Working From Home: Will productivity be chasing the winds?
March 17, 2020 
21 
ShareBe your own authority at home. Exercise discipline to manage time, know what to get done and at what time.
Photo credit: Andrea Piacquadio
The novel coronavirus has struck hard, forcing us to take measures we never thought we could ever take. Talk of schools being closed. Travel bans. Churches, malls, and other public places setting up sanitizing points at every entrance. Public events getting postponed indefinitely, and at worst, cancelled. Employees working from home - now that sounds fun, no? Sure, it would have been better if we stayed home under other circumstance rather than a pandemic. But here we are.
Now that employees are working from home, a huge shift in productivity is likely to come with it. With all the distractions and freedom (your supervisor is somewhere washing hands and probably getting distracted too) productivity teeters on the edge of a nosedive.
In this brief listicle we examine productivity and how you can be super productive, even at home. But first, are a few distractions that are likely to make working at home challenging:
1. Sleep: Yes, this one had to start us off. When reporting to work, the alarm goes off early to provide time to prepare and commute, keeping in mind the traffic snarl ups in Kenya. When working from home however, you can sleep through to 9 in the morning then jolt up, open your laptop and as long as it is connected to internet, work in bed. Now that is a good way to get no work done, but sleep. This should be viewed as having more time that can be utilised to do more.
2. Family and friends: Someone’s making pancakes in the kitchen, the aroma gets wafted to your nostrils and that 5 – minute break ends up with you running in circles and getting nothing done. Or it’s your relative yelling at you from the living room to come watch a breaking news. Or your neighbour who stops by with a stack of cards. Last night they beat you at the game, and your ego craves revenge. Whichever scenario, friends and family are a distraction.
3. House chores: Your mind has drifted far away; to the deepest and wisest part in your skull, in search of the right words to use in that report your boss awaits, when your eyes land on dirty dishes in the sink with fruit flies hovering around. You like things as clean as a whistle, so goodbye to the report.
4. Social media and Netflix: At work, these have no leash on you because supervision is watertight. At home, catching up on an episode before acting on an email won’t do any harm, right? It ends in suspense, so just one more episode, then boom, you’re running out time and nothing has been done. Or your best friend or crush is live on Facebook! Can’t miss this! Sayonara, work.
With the above opponents (among others) beating the discipline out of us, can we really be productive while at home? Yes, and here are some tips:
Have a dedicated space: Yes, get off that bed. A dedicated space could be a desk. Set up in an environment that bars distraction. This will help your mind focus on the job at hand, and keep family and friends off your map because your dedicated space is your sanctum of silence.
Photo credit: Andrea Davis
Discipline: Why is it that when at work you are productive but when at home productivity flat-lines? Authority draws the line. Be your own authority at home. Exercise discipline to manage time, know what to get done and at what time. Know your concentration span and use it to draw up a to-do-list, with break activities in between, could be to eat; read a chapter; take a walk; talk with someone etc. In the book “Talk to the Hand”, Lynne Truss calls it obedience to the unenforceable. No one is nudging you, but you are your own authority and you obey the unenforceable. What a character to have in this day and age!
1. Find purpose in what you do: When you understand that it is not only about the salary you get at the end of the month but also about the difference your input brings and the value you add to the society, you’ll work well even in a trench. Okay, let’s just keep it at even at home. People who have found purpose and meaning in their jobs have been quoted saying that for them, Saturday can be Monday and Monday can be Saturday! I guess that calls for self-reflection.
2. Break work into intervals: This might be the magic you need! Instead of working throughout, compartmentalize high concentration tasks and low ones, and then break them into intervals with reference to your concentration span. The Pomodoro Technique works.
Was this article useful? We would so much love to hear from you. Happy productivity while #StayingSafe #WashingHandsWithSoap #HelpingStopCorona
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ADAN | April 05, 2020 02:02
Magnificent golden pieces of salient input that can go along way. great thinking put together. Appreciated and thanks
Edger | April 03, 2020 16:38
Yeah. The advice works for people who do computer related work, but for those I. Other fields like driving its bad on their side
Dennis | April 03, 2020 12:13
Fantastic
Mukasa | April 03, 2020 07:02
In deed it's awesome..and good idea
Kissa | April 03, 2020 03:38
It's really interesting to work at home
Julia | April 02, 2020 17:33
Informative thank ypu
Okello | April 02, 2020 16:38
I like it
Akorimo | April 02, 2020 15:26
Good idea...but I don't know which business I can do on line
Ruth | April 02, 2020 15:19
Thank you for this! Still on my way to be fully productive while working from home.
Irene | April 02, 2020 11:48
great read!
Masereka Alfred | April 02, 2020 10:55
Good afternoon everyone.Hoping everyone is doing well. Am happy to be part of this.
sunday | April 02, 2020 10:55
Thank very much for the advise
Deborah | April 02, 2020 10:43
Spot on !
JOSPHINE | April 02, 2020 10:40
Very informative.I love it.
PETER | April 02, 2020 09:44
I have a 5 and 4 year old.. Hehe working from home is aTask Sometimes customers hear kids crying or my wife calling about breaking news
Kirabo | April 02, 2020 09:04
Oola LA
MERCY | April 02, 2020 08:44
Educative. I love this.
kevin | April 02, 2020 08:41
Feel motivated than before. Good piece of advice
Okwaroi | April 02, 2020 08:38
Great and useful. I feel to be among the team!
Elijah | April 02, 2020 07:49
Above all we need prayers,,nice one......
Wilfred | April 02, 2020 07:49
Great information to grow your dreams.
daniel | April 02, 2020 07:33
Wonderful well said
Casmil | April 02, 2020 07:12
Point taken Thanks very useful
Walida | April 02, 2020 06:59
Very very in deed important to note.
Namuyanja | April 02, 2020 06:56
Point at hand
JOSEPH | April 02, 2020 06:50
Well done! Discipline, Discipline, Discipline!!!
Nankunda | April 02, 2020 06:46
Very helpful thank you
Muraguri | April 02, 2020 06:26
Self discipline for sure will keep one at such times.thanks you are great
Muraguri | April 02, 2020 06:24
Sincerely discipline here is what will keep us moving.self discipline. Thanks.you are great
Bismark | April 02, 2020 06:17
wonderful piece
JAMES KALOTUM | April 02, 2020 06:14
I like that ...very wonderful and save
Molax Kevin | April 02, 2020 06:11
Brilliant,,
Bridget | April 02, 2020 06:02
Very helpful thankyou
moses | April 02, 2020 05:55
Helpfull. Discipline maters here
Marrion | April 02, 2020 05:38
I needed to read this
Fatinah | April 02, 2020 05:20
Good article, any opportunity of an online job is welcome
Edith | April 02, 2020 05:19
Love it! thanks alot.
NANCY | April 02, 2020 04:56
Nice one
Paul | April 01, 2020 14:45
Priceless tit bits of crucial reminders. This is why I chose you and follow you. Thumps up my good company
Dennis | March 31, 2020 11:18
Go to now, Very informative!I agree that at this time...Working from home requires utmost faithfulness to your earthly master!
Jonah | March 30, 2020 12:16
Very helpful
Anguyo | March 29, 2020 20:52
Very important points worth implementing
Betina | March 29, 2020 16:13
It was helpful.
Joy | March 28, 2020 14:48
NICE ARTICLE
LEONARD | March 28, 2020 08:34
Its a recommendable advice. Thanks
Eva | March 27, 2020 21:44
Well said, Thanks
Fredrick | March 27, 2020 11:49
Great piece
Patrick | March 27, 2020 08:47
For our safety, lets endure with the situation we are in
OLIVE | March 27, 2020 08:16
So encouraging ....
MARK | March 27, 2020 08:00
Its best i love it
Philip | March 27, 2020 03:48
Working online is advantageous since you decide how and when will you want things done
ROSE | March 26, 2020 20:37
Great!
SARAH | March 26, 2020 18:30
I like it,how can I join
SARAH | March 26, 2020 18:23
I like this plz add...
Alinaitwe | March 26, 2020 17:44
loved it
fred | March 26, 2020 16:32
a good one
OMUNA JOHN | March 26, 2020 16:11
How this can be done
violah | March 26, 2020 15:08
Amazing so inspiring.
EVERLYNE | March 26, 2020 14:41
Epic thanks on my way to working at home starting friday
Dorcas keli | March 26, 2020 14:14
good recommendations
Rashida | March 26, 2020 13:57
That's more of good information
Erick | March 26, 2020 13:18
I like this
Turyatunga | March 26, 2020 13:13
Awesome
Banda | March 26, 2020 13:09
It's really good ides
Deurence | March 26, 2020 12:52
Quite interesting!
Deurence | March 26, 2020 12:44
I like this. My biggest distraction is house chores! now I know how to go about it. Slot them during the breaks!
KOROS | March 26, 2020 12:38
This is very helpful!. Thank you
Jerry | March 26, 2020 12:28
Just what I was looking for.
opio | March 26, 2020 12:26
How can I do it too.
Walter | March 26, 2020 12:24
Its easy and inspiring.
JOHN | March 26, 2020 11:59
Yes this article was useful.
Peninah | March 26, 2020 11:46
Excellent article.
BRIAN | March 26, 2020 11:25
Marvelous.. kindly share with us any online job, I have internet access, laptop and free time
Obbo | March 26, 2020 09:45
This so nice and i love it
George | March 26, 2020 07:29
Great read and informative too!
Gideon | March 26, 2020 07:12
Discipline is key. It beats me sometimes
Joshua | March 26, 2020 07:01
Its amazing wauh!!!
Mary | March 26, 2020 06:15
Please i would want to work with you.i love this
mubiru | April 02, 2020 09:24
Am ready to help you.contact me on 0754059740
MACHUA | March 26, 2020 06:13
Quite insightful
ALI | March 26, 2020 05:24
Invaluable note.
Omoding | March 25, 2020 14:01
I really love it but how can join it
Gerald | March 23, 2020 08:50
I like this .add me in👆
MUCHEMI | March 22, 2020 18:51
I really embrace this is so inspiring
Ikembire | March 20, 2020 14:04
How can I do this too
Stephene | March 18, 2020 09:48
I love this