You’re working remotely and struggling to stay productive. What can you do to get back on track?

2 Establish a routine and boundaries

Another way to boost your productivity is to create a consistent and comfortable routine that suits your personal and professional needs. This means finding a dedicated workspace, setting a regular schedule, and sticking to it as much as possible. It also means establishing boundaries between your work and personal life, and respecting them. For example, you can avoid checking your emails or taking calls after hours, or set a do-not-disturb mode on your devices. This will help you maintain a healthy work-life balance and prevent burnout.

3 Use the right tools and strategies

Remote work requires effective use of technology and collaboration tools to stay connected and coordinated with your stakeholders. You should choose the tools that best fit your work style, preferences, and goals, and use them wisely. For example, you can use video conferencing for meetings, instant messaging for quick updates, and cloud-based platforms for sharing documents and feedback. You should also adopt some strategies to optimize your remote work experience, such as batching similar tasks, blocking distractions, taking breaks, and rewarding yourself.

4 Build trust and rapport

One of the biggest challenges of remote work is to maintain trust and rapport with your stakeholders, who may be located in different time zones, cultures, or contexts. To overcome this challenge, you need to communicate frequently, openly, and respectfully with them, and show empathy and appreciation. You should also seek feedback, share successes and challenges, and celebrate milestones and achievements. By doing so, you will build strong relationships, foster collaboration, and enhance your reputation.

5 Seek support and learning

Finally, remote work can sometimes feel lonely or stressful, and you may need some support and learning to cope with it. You should not hesitate to reach out to your colleagues, managers, mentors, or coaches for help, advice, or guidance. You should also look for opportunities to learn new skills, improve your performance, or expand your network. For example, you can join online communities, webinars, courses, or events related to your field or interests. This will help you grow professionally and personally, and stay motivated and engaged.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?