Test Your Productivity

It’s no mystery that one of the biggest problems people face in their jobs is finding ways to maximize their productivity. When I began working from home it became a blessing and a curse all at the same time. I was happy and relieved to finally have the freedom to work on my own time and schedule, however, distractions were easy to fall into when there was no one there to make me work.

I realized fairly quickly that I was going to have to make some adjustments. I noticed myself hitting snooze more than I wanted to. I noticed myself getting up for a snack or taking a break more than I would if I were working away from home. When these things started to compound I noticed my productivity was decreasing rapidly. 

The week after I noticed this was becoming an issue I sat down on Sunday and scheduled my week– as I typically do– but this week I scheduled where and when I would be working. I noticed that I am more productive when I am working my “current job” away from home and more productive working on my “side gig” when I am at home.

When I looked further into it, I learned that when you are surrounded by other humans, whether it be in a coffee shop or an office, whether you all are performing the same tasks or not, you are subconsciously compelled to work harder and more diligently. It works almost as a motivator for you. 

When I finally realized this was what I needed to improve my own productivity, I began scheduling Monday/Wednesday/Friday as my coffee shop work days and Tuesday/Thursday as my work-at-home days. This might not necessarily be the schedule for everyone, so play with your schedule and find what works for you!