Is Productivity Reduced Working from Home?

When done right, working from home may boost productivity. If you’re feeling unproductive when working from home, you can use certain tactics to increase your productivity, such as setting boundaries, taking breaks, and prioritizing tasks.

Working from home was an unexpected change brought on by the pandemic all over the world. 

Organizations and businesses took the initiative to adjust to the current situation and continue operating without risking the safety of their workers. 

Many people have adjusted to this situation and are grateful for the opportunity to spend more time with their families. It has also helped people explore new hobbies and interests. 

Furthermore, communication outside the office, such as sending files and having meetings, has become more effective due to current technology, which further facilitates working from home. 

This post will tell you the factors that affect productivity and how you can maximize it. So let’s dive right in!

Are people more or less productive working from home? 

A 2020-2021 monthly survey says that productivity at home is 7% higher than expected. 

According to several recent studies, working from home is more productive than working in an office. Working from home saves 10 minutes daily, allows you to work an extra hour per week, and increases your productivity by 47%!

According to a ConnectSolutions survey, 77% of those working remotely at least a few times each month report greater productivity. 30% of them perform more work in less time, and 24% do more in the same amount of time.

Working from home offers a better balance of home and work life, which mental health has always advocated for. 

When such a balance is maintained, people feel more satisfied in their life. Remote employment also implies greater freedom and less adherence to time-consuming daily routines. 

It eliminates the inconvenience of daily commute and provides more time for sleep and personal needs outside work. In addition, people can work in comfortable clothes all day.

According to an Owl Labs report, in 2021, 70% of people who worked from home during the pandemic claim virtual meetings are less stressful, and 64% now prefer hybrid meetings.

Before Covid-19, things used to be a bit different. In 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 24% of employed people did some of their work at home on the days they worked, while 82% of employed people worked at the office.

However, after Covid-19, a lot has changed. Working from home has resulted in faster project turnaround and increased productivity. 

A Stanford University survey says that just 65% of Americans have fast enough internet to support video calls. 42% of Americans work from home, whereas 26% work at their office. 

What factors affect productivity when working from home? 

While statistics show there is an increase in productivity when working from home, there are still some people who experience reduced productivity. 

Here are some factors that can affect your attention and productivity:

1. Procrastination 

Since there is no constant monitoring when working at home, it is easier to delay your tasks. Understanding what causes it and how to overcome it would be beneficial.

• We are underestimating the scope of the job and the time required to do it. We frequently believe that some daily tasks are simple and only take a short amount of time to perform. However, there are times when we fail to see that a few of them are time-consuming and difficult.  To avoid this, develop a daily timetable and to-do list. It allows you to stay on top of the task’s progress.

• Lack of understanding of what must be done and how it should be done. Feeling apprehensive about challenging and new work can contribute to procrastination, as absurd as that may appear. Ask questions or conduct a study on the subject. It is worth setting aside time to study and complete the activity if you are going to do it anyhow.

• Assuming you will be able to complete the task at the final minute. The trick is not to be overconfident since something unexpected may occur that disrupts your planned timetable, and things may not turn out as you had hoped. It prevents unintentional mistakes, cramming, and stress during deadlines.

2. Lack of motivation

There are days when you feel motivated to get things done and times when you do not feel like doing anything. When it comes to completing tasks, motivation is crucial. 

It will make you feel less burdened and more eager to complete the task. However, you may experience days when you are lacking in motivation.

Motivation influences a worker’s productivity whether they work on-site or from home. Here are a few reasons behind employees’ lack of motivation:

• Employees may become demotivated to complete their tasks because of disappointments caused by unappreciated efforts. An example is when you have worked hard on a project or been able to come up with innovative ideas, but your efforts have gone unnoticed. A simple gesture such as a pat on the back may inspire people to work toward their goals and better their lives.

• Dealing with repetitious and time-consuming chores may be exhausting. It is as though the more you execute the activity, the less motivated you get. Handle this by taking short breaks to relax your mind and refocus.

If your job requires reading stuff and it gets exhausting, you can try using a speed-reader by Iris Reading – it will save you a lot of time. 

3. Employee burnout

It is a unique type of work overload. Employees’ productivity, sense of achievement, and happiness in their work are all affected by exhaustion, both physical and emotional. 

The following are some of the most prevalent causes of employee burnout:

Work-life conflict

Burnout happens when work consumes too much of your time and effort. 

Instead of resting or spending quality time with family and friends, your tasks consume you to the point where you leave work late due to overtime or working on rest days.

Working from home requires you to spend more time on your job because you are in the comfort of your own house. 

Workplace dysfunctional dynamics cause stress

It happens when there is toxicity at work or when you are unhappy with the way things are. 

Try mindfulness to alleviate the tension caused by this. It is the place where you will approach every circumstance with patience, openness, and without any judgment. 

Remember that unsatisfying employment should not jeopardize your health while facing these obstacles.

If employees are not allowed the autonomy to make decisions, such as how to handle tasks and difficulties, they may feel confined.

It increases the chances of burnout. Manage this by focusing on the things you can control, such as how you worked smartly or your easy tactics for making your job simpler. 

Keeping these ideas in mind will help you stay motivated and productive. 

How to maximize productivity working from home?

There is no magic formula for high productivity, but there are things that can boost productivity while working from home. 

Here are some pointers to help you operate more effectively from home:

Make your workspace comfy

Working in an office helps you stay focused and on track. Try replicating this working environment in your house by converting an extra room into an office or installing a workstation behind the sofa. 

The place should be pleasant, free of additional displays (TV, Xbox, etc.), and equipped with everything you need to do your task. 

Stay organized and prioritize tasks

To keep on track, you need to start using a day planner. It’s a good idea to make a weekly work schedule with a list of activities to fulfill.

Make a to-do list. Sticking to a schedule might help you build stability and a routine.

Knowing your work schedule may assist you in managing your time and avoiding getting consumed by your tasks, allowing you to achieve a work-life balance.

We might become overburdened by work and fail to write crucial details about our jobs. 

If your memory is bothering you, you can take an online course on memory improvement to sharpen your memory and increase your productivity at work.

Commit to shorter but more intense work hours

When you concentrate intensively for shorter periods, you might be more productive. 

Time yourself for a couple of hours to see how long you can work without being distracted. If you can work for 30 minutes without becoming distracted, maintain working at that pace throughout the day.

Set an online timer after each break and work for the following 30 minutes without interruption.

Pause for a moment

Your brain can refocus and relax by resting regularly.

According to the Airtasker poll, taking frequent breaks is the best method to stay productive for 37% of remote employees. Get some food, drink water, and get some fresh air. 

Practice Self-care

This means eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly. 

Even small self-care practices may decrease stress, increase mood and stamina, and improve cognitive performance. 

As a result, you will be more effective and productive at work and in your daily life.

Conclusion

Employee productivity is about much more than increasing efficiency and output. It is also about taking care of your employees and yourself to perform and carry out the assigned tasks and responsibilities.

There are many suggestions for increasing productivity while working from home. You can experiment with these suggestions until you find the ones that work best for you.

This online productivity course is excellent if you have problems with your productivity. It provides lifelong access to the learning resources, 33 instructional materials, a bonus of three productivity webinars, and a certificate of accomplishment.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s make working from home more productive than ever before with Iris Reading!