When working remotely, it’s hard to focus solely on work. You might feel the urge to get some house chores done, chat with family, pet the cat, or just relax and bet on your favorite sports or scroll through social media. But as evening comes, you realize that more than half of your tasks need to be moved to tomorrow. Time management can help avoid such situations. Let’s explore how time management principles can help us work efficiently from home.
Time Management Principles for Remote Work
Here’s how to organize your workday at home to get more done without sitting at your computer late into the night.
Plan Your Month/Week/Day
Start by making a master list of tasks and distributing the important and challenging ones across the month. Add smaller tasks to your weekly schedule, and plan the next day either the night before or in the morning. This way, you’ll accomplish all the important tasks and distribute your workload evenly.
During the day, monitor your most active periods and assign challenging tasks to those times. It’s also essential to schedule routine breaks and small personal tasks: lunch, shower, walking the dog, or 10 minutes of social media time.
To make your planning even more efficient, use time management techniques like the “Elephants and Frogs” method for combating procrastination or the GTD method for those with a long list of tasks.
Set Priorities
Avoid overwhelming your daily schedule with too many urgent and important tasks. If everything seems urgent and you can’t decide where to start, try categorizing tasks like this:
- A Tasks — Tasks that must be completed soon to avoid negative consequences. For example, preparing a presentation for tomorrow’s meeting or responding to a client’s negative review.
- B Tasks — Less important tasks that can be postponed for now. For instance, brainstorming ideas for a new project or filling out documents due in a week.
Limit your day to no more than three A Tasks, and only after finishing those should you move on to B Tasks. This way, you’ll avoid overloading your schedule and switching between urgent and less important tasks.
For small tasks that don’t need immediate attention but also shouldn’t be forgotten, create a “Someday” list. This list can include small chores like organizing files or cleaning up photos on your disk. If you find some free time, you can pick one task from this list.
Account for Risks
When planning deadlines, build in extra time to address unexpected problems. If nothing goes wrong, you’ll finish earlier. If an emergency arises, you won’t miss your deadline.
Minimize Distractions
Distractions usually come from messages and social media. You can unsubscribe from unnecessary channels, archive them, temporarily turn off all notifications, or only leave the essential ones using a focus mode.
Use Special Apps
Online calendars, task managers, and timers make schedules more visual and help in several ways:
- Picture assignments and set sensible cutoff times.
- Appropriate assignments across the week — seeing occupied days and accessible slots is simpler.
- Set updates for one-time or routine errands, such as complimenting a partner on their birthday or watering the plants.
- Connect documents and connections to assignments so you don’t need to look for data in changed envelopes, messages, or talks.
- Share plans with partners or keep a joint one with family.
Tools and Apps for Work and Time Management
Here’s a selection of popular apps for planning work and personal tasks:
- Todoist: A task manager where you can create lists, plan events, attach files and voice notes, and leave comments on tasks. It also has a habit tracker and ready-made templates, like a business trip checklist or a shopping list.
- Any.do: Visualize tasks using boards or tables, set priorities, and configure notifications to be sent to your messenger.
- TickTick: This app helps you create task lists, set priorities, view statistics, and analyze your efficiency. It also includes focus tools like a Pomodoro timer and white noise.
How to Avoid Burnout While Working Remotely
The drive to and from the workplace for the most part takes a great deal of significant investment, however it assists you with progressing into unwinding mode. While working from a distance, you’re continually in a similar space, making it hard to turn off. This is the way to keep up with your prosperity and stay balanced.
Set Boundaries Between Work and Personal Life
This applies to both your physical space and communication. Ask your loved ones not to disturb you during work hours, and when you’re off duty, mute chats with clients and colleagues. Try to avoid checking your phone while interacting with others.
Create separate spaces for work and relaxation, which will make it easier to switch between the two.
More Activities Outside the Home
It’s essential to take off from the house and invest energy participating, all things considered, cooperations to try not to fall into a dreary cycle. Get together with companions, go for strolls outside, and plan different exercises for your nights and ends of the week.
Nutrition
Your feasts ought to be straightforward, filling, and differed to keep your energy steps up. On work days, it’s frequently elusive chance to cook, so it’s ideal to prepare of time. For instance, cook your fundamental dishes over the course of the end of the week to keep going for 2-3 business days. On the off chance that you don’t deal with your feasts, you could wind up eating ineffectively or spending a lot on inexpensive food.
If your budget allows, you can find companies that deliver daily meals in containers. In smaller towns, you might be able to find someone on local platforms who makes pre-ordered homemade meals.
Exercise
Physical activity reduces stress and helps release emotions. You can train even for just 10–15 minutes as long as it’s done regularly. For instance, stretch in the morning or do a quick workout during a break.
If you prefer going to the gym or dance classes, choose places near your home to increase the chances of attending despite feeling tired.
Sleep
Without appropriate rest, weariness and burnout immediately set in. To nod off quicker and all the more sufficiently, it’s prescribed not to indulge before bed and to take care of your telephone an hour prior to dozing.
Assuming you battle to awaken during the dull harvest time and winter mornings, think about utilizing lights that impersonate regular daylight.
Limit Side Jobs
Telecommuting doesn’t mean working constantly. It’s enticing to take on additional ventures or sit at the PC sometime later. But when fatigue builds up, your productivity decreases, and even rest won’t fully restore you. If turning down new tasks causes you anxiety, consider speaking with a specialist to explore the underlying reasons.
Micheal kors 
Misty Severi