Are remote workers more productive than their in-office counterparts?
Clearly there are countless opinions on just how productive employees are at the office versus working from home. Business News Daily provides a solid report of “at home” productivity.
- According to one study, remote employees work 1.4 more days per month than their office-based counterparts, resulting in more than three additional weeks of work per year.
- 29% of remote employees said they struggle with work-life balance, and 31% said they have needed to take a day off for their mental health.
- One of the most effective ways workers can stay productive is by taking breaks throughout the day. The Pomodoro Technique is one such method for employees to decompress for a moment and come back refreshed and ready to focus.
How to Make Working From Home… Work
My wife and I have worked from home for years, and like most, with kids, a dog, and our mother in the house, clear and present parameters must be discussed. With recent pandemic challenges, the in-house activity has multiplied 10 fold, so even tighter and specific scheduling of activity in the house is required.
As Remote Workers Ourselves, We Do the Following:
- Detailed times when the main level of the house is off-limits due to two offices on that level. No television. No food. No noise.
- While we have a showroom for furniture tours, those are scheduled in advance.
- We ask our children to plan for the following day when they have to talk with us about family or personal issues.
- We try to plan online and zoom meetings in the morning as we typically run client meetings in the afternoon (zoom or face-to-face.)
- Our doors are closed with signs that indicate “engaged in a project,” “on a conference call,” or “available after 3:30.” Avoiding interruptions is key when working from home.
- Meetings for our team are scheduled and documented so all family members are communicated to.
- Whether we’re working on space plans, furniture orders, business development calls, or researching for a client, like most in business, we plan for the time required to complete the tasks without interruption. It can be very easy to blow-off projects or meetings if not committed to your cause and look to your work with purpose and joy.
- Our workdays typically start at 7 am and end at 5 pm, sometimes later. It is critical from a spiritual and family-centric standpoint to leave the work in the offices. For us, mom (Cassie) has drawn a firm line in the sand as to what we can and cannot discuss after 5 pm. Business is not an approved topic.
Are You More Productive at Home or in the Office?
Productivity is a matter of self-discipline for the most part. If you’re able to carve out boundaries for yourself and with other members of your home, that’s a great start. Learning your natural habits and taking advantage of checking things off your to-do list when you’re most productive is another great habit to instill. But don’t forget downtime. Sometimes working from home blurs the lines when it comes to checking out of the office and walking away from the keyboard. Be sure to give yourself a break and recharge your energy stores.
At BT360, we know that comfort and accessibility play a major role in productivity, whether you’re working from home or in an office environment. Contact us today if your home office could use a more ergonomic chair, a sit-stand desk solution or file storage. Wherever you’re working, we’ll work with you!
