Smart working top tips to boost productivity
9 April 2025
Is working from home as productive as working from our office? It could be, but if it’s something completely new for you, you might find yourself in a weird and unusual situation, outside your daily routine and surrounded by lots of distractions that can affect your productivity.
At Advise Wise we’ve practiced regular remote working since day one and we’ve learned a trick or two to make things work even when we have to stay home, sharing spaces and days with a partner and maybe kids and pets.
Get yourself a dedicated working space
Unless you already have your home office that you can use, it’s highly recommended to create a dedicated workspace for your remote working.
Pick a quiet room or even a corner of the house where you can focus on your work and have your video conferences and calls in peace, with as few distractions as possible.
Despite an armchair or a sofa may look very comfy and inviting, try to get a desk and a proper chair for your workspace, your back and your posture will be grateful.
Set up your laptop and notepad in a spot with a good light, not only it will help for video calls but it will also improve your concentration.
Minimalism
Try to keep your workspace decluttered, minimalism helps focus and reduces distractions.
Add a few plants if you have them; studies show they can bring numerous benefits to a workplace: they bolster well being considerably, clean the air and improve memory retention. Plants have a huge impact on mood as well, as they create a stress-relief oasis , boosting creativity and making people happier; but above all they can increase productivity, too! Plus that lovely green touch decorates your workspace, matching with any style and furniture you might have.
Plan plan plan
Benjamin Franklin said “Failing to plan is planning to fail”.
Plan your daily workflow and set priorities. Start making a list of all the things you want to accomplish and the objectives you want to achieve. Sticking to a routine will help you stay focused and eliminate distractions.
The use of technology can help you get the most of remote working- there are plenty of online tools to organise and track your tasks, make to do lists and set priorities.
A great way to stay organised and work efficiently is to finish every day making a to do list for the next day, so that in the morning you know where to start from and you have all your tasks on hand. You can go back to them at any time, update your list during the day and re-set priorities, as soon as new tasks come up. It’s a great way to stay focused and motivated on what you have to do.
Plan your calls and remote meetings with clients, get creative with the available technology to keep in touch. It’s important to stay connected while apart, especially if you work in a team, get in touch with your colleagues and in general with people you usually work with. It’s incredible how this can help motivation and team spirit.
Take care of your wellbeing
Keep an eye on how you are seated, checking your posture it’s correct during the day. Open the window to get some fresh air, it will oxygen your brain, helping you concentrate better.
Remember regular breaks are important to stay focused. Make sure you take a break from your screen as well. Stand up, stretch your legs, have a brew and go for a walk if you can. If you fancy working out, that’s a great way to switch off and recharge, even at home. There are plenty of free workout videos online, you don’t need a gym.
Dedicate some time to your personal development
You can plan some time for your personal development, too. Working from home gives you more freedom on your schedule; try to squeeze in some time to learn something new and refine your skills. Especially if it’s something you are passionate about, reading and study will stimulate your concentration, empowering you with new knowledge.
Take time to keep informed too; it’s important to keep up-to-date with all the disruption the coronavirus is causing in the market. News Feeds like this one aggregate all real time product and process updates to help you monitor the market changes.
And if you need, isolate yourself from surrounding noises- close the door of the room you are working in, silent all alert sounds and notifications on your devices. Another good option is to get your headphones on; there are relaxing musics that stimulate concentration and white noise around you.
You got this
Attitude matters as well, so stay positive and make the most of all the tools out there to plan your remote working. It might take you a day or two to adjust, but once you are in the swing, you will appreciate the comfort of working from home.
If you believe it, it will be a success!
