, you should maintain a general work-life balance because, in the end, your personal and professional life are two different things that represent one human- YOU. They are all important when balanced.
As a general rule of thumb, always have consistent working hours.
If you plan to work for 7 hours straight on a workday from 9 am to 5 pm, stick to your routine.
Of course, sometimes you might need more hours, especially when working on a huge project- you can always ask for an extension or extend your work time but just don’t overwork yourself.
Remember that without following a consistent working schedule, you’re going to skip your social life too.
Here are a few tips to follow a consistent work schedule:
- Have an alarm by your side.
- Ensure you’re ready before you settle in your workspace.
- Focus on the task at hand fully.
- Put away any machine you’re using when the time to rest kicks in.
- Get out of your workspace as soon as your working hours elapse.
Eat healthily and sleep right
When working from home it’s easy to eat healthy or unhealthy and skip sleep.
After all, the kitchen is just a step away.
Sometimes when you’re busy on a time-sensitive project, snacking can be the best thing to do for you as you might not have the time to prepare a healthy meal.
This habit will not benefit you in any way.
You need to have a healthy diet.
Prepare or buy foods that help to help you function better.
Take energizing meals for lunch. This includes foods rich in protein, iron, and complex carbohydrates.
Also, ensure to include fruits with some juice in your diet.
Remember to stay hydrated as well.
On the same note, sleep experts at AssignmentHolic recommend maintaining a proper sleep schedule by going to bed at the same time for around 6 to 7 hours.
Final Thoughts
As work from home becomes the new normal, more and more workers may struggle to adapt to the new environment.
Transitioning can be challenging but technology has made remote working possible. And given the unique time, we’re living in, it’s important to have remote working technology abilities in place.
That said, let’s learn a few actionable tips to increase productivity while working remotely.
Author Bio:
Charlie Svensson is a technology consultant and human resource manager at Assignment Help. Skilled in content writing and blogging, he enjoys writing about the latest technology and remote working. Besides, Charlie also offers сollege essay writing services to students in the UK.