One interesting - and some might say positive - outcome of the pandemic is the widespread adoption of work from home arrangements. Roughly 8 in 10 workers in Singapore are keen to make telecommuting and flexible work arrangements a permanent fixture. Lowered costs further incentivise the shift for employers, which seems inevitable for now.
However, given the many distractions we face at home, how might those who have embraced remote working stay on top of their game? We have just the thing you need to ensure that work isn’t compromised.
5 Ways to Boost Productivity in Your ‘Digital Office’
The office provides a conducive environment for work. Without it, you may find it a bit more difficult to stay as productive as you’d like. From household chores to the television in the background, there are many distractions that compete for your attention at home. Here are some ideas to help you maintain your focus while working in your digital office.
1. Have a dedicated work area
If you don’t have one already, get your setup ready with a desk and ergonomic office chair. Populate the desk with your monitor and things you know you’ll need for work, like stationery, coffee, and tea. Make this space in your home a dedicated ‘work zone’.
Some may find that dressing up - as opposed to staying in your pyjamas - can provide an instantaneous boost to motivation. Spend some time in the morning on a routine that helps you get into ‘work mode.’
2. Take breaks & embrace down-time
It’s easy to be so absorbed in a project that the day flies by and it’s time for dinner before you know it. But working from home doesn’t mean going from dawn to dusk without a break. Set a timer to go off every few hours - when it goes off, get up from your desk and take a short walk. You might find that your best ideas come to you when you’re on a break.
3. Ensure all the tools you need are at your fingertips
Without the proper tools, it’s difficult to get the job done to the best of your abilities. Working in a digital office environment means having access to essential services such as:
— Video meeting tools like CISCO Webex Meeting
— Instant messaging applications including Microsoft Teams and Slack
— Collaboration programs like Trello and ClickUp
— File sharing services such as Google Drive and Dropbox
— CRM tools like Salesforce and HubSpot
Additionally, products like M1 Cloud UC (Unified Communication) telephony give you the ability to make and receive calls via your business fixed line from different devices including your smartphone, laptop, and desktop. Having your calls to the office line routed to your mobile means no more important calls missed!
4. Stay engaged with co-workers
Staying connected with your colleagues helps maintain your drive and gives a sense of belonging. Using messaging apps such as Slack to have not only work-related conversations, but also for quick catch-ups can make a real difference when you’re not going into the office every day.
5. Maintain your usual working hours
This can be a problem in the initial stages of working from home. Because you don’t have to physically leave the building, you may find yourself working many more hours than you usually would, which may cause you to feel more burnt out at the end of the week.
Unless you have a tight deadline to meet that can’t be avoided, make sure you start up and shut down your computer at around the same time as you normally would if you were at the office.
How 5G Technology Can Help Productivity
5G technology can ensure you’re staying as productive as possible in several ways:
• Faster downloads/uploads: Forget having to sit around waiting for large files to download - it’ll happen in an instant, enabling you to get into it and get your work done faster.
• Minimised time in digital office meetings: With its low latency, increased bandwidth, and faster speeds, you’ll find that video calls and conferences will run more smoothly with little to no instances of ‘Could you please repeat that?’
• Fast connectivity wherever you are: No longer are broadband speeds limited to your home. If you’re meeting a client face-to-face, you’ll still have access to ultra-high data speeds.
Design a Work from Home Haven with M1
Stay productive working from your digital office with M1’s work from home essential services which are now on offer. These include the cost-saving M1 Cloud UC and CISCO Webex Meeting services to keep you connected and performing to the best of your abilities.
Plus, with a 5G compatible mobile phone, you can join the 5G network! Priced from just $0 with the Bespoke Flexi Plan, simply add on the 5G Booster pack - yes it is that easy!