Top 5 Tips to Increase Productivity while Working Remotely

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The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed millions of employees to work from home, including many who had never done so before. Many of these remote-work arrangements were implemented suddenly, leaving both employees and managers to navigate a new work reality amid personal anxieties and public health concerns.

Without intentional efforts from both workers and management, remote work—especially during such a tense and uncertain period—can leave staff feeling distracted, isolated, unmotivated, and stressed.

This crisis-driven work-from-home scenario affects us all. Work and personal life are colliding in unprecedented ways.

According to research from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 71 percent of organizations are struggling to adapt to remote work, particularly in the areas of productivity and communication, while 65 percent cite maintaining employee morale as a top challenge.

“COVID-19-related stress is having a dramatic impact on employee productivity,” said Ashley Miller, SHRM-SCP, workplace innovation manager at SHRM. “Meanwhile, feelings of burnout and reduced productivity have increased. Communication, support, trust, and recognition must remain priorities in this new normal to sustain high engagement and morale.”

Top 5 Tips to Increase Productivity While Working Remotely

1. Set Priorities

With so many competing demands on employees’ attention, leaders must step in to help teams prioritize tasks, noted Mark Royal, senior manager at Korn Ferry. “Reduce clutter by removing non-essential items from the to-do list and allow people to focus on what truly matters.”

Employees should also be realistic about what they can accomplish given their home situation and communicate those limitations to their supervisors.

Typically, remote workers enjoy “peace and quiet and large blocks of uninterrupted time,” explained Chris Dyer, a remote-work expert and organizational performance consultant based in Brea, California. However, these are not normal times, with partners, spouses, and children sharing the same space.

2. Define Boundaries

Remote employees should designate a specific area of the home as a workspace to improve focus and minimize interruptions, Robinson advised.

“Find a low-stress zone where you can concentrate,” he explained. “If you don’t have a separate room, choose an area with minimal foot traffic or a quiet corner. Establish clear physical boundaries around your workspace that are off-limits to household members. Whenever possible, only use this space when you need to work.”

It is also important to prevent intrusions by clearly informing others that you are unavailable during work hours.

Snow noted that successful remote workers build a distraction-free plan into their routine—securing a suitable workspace and coordinating with family members to limit personal interruptions. “First, it is disrespectful to everyone else in your home.”

Robinson added that emotional boundaries must also be established so that in-home workers are not constantly reminded of unfinished personal tasks that could undermine productivity.

3. Use Meeting Time Wisely

The more time spent in formal meetings, the less time remains for other responsibilities and valuable informal interactions with colleagues, Royal observed. “If it is not essential to the business or employee well-being, cancel it.”

Dyer pointed out that many organizations have increased one-on-one and company-wide Zoom meetings since sending employees home. “Both are often ineffective for collaboration,” he said. “While one-on-one discussions are sometimes necessary, people frequently contact a single colleague about a task instead of involving the entire team in a group conversation.”

Both Dyer and Royal recommend scheduling micro-meetings of 15 minutes to share information quickly and make timely decisions.

4. Overcommunicate

“Everyone’s candor radar is on high alert right now.”

“If people lack information, they fill the gap with their own assumptions. Managers need to overcommunicate so employees have the information they need to stop worrying and stay productive.”

Royal noted that the situation also offers opportunities for organizations to highlight stories of resilience and success in overcoming challenges.

He encouraged leaders to give employees a voice to share their experiences through pulse surveys or direct conversations. Asking questions such as “Are you able to work effectively?”, “How are you staying connected?”, and “Are we responding well?” helps gather feedback that can be acted upon promptly.

Royal emphasized the importance of clear communication about how performance goals and rewards will be handled. “This helps prevent employees from becoming distracted by uncertainty around reviews and compensation.”

5. Practice Self-Care

People must stay attuned to their mental state, Snow said. “Productivity improves when stress levels decrease. Build self-care into your daily routine—whether that means a walk in the sunshine, connecting with loved ones, or spending virtual social time with colleagues.”

Get outside as much as possible, Robinson agreed, to avoid cabin fever. “Growing research shows that time in nature reduces stress, promotes relaxation, and clears the mind. After work hours, watch a good movie, read a book, or cook a favorite meal. Maintain as active a social life as possible through FaceTime, Facebook, or Skype to stay connected with friends and family.”

Finally, keep perspective in check, he added. “Your greatest power is your mindset. It can either victimize you or empower you. When you look for the upside in difficult situations and focus on what you can control, it becomes easier to accept what lies beyond your influence.”

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