Remote workers, what is your unique technique to keep you focused/motivated every day?

Yamato Kaneko
7 replies
We just launched Undesk, a new collaboration+productivity product for remote workers. https://www.producthunt.com/posts/undesk-2 And I wanted to ask the community, how do you hack your daily productivity when you work from home? For me... it's Pomodoro + clock ticking BGM. Somehow it's been super effective in keeping me focused. What is yours?

Replies

Arz
I follow the 1-3-5 rule. In to-do list, I create 1 task of high priority, 3 of medium & 5 of low. This keeps me focused!
Yamato Kaneko
@arzmn Never heard of it, but it sounds like a really great framework. You spend minimal time thinking. But you are forced to prioritize. Thanks!
Dan Cabaniss
Being a father of a young child as well as a remote worker for 10 years, it's been quite important for me to maximize my time. I don't know if I have a system as much as I have a few tips. These are just my own personal opinions. Also i'm a javascript developer and don't have too many meetings usually. 1. Have a dedicated workspace. The more you work from the kitchen table or the couch, the more distractions there are. Preferably a dedicated room that's private and a desk. If that's not possible consider a coworking location. I know its not always affordable though. 2. Get dressed - I know people that work in their PJ's and I think there's just something about getting dressed as if someone could show up at any point that helps you get in the right mindset to be productive. You don't have to put on a suit, but sitting around in your boxes doesn't really spell "i'm going to work really hard today" 3. Have a plan for the day. The book "The 1 thing" really kind of helped me prioritize my work. What's the main thing you need to accomplish today. Attack that first and don't stop until it's done. Then start on the next most important task. 4. If possible, get up early. I try to get more of my busy work done at 6am - 10am so that the rest of the day I have the flexibility to jump on client calls or whatever curve balls are thrown at me during the day. Not sure that's what you were looking for but that's my system. good luck with your launch!
Yamato Kaneko
Great point @nina_austria ! We are actually building a product called Undesk that encourages frequent communication and increases mutual motivation while working remotely. Check it out and let us know what you think. https://www.producthunt.com/post...
Yamato Kaneko
@dan_cabaniss I do the same thing as your #4. I try to do all the deep work in the morning and use the rest of the day for meetings, emails, things I don't need the most mental energy for. Thanks for the great tips. They are all great!
Nina Austria | Afforai
@dan_cabaniss Completely agree with all of these. Another thing I try to do as a remote worker is maintain regular communication with my colleagues and team members -- I find this helps me stay engaged and motivated + gives us all a sense of belonging.
Nina Austria | Afforai
@yamatokaneko that's awesome, I'll check it out!