You’re working remotely and need to manage your time effectively. What’s the best way to do it?

I have worked remotely for over 20 years. Here are a few suggestions that have helped me: * Dress for success. In other words, dress the same that you would if you were going to your office on any given day. * Avoid distractions by closing your office door if necessary. Everyone (including pets) needs to be respectful of your work. * Establish a place in your home for video calls. This may be a separate place from your office. Pay close attention to the background to look professional. Lighting is also important. Avoid having windows behind you. Set your computer/laptop/phone on a pedestal to be at eye level. * Turn your computer off at the end of the day and walk away. You need mental breaks from work as well!

1. Create a schedule. 2. Designate a workspace. 3. Pretend you're going to the office. 4. Minimize distractions. 5. Create a daily and weekly to-do list. 6. Keep technologies to a minimum. 7. Create a list of priorities. 8. Update on your decision-making skills. 9. Recognize your strengths.

I will start by saying that working from home is NOT for everyone! The things that have helped me to stay focused are: 1. Having a designated work space 2. Having a plan for each day 3. When work is done - shut the door. Burn out can be easier when you WFH because it's harder to turn it off and more difficult to maintain a schedule. 4. Consistency in your routine 5. Communicate your schedule with your team so you maintain a healthy work-life balance

Managing time effectively while working remotely involves establishing routines and boundaries. 1. Set Clear Work Hours: Define specific working hours and stick to them to maintain a work-life balance. 2. Create a Dedicated Workspace: Designate a separate area for work to create a boundary between professional and personal life. 3. Prioritize Tasks: Use to-do lists or task management tools to prioritize tasks. 4. Time Blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time for different tasks to focus. 5. Regular Breaks: Take regular breaks to avoid burnout & stay productive. 6. Communication and Boundaries: Set clear communication boundaries with colleagues to avoid interruptions during focused work time. 7. Limit Distractions:

I think it's important for remote workers to understand what works for and motivates them - there is no "one size fits all" for everyone. Evaluate how you are the most productive. 1) Are you able to balance work and home life without a schedule or do you need to calendar your day? 2) Do you work best in a quiet, private room or does moving around, perhaps taking your laptop outside for a bit, keep your head clearer? 3) If you have another household member working remotely, set up ground rules or a mutual understanding of if/when you can be interrupted for tasks not related to your job. 4) Be flexible when possible. You may have your day tightly scheduled, but how do you react and regroup when an emergency suddenly changes your plans?

From my perspective, I do feel it's always best to remove distractions before doing anything. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb and move it to the side. Once the distractions are gone, make sure you have the tasks at hand in front of you. If a task is too big, break it down into smaller achievable steps. The main thing to keep in mind is to remain focused and before you know it, the time will fly by smoothly and once everything is done, you can allow yourself to rest.

Some of the best ways that I work is building systems of work. I set around 4 hours of deep work when working on any project.

Tips to get started in a work-from-home style 1. Try and keep a daily, weekly, and monthly objective. It is very easy to go off track when you are working separately 2. Keep your goals smaller to start off. Setting smaller goals instills a sense of achievement that helps to put effort towards bigger goals. 3. Try to complete your work during your working hours. Working in non-working hours can lead to a detachment towards work and goals. 4. Constantly connect with your team and leader to communicate and share ideas of what is working and what needs work. Problem discovery can be a major roadblock when working secluded from your team.

There isn't a universal rule; each person has their distinct approach to being productive. As an HR professional, I suggest: - Identify the time of day/night when you're most energized and focused for work. - Avoid working in continuous hours; break them up as suits your preference during the day. - Organize daily tasks by priority and treat yourself with rewards, such as chocolate or a brief call with loved ones, after completing each or a few of them.

Embarking on the journey of effective time management begins with the strategic formulation of SMART goals. This acronym, representing Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound criteria, serves as a compass guiding professionals toward success. Setting Specific goals provides clarity, outlining precisely what needs to be accomplished. Measurable aspects enable the tracking of progress, transforming abstract objectives into tangible milestones. Ensuring goals are Achievable assesses the feasibility of tasks, considering available resources and skillsets.

I like to gamify my day. Once I know what needs to be accomplished, I quickly divide out how much needs to be completed each hour. Once my hourly tasks are done, I give myself a reward. Sometimes a reward is 10 minutes of phone time, a hot cup of tea, or an outdoor walk. I like to keep it simple and incorporate things throughout my day that make me happy.

While all these help, I find it useful to plan and schedule tomorrow. Each day, block time for things you plan to complete tomorrow. Routines help ensure productivity

Some days are more productive than others regardless if you are working remotely or in the office. Therefore, on low productivity days, it may be helpful to schedule mini breaks into your day. For example, for every 20 minutes of work, you take a 2-3 minute break. This time can be used to grab a cup of coffee, some water, or do some ergonomic stretching. Whatever you choose to do with the time, set a timer to avoid procrastination and stay on task.

One needs to follow basic rule of noting down “to do” for the day, you can mix it up with official and personal work but prioritise it and keep ticking the same, work should star at office hrs and try to close before end of office hrs. This is simple rule and helps a lot.

Since this does not cut across the board due to differences in circumstance, situation, and resources, it is notable that it is important for one to know and understand their most productive times and hours of the day, slotting the more energy-needing tasks in those times.

Using a digital calendar I find is the best way to have everything centrally located and easily accessible especially on the go. I also like to, the night before, review the calendar and list of tasks for the day and write out the day in a planner to really plan it out. This allows me to wake up in the morning and be ready to take on the day and not need to think about what needs to happen.

"Never put on tomorrow what you can do a day after". It's a joke, but each joke has some implication. Depending on area of your responsibility many of the tasks you receive do not really need any actions. Especially in cross-functional teams, when different people are 'responsible' for the same task it means that nobody is responsble for it. Just let each person do his/her job and do not excessively disturb them.

I agree! I think it is also important to look into automation and CRM softwares to keep you efficient and save you time! I regularly use Salesforce to stay organized and I absolutely love it.

I like to build momentum quickly. All the planning and scheduling ideas listed are excellent, but to get off to a great start to the day or week I try to pick the hardest, least enjoyable thing first. Getting that quickly knocked out makes me feel accomplished, and all the other taskers are much more enjoyable after getting past one significant hurdle or difficult task.

While working remotely, there is the tendency to blur the line between ‘work time’ and ‘personal time’. The most likely result will be burn out if you over stretch your work time and unmet deliverables if you overstay your personal time. Consider organising a schedule with clear timelines, Google calendar is my most preferred tool for this. Also, have a daily time-bound to-do list. The satisfaction you get from crossing items off the list is good for motivation and an improved sense of belief in yourself and your capabilities.

Establish clear communication channels with your team. Clearly communicate your availability, progress, and potential challenges. Effective communication ensures alignment and reduces misunderstandings.

Just because you're remote doesn't mean you're alone. Set clear expectations with colleagues and managers, schedule virtual coffee breaks, and celebrate wins together. Remember, remote work is about the work, not the location.

Set goal- Planning- Proper Channel- SWOT analysis- Feedback This all can possible only be communication. Always ready to share your thoughts with Stakeholders, never keep in your mind. Communication is all about to showcase your goals

One thing I have found to be helpful in ensuring proper communication is making sure to have , learn and optimize available tools to ensure all members are on the team and in case they cannot access certain aspects, they are clear on who to ask.

En el opción de teletrabajo la comunicación es fundamental. Hoy existen herramientas que hacen posible comunicar un mensaje de forma efectiva, desde el uso del correo electrónico, el chat, las videollamadas, hasta compartir información y delegar tareas y recibir feedback. La dinámica del trabajo remoto hace posible que existe un mensaje entre dos y más personas donde fluye la comunicación escrita y verbal. Por un lado se documenta la forma del trabajo remoto y por otro se mide la capacidad de respuesta como el contenido del mensaje, ofreciendo alternativas y apoyo que permiten mejorar la comunicación.

Effective communication involves active listening, clear articulation of thoughts, choosing appropriate channels, and being open to feedback. Ensure your messages are concise, respectful, and tailored to your audience.

While working remotely, maintaining clear & efficient communication with your manager, team & colleagues is crucial for fostering the best possible collaboration, efficiency & productivity. It's also important to use the most relevant communication channels depending on urgency for an effective interaction. I recommend to have weekly 1:1s with your manager so they also get an understanding on what you are working on & what support you need from them in order to execute a particular task. By also communicating your schedule structure to your team or other colleagues, they can become more aware of your availability for a better collaboration.

Ask your IT department to remove 'Reply All' button in Outlook from all employees laptops. Nowadays Outlook is nothing but a calendar application instead of its original communication tool role.

Plan for any communication that would take more than a few minutes of your time on your calendar. Scheduling conversations respects your time and others and is more efficient in the long run.

Notification be on the mobile or computing device are n.1 reason that interrupt flow. Consider putting mobile in airplane & silent mode , activate "focus mode" on Windows, and in general configure application to avoid notifications. Notifications make you victim as you feel pressured to react. While one should aim to be actor, and check applications in specific timeframes.

I find it helpful to make a to-do list, either at the end of the day in prep for the next day, or first thing in the morning. There are so many distractions — from phone calls, to emails, to co-workers asking questions — my list of tasks keeps me grounded and reminds me of my goals for the day. My goal this year is to limit my responses to emails to just twice a day (11-noon and 4-5 pm). If you have a squirrel-brain like me, limiting this type of distraction should also help to keep you on task.

Minimize distractions by creating a dedicated workspace and setting boundaries. Turn off non-essential notifications, and use techniques like the Pomodoro method to stay focused during work intervals.

Team and time blockers have always been the biggest reasons for a person to not move ahead in their professional career. A time blocker or distraction can be eliminated by finding out their root cause, eliminating procrastination and working as if it’s the last time you’re doing it and nobody else can do it

I listen to movie soundtracks by Thomas Newman or music by Max Richter. Listening to music with noise cancelling headphones, phone away and taking time to eliminate distractions before I start whilst using the Pomodoro technique. I used to use an app that would "reward" you for not using your phone such as growing a virtual garden - the Forest app. However, it can vary as to how focused I can stay; taking time to work out if I can get the work done or can I plan it for another time.

By creating your working space & limiting distractions around you, you can enhance your productivity & efficiency. Whenever I need to focus, I put my mobile phone on silence & muting my slack notifications in order to avoid any interruptions. The reason for this is because if you receive a message that might not be very urgent, it will take approx 23 minutes to regain focus on what we were previously working on.

Plot your schedule. Designate spaces. Explore productivity apps. Dress like you are going to the office. Treat free time like work meetings. Minimise social media distractions. Be transparent with your manager.

To manage time effectively while working remotely, employ the Pomodoro Technique—work for focused intervals (e.g., 25 minutes) followed by a short break. Eliminate distractions by using apps or tools to block social media, and create a dedicated workspace to enhance focus.

The environment in which we work plays a significant role in helping us to stay focussed on a task at work. If we recognise that being easily distracted is an important evolutionary survival skill, then ideally where we work should minimise the things that would trigger distractions. Familiar environments will trigger autopilot distractions. The mere presence of a smart phone, and more than one window or app open on your laptop will tug at your attention. If you can, create a separate work environment that is uncluttered, perhaps some reference books and of course plants. Even when there are no external triggers, we will Internally distract ourselves. When this happens, you should try to notice what causes this reaction.

Optimise yourself and in turn, you will be able to optimise your activity. Spread your tasks across your day and incorporate regular breaks(including communicating with colleagues). Include a variety of tasks that challenge you in different ways. Include physical activities throughout the week

It's easy to feel that the more time we spend at work, multitasking and always being busy, the more productive we will be, however we would be wrong. But the alternative more productive way of working that includes regular breaks, movement, connection with other people, boundaries between our work and personal lives and periods of time when we are alone with our thoughts, feels counterintuitive. In coaching I find the analogy with the mindset of an athlete useful. However instead of a sports athlete, consider yourself as a business athlete. The health of our bodies impacts how we think and feel, so as biological beings our personal and social self-care has a direct impact on quality and productivity.

No matter how stressed you are or how much work you have, you will need to take breaks throughout the day. Breaks can reduce or prevent stress, help to maintain performance throughout the day & reduce the need for a long recovery at the end of the day. Breaks are needed after every meeting so you can come in with a fresh mindset to the next one. While working remotely it is also important that you time block lunch breaks & smaller breaks since times fly much quicker than we think. Exercise after work is also the best medicine for feeling mentally & physically better.

Prioritize self-care to maintain productivity and well-being. Schedule breaks, get proper rest, and engage in activities that rejuvenate you. A healthy work-life balance is crucial for sustained remote work

Make sure to mark distinctly your out of office hours(in the day, week, month, year, season), for your clients and for yourself. By clearly separating those times, it is easier to really enjoy and feel rejuvenated in the time you set apart for relaxation and winding down.

Ensure to use time at work efficiently so that when you are not at work you are able to look after yourself. Stick to a schedule as much as possible and be mindful of staying late at work too often.

Organizar el tiempo efectivamente tiene varias aristas que considerar, especialmente si estás trabajando remotamente. Las distracciones y los imprevistos existirán, por más que trates de eliminarlos, por lo que puede ser mejor considerarlos dentro de tu planificación: dejar un espacio de tiempo reservado exclusivamente para resolver los imprevistos cada día, o un bloque de tiempo para atender las distracciones de una sola vez, incluyendo el tiempo de ocio y descanso. Aunque suene irónico, la magia está en planificar las desviaciones en la planificación para poder manejarlas adecuadamente.

I work in flurries. I know I can put my head down and knock out 2 hours of solid work without a break but sometimes I can’t so I listen to how I am feeling and then work accordingly. I also use a rule of 5 minutes meaning if the task is going to take less than 5 minutes do it immediately. If it’s going to take longer and you don’t have the time to knock it out then, set aside time in your schedule to make it happen. Using this approach means I am rarely behind on my work.

Emails and notifications are like office gremlins, stealing focus and sanity. Silence them! Schedule email checks, mute social media, and consider tools that block distractions. Focus on one task at a time – multitasking is a myth, like unicorns that eat spreadsheets.

Designate a specific area for work to create a separation between professional and personal life. This helps signal the start and end of your workday, enhancing work-life balance.

Another thing I feel can help is actually to consider avoiding multitasking. While it's true that it's a great skill, multitasking carries some downside effects that may include reduction in productivity just to name a few. Avoiding multitasking will help one to focus on the task at hand without any distractions, thus helping them to achieve optimum production.

An urgency matrix daily helped me a lot to stay organized and on track. I suggest everyone should done one at their day start to ensure they are focused and on track.