Over the last few years, working remotely has become increasingly common. Globally, it’s estimated that even though many companies have resumed physical office operations, around 28% of all working adults are involved in remote work. This represents an 8% jump in just a three-year period.
That said, while many turn to remote work for its perceived benefits, one area that seems to be negatively impacted is productivity. Recent studies conducted by Stanford’s Institute for Economic Policy and Research for WFH Research reveal that remote workers can experience productivity dips between 10% and 20%. As a result, workers tend to perform less effectively while also feeling less engaged with their tasks and teams. For professionals, this can result in significant career hurdles, which include low morale and job dissatisfaction.
Health
Wear the Right Eyewear
Working online is a key part of remote work. Unfortunately, a 2023 report from Fortune states that around 43% of workers say being online too long has caused them ocular issues. Eye health can seriously shape your work performance, as any discomfort can result in poor concentration and even absenteeism. To prevent this, it’s important to arm yourself with eyewear that can offer protection and even correction.
If you’re working from home, you can easily get these glasses online. FramesDirect has a wide range of eyeglasses perfect for remote workers. You can opt to use glasses with blue light filters, which are available with or without a prescription. They block out the potentially harmful light spectrum that devices emit, so they can safeguard your sight from problems like fatigue and pain that happen with blue light overexposure.
For best results, make sure to wear these glasses no matter what device you’re currently working on so there is less risk of incurring ocular straining that hurts your focus.
Practice Regular Eye Exercises
On average, WorkLife reports that remote workers spend up to 13 hours just in front of their devices. These extended sedentary periods can be detrimental to the body, which is why many remote workers tend to feel sluggish mentally and physically after work.
Now, while many remedy this with little bouts of stretching here and there, most forget to do the same for their eyes. Ironically, the eyes are the most taxed body part during work since being online is very vision-heavy. Over time, overly stressed eyes can experience vision issues, which can hurt how quickly you absorb and get through your tasks.
An easy way to address this is by also exercising your eyes, even while still at your desk. For instance, you can do the 20-20-20 routine:
• Every 20 minutes,
• Focus on something 20 feet away
• For 20 seconds.
This helps the eyes relieve tension so your vision can stay relaxed and clear.
Prioritize Hydration
Hydration is key to proper body function, and this extends to the aspects that can shape your productivity. Even just 2% fluid loss, or mild dehydration, can affect reaction time, memory, and concentration. A lack of hydration can even impair circulation, leading to bodily pains.
The same goes for the eyes, wherein a lack of fluids can cause irritation. All of these physical challenges can tear you away from work, making it harder to complete your projects. That said, keep hydrating boosts with you at all times.
For starters:
• Keep a refillable water bottle nearby to remind you to take sips regularly.
• Have something like Visine soothing eye drops to topically enhance ocular lubrication and complement your rehydration efforts.
Prepare Well-Balanced Foods
Weight gain and malnutrition are common concerns among remote workers because proper eating habits are often pushed aside in favor of hustling through more work. For many, getting up to cook is just another waste of time, which leads some to eat unhealthy, pre-packaged foods and drinks.
That said, nutrition plays a key role in productivity. When the body feels like it’s missing key nourishment, it’s less capable of high-functioning responsibilities, which can manifest in your work.
To fix this:
• Meal-prep during the weekends. Doing so ensures that you have something balanced and tasty to eat during work hours without having to break your workflow since they’re already made.
Tools
Invest in Reliable Internet
Since remote work depends on being online, connection interruptions can impact productivity. Consequently, it’s better to invest in a reliable internet provider such as Nomad Internet.
Our robust infrastructure with heightened cybersecurity measures is specifically designed to satisfy the connectivity needs of remote workers, so you don’t have to worry about suddenly dropping out of key tasks or your loading speeds slowing down.
Use Ergonomic Accessories
To make your remote working space more conducive to focused work, try using ergonomic accessories. They improve your body’s comfort and reduce aches associated with long stretches of sitting.
Per an article by Business, this leaves workers with more time and mental energy that they can funnel toward completing their work properly, rather than wasting by repeatedly readjusting their workstations.
Even if you find yourself with a limited home working space, brands like ErgoFoam offer smaller-sized products that you can even take on the road.
Try Time-Blocking Apps
If you find it hard to stay productive because you easily get overwhelmed, try digital time-blocking apps. Because these are meant to help you break down your entire working day, you can allocate your time more mindfully.
For instance, the Sunsama app allows you to clearly plot out your day via a user-friendly interface that works for daily and weekly tasks. Since this can also be integrated to work with your other scheduling tools, like Google Calendar, you won’t forget any deadlines or meetings.
This way, you’re not going to be scrambling to squeeze in last-minute work that may hurt output.
Add More Natural Lighting
Evidence suggests that lighting can influence a person’s cognition. In particular, natural lighting has been found to be the most beneficial since it naturally uplifts moods and sharpens concentration.
This can result in faster problem-solving since your mind is working faster and clearer.
That said, if you can’t access enough natural light, you can try to mimic it with a light therapy lamp. Manufacturers like Verilux offer these in a range of sizes, so you can set one next to you and enjoy the effects of your faux sun, no matter your working shift.
Scheduling
Schedule Peer Interactions
According to the earlier cited Forbes report, another productivity hurdle that remote workers face is loneliness. Without regular peer interactions, workers can feel isolated and demotivated to work better.
So, if you’re working with a team, why not try to schedule online meetings? Even just having a chat platform like Slack or Telegram can help boost morale, as it allows you to engage with people who are mostly in the same boat.
Set Working Hours
Since many remote workers feel the lines between their personal and professional lives are blurred, they tend to overwork and burn out.
To avoid this:
• Set clear working hours. This will help you avoid distractions that may eat up your “office time” while also ensuring that once your last hour is filled, you can fully disconnect.
This habit will help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, which is integral for long-term productivity.
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Article written by Sadie Gildon