Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.

-Stephen Covey

Do you feel less productive working from home?













Well, as of writing this article in the bright corner of my home office, you’re not alone . Remote work seems to be troubling many of my colleagues where it stifles their productivity and careers.

If you’re a business owner, I can feel your pain. But the reason for an employee's drop in productivity at home isn’t due to his or her laziness per se, but the lack of experience and knowhow. Here are 3 hacks to make sure your productivity and focus can be maintained, or even heightened at home.

1. Workspace Matters













Open space offices don’t work . Facebook, however, loves open space. They argue that lack of partition and walls encourage collaboration and creativity. However, many studies have shown numerous times that open space offices lower productivity while increasing anxiety and stress.

If this is your first time working from home, don't work on your bed. You should never connect two spaces with a different purpose. Create a separate workspace just for work. If that’s not possible due to your tiny cage in New York City, at least work at the kitchen table.

Separation is crucial for focus and efficiency.

2. Netflix + Workout

You should watch Netflix at home. Wait, what?













No, you shouldn’t watch Netflix while working. That’s contradictory to the “Workspace Matters” approach. However, what’s not contradictory is getting a solid workout. According to a Harvard study , it’s extremely important to get some workout into your routine to avoid depression. And the more remote work you do, lack of activity can trigger depression, which can slow down productivity. The problem is that it gets boring to do just pushups and lunges all day.

The solution? Connect your workout with something that’s fun.

I’m surprised that many people overlook this hack. Seriously, try watching Netflix while working out. If you don’t have a Netflix account, watch YouTube. By doing this, you’re able to push through that last set of squats at home. A workout leads to an increased blow flow, which may help you focus better.

3. Don’t Isolate

Happy brains perform better . Surprised?

Having a separate workspace and routine workouts are great for the brain. But the most important aspect we often ignore is our social connections. Remote work can negatively affect your ability to connect with others. As you stay more online and refuse to go out for ‘efficiency’, ‘safety’, and ‘comfort’, you might feel empowered to be the lone wolf.

However, the importance of keeping your brain is paramount to performance and your well-being. Strong social support is key to keeping your brain happy. Create a group chat and just talk. Use video conferencing with your friends. Dive into communities and share your passion. Social engagement is what being human is all about. Work from home shouldn’t change that in a meaningful way.

Separate Workspace – Workout with fun – Social Connection

You can’t truly be considered successful in your business life if your home life is in shambles. -Zig Ziglar Here’s the recap

Create a separate workspace.

Do home workouts while watching Netflix (or anything fun/interesting).

Engage socially through online chats, communities, and, video conferencing

With the above 3 simple brain hacks, you’ll be able to manage remote work more effectively while keeping your sanity. PS: If you’d like more help with breaking bad habits and forming a better life, join our FREE neuroscience app, Synapse . We'll keep you updated with free brain hacks and recommend real-life solutions.





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