Hopefully, you feel less adrift at sea in your telecommuting role by now. Once you settle into a predictable routine, though, it’s critical not to get too complacent. Part of what makes you the valuable team player you are, after all, is your continued commitment to improvement.
No matter how much you love your morning routine, you can always make it better. Try incorporating one or all of the five tips into your practice, and watch your productivity soar.
1. Positivity meditation
What is the first thing you do when your alarm rouses you? If you grab your cell phone and automatically check emails and the news, you miss out on prime time for programming your brain for success in the day ahead. During the twilight zone between sleep and full wakefulness, your mind is like a sponge, ready to absorb suggestions.
If you want to improve your mood and gear yourself up to tackle anything, make your first act each day to tune into a brief positivity meditation. You can find these for free on YouTube, and many videos last as few as five minutes. When you program your brain to see the opportunity in any challenge, you develop the confidence you need to build your dreams.
2. A healthy breakfast
While some experts no longer consider breakfast the most important meal of the day, you can find yourself distracted by hunger well before lunch if you try to run on java alone. Even though you’re at home, you can still prepare healthy grab-and-go freezer meals, like breakfast burritos made with vegetables. If you have a bit more time, why not sit down with the family while you enjoy your avocado toast and orange juice?
3. A rev-me-up workout
If can’t get to a gym right now, that doesn’t mean you have to abandon your fitness goals. You can do plenty of workouts in the privacy of your home. Start your day with a few minutes of jumping rope, followed by some calisthenics and perhaps a yoga flow or two.
Regular exercise offers a host of health benefits and prevents many chronic diseases. Research even shows that regular exercise can help your mind and body recover from stressful or traumatic events. If you struggle to motivate yourself, you can find many popular workout apps, such as Nike Training Club, Aaptiv and Zwift, some of which offer exclusive deals.
4. A to-do list
Part of your end-of-day routine should be to compose a to-do list for the following day. When you sit down to work in the morning, review this list and prioritize the most challenging item on it first. Once you manage the most intensive task of the day, the rest of your work hours feel like strolling downhill.
Plus, to maximize your productivity, you need to tackle the things that weigh on your mind the most first. Until you do, they will haunt you with whispers from the corners of your brain, and you won’t be able to maintain complete focus on any other tasks.
5. A colleague check-in
When you work in an office, you exchange pleasantries with colleagues every morning. One of the most challenging aspects of remote work is loneliness and a sense of disconnection from your team. If your workplace uses apps such as Mango or Slack to maintain communication, make checking in one of the items on your to-do list. Even a brief, “Hi gang, how is everyone today?” can make you feel less alone.
Also, it’s a wise idea to check in with your manager periodically. Set a reminder on your calendar to touch base with your immediate supervisor. Ask questions like, “Is there anything you would like me to do differently or improve?” to demonstrate your commitment to career growth despite the changing environment.
Add these five items to your work-from-home routine today
Even if you feel at home with your current telecommuting routine, you can always make it better. Employ these five methods to supercharge your productivity and feel better about your entire day.
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