During the pandemic, most people tend to prefer working at home than working in the office. The preference for a work-from-home setup is reasonable since safety and precautions are at the top of everybody’s current priorities.
But while working from home may be ideal and timely amid the ongoing health crisis, it also presents specific disadvantages. For instance, the motivation to work and concentration needed to complete the task at hand is significantly affected. When it gets out of hand, it compromises the quality of deliverables expected from the staff.
How is 100% productivity maintained while working remotely?
One of the best ways for employees to stay motivated while working from home is by implementing a personal reward system. By rewarding themselves for completing big or small tasks, employees can propel themselves to finish tasks and projects on time with the highest quality possible.
How to start?
Remote employees can start off by creating a breakdown of all their objectives along with the corresponding rewards. Keep in mind that these rewards do not have to be fancy. Finishing off their shift an hour or two earlier than usual (after hitting deadlines) for them to bond with their loved ones, watch a movie, or even play their favorite video games are a few great examples of using a personal reward system.
With that in mind, here are a few more simple yet useful tips to help work-from-home employees maintain productivity through a self-reward system:
Tip 1. BE ORGANIZED AT ALL TIMES
Maintaining an organized, step-by-step process for completing tasks can be challenging in a work-from-home setup. Aside from the presence of more distractions, there are also additional matters that keep employees’ attention divided. These factors can range from household chores to family-related matters that significantly affect their overall work performance.
As an employee, it is their job to accomplish every task delegated to them on time. An effective way for employees to stay on track with their daily tasks is to set clear goals ahead of time.
It is proven that a person who organizes tasks and outlines a detailed plan on how they will reach point A to point B and so on ahead of time will less likely experience stress. In contrast, employees who are prone to rushing work at the last minute have a higher tendency of suffering from being burnout.
Tip 2. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Most of the time, employees tend to strain their physical and mental capabilities to finish a project (especially when it is a critical one). It is common for employees with hectic schedules to drink excessive amounts of caffeinated beverages and energy drinks to stay alert and focused.
Excessive caffeine levels in the body can lead to severe complications. There are certain nutritional deficiencies that can mimic physical and mental stressors and trigger depression, fatigue, and anxiety. The combination of psychological, emotional, and physical distress often leads to unhealthy coping habits and stress management practices at work.
Employees should always ensure that they are mentally and physically well enough to accomplish their tasks. By eating a balanced diet, following a regular sleep cycle, and actively distancing themselves from situations and ideas that promote negative and counterproductive thought processes, they can stay healthy and fit to work.
Aside from getting enough rest and maintaining a proper diet, it is also important to adopt a proactive lifestyle. Exercising regularly fuels the body and promotes hormones that aid in productivity and achieving a positive mindset.
Tip 3. DON’T WAIT FOR PAYDAY (TO REWARD YOURSELF)
Most of the time, workers tend to reward themselves during payday. Thus, it is not surprising to encounter “one-time billionaire” co-workers, or those who impulsively splurge their salaries in one go. The problem with employees rewarding themselves only during payday is it makes them forget how to cherish and appreciate their daily achievements in a more appropriate manner.
Indeed, rewards and incentives are effective reminders of one’s hard work and effort. However, this should not justify overspending paychecks. Budgeting one’s hard-earned money promotes better discipline and instills money-saving habits in the lifestyles of employees.
MOMENTUM, LOSE NO MORE
The ongoing health crisis has truly shed light on the pros and cons that come with working from home. At best, it remains to be one of the best choices for businesses to stay afloat while keeping their employees safe. It should also be noted that employees deal with different situations at home. Some are single parents, some have poor internet access. In worst-case scenarios, some employees are victims of domestic abuse (in this case, the intervention of authorities and professionals is needed).
A concise checklist of all the tasks that need to be done in conjunction with an internal rewarding system can help staff pinpoint and resolve task-related issues more easily. This combination helps alleviate stress and improve productivity.
There may still be several other ways that employees can stay motivated while working from home, but following the three simple steps elaborated in this article will help them concentrate and overcome the distractions and stressors that affect their performance.
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