The year 2020 is just starting, yet there are already a lot of challenges to take in. The most fearsome of them all is the Coronavirus pandemic. It has shaken the world – businesses have ceased operating, people have been ordered to stay home, and country leaders have locked their nations down.

It’s a huge leap that we should take so we can continue with our lives. 

When SARS first appeared in the early 2000s, I was only 13 and studying high school in a home-and-school campus run by Catholic nuns.

We – the students – were “cut off” from the outside world. So I didn’t have any idea how severe the effects SARS had caused. It didn’t matter to me then because I was young. 

After nearly two decades, another troublesome Coronavirus has appeared. And it’s apparent how it’s changed the way we live, which we now call a “new normal.” 

It’s hard to believe it! In a snap, we’ve made a 180-degree turn. Suddenly, things are different, but it’s not all bad.

On the positive side, the circumstance has forced businesses to transition to online channels to market their products and services. It’s altered the way some of us eke out a living.

Today, we’re seeing a rise in the number of virtual talents who are earning online from the comforts of their home.

Productivity Tips: Making The Most Out Of Staying At Home

Now that we’re cooped up indoors, and most of us work from home, we want to be productive as much as we used to. I love working from home.

However, it’s also challenging because at home, distractions are everywhere. If you’re stuck at a small house with six people in it, it’s hard to focus on tasks. That’s my situation now.

So in this article, I’d share my productivity tips on working from home. I hope you’ll learn actionable lessons from these.

1. Using A Timer

The one thing that would make Eugene Schwartz, a legendary copywriter, feel lost at work wasn’t a wallet or a phone, but a timer.

Yes! He had a timer with him every second he worked. And he would usually set it for 33.33 (33 minutes, 33 seconds) whenever he had to write a copy. What’s with the number?

After several trials and errors, he found out that a person can entirely focus on one specific task with full effort in about 33 minutes and 33 seconds.

Using a timer to set a “deadline” creates a state of urgency. We don’t want to see time running out because it would pressure us.

Thus, we’re forced to perform. If we wisely use this kind of behavior response that’s triggered by our brain, we can be productive. We can react at a different positive pace.

As a result, we think faster, and ideas surface almost immediately, too. The key is to trick your brain about having a deadline.

Remember those times at school when you had to submit your homework the following day? Or when the teacher only gave you an hour to complete a project? It’s crazy, but it does the job.

For sure, you’ve experienced working on deadlines, so you know the wonders it can do.

However, you also have to stay committed to the target time, or else the timer won’t be of use. If you haven’t tried it, now is the time.  

I love using an online timer called E.ggTimer (e.ggtimer.com/).

I learned about this tool from Tim Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Workweek book.

You set it by adding the time after the site URL in the address bar. Then to start the timer, you have to press Enter.

For example, you want to set the time at 33:33; it would look like this on the address bar, https://e.ggtimer.com/33mins33seconds.

I ordered a digital timer online because I don’t want to toggle between tabs to check the time. I can just place the timer beside my laptop, which is convenient for me.

2. Set Specific Tasks And Write Them Down.

We struggle to get things done. But having a good structure helps smoothly accomplish the tasks that require our attention.

This is when setting specific tasks, and writing them down becomes a time-saver. If we have a structure, we can seamlessly move from one task to another.

Compared that to shopping for groceries without any list, it kills time and efficiency. 

Write everything you need to do in your journal or a sticky note. Then, keep the list in sight – beside you or stick the note in front of your laptop if it’s work-related.

The more times you see it, the slimmer the chance of forgetting it. It’s why moms always put the reminder notes at the refrigerator door and not anywhere else. The door is a visible area to everyone at home, so it’s hard not to do what’s asked in the note.

If you skip the task, you get that inkling feeling that something doesn’t sit right. 

The psychological theory behind this is called Lewin’s field theory. In a nutshell, once a task has been started, it creates a task-specific tension.

The knowledge of an unfinished task is activated in the memory. Simply put, you won’t stop thinking about it. And the tension can only be relieved once the task has been completed.

When you start working on your tasks, you’d feel uneasy if you can’t check off every single one on the list.

To utilize your time, write out three significant tasks relevant to your goals, and create a routine or structure out of it. 

3. Never Fill Your Schedule.

I used to fill my schedule because I believed “Time is gold.” I acquired this habit when I was in high school, wherein our sister-in-charge (nun) would give us an entire day timetable without a minute gap between each task.

But I realized it wasn’t applicable in the “real world” – wherein I work and the environment isn’t conducive for productivity. I discovered several factors that could disrupt the set schedule, so it’s best to include “open” hours.

When I work in the living room and my twin nephews visit us, I will leave whatever I do hanging to play with them. It’s usually an hour or more before I could go back to my work.

If my schedule is full, I’d feel bad not catching up on pending tasks. If I don’t feel any better, I will dump the remaining tasks.

But I made alterations. Now, I have two or more hours open if something comes up, like if my aunt or nephews visit us, or if I need to take a break and listen to music, make sandwiches, or cook. 

Doing it this way gives a good balance between work and personal life. At best, it doesn’t tire us quickly, so we have more energy for other essential tasks.

The lesson? Don’t compromise your health by overworking. Make time for entertainment or fun hobbies with families at home. 

4. Don’t Feel Guilty Of Wasting Time.

What does wasting time look like? I have no idea! It boils down to how you “waste” your time.

If you ask me, there’s no such thing as wasted time if you “waste” your time on things that help you grow. In short, it’s a matter of wasting time wisely. 

When I don’t work, I waste time reading a book, cooking, or watching TED talks.

Little things, such as just sitting down writing on a journal, making art, or just thinking, is not a waste of time because they help you learn. 

So don’t feel guilty if you feel like you’re spending time on nonsense things. Everything you do provides you a learning experience. Even spending hours playing video games isn’t a waste of your precious time.  

Jane McGonigal, a game designer who spoke at a TED Talk, believes playing online games can solve the world’s most urgent problems.

According to her (and this talk was in 2010), people spend 3 billion hours weekly on playing online games, which isn’t nearly enough to help humans find a solution to hunger, climate change, and poverty. 

How on earth is playing an online game a way to solve the world’s most pressing issues?

Well, online gaming is a kind of virtual learning. It’s all about harnessing the power you possess in the game world and using it to solve day-to-day problems. You can watch the whole video here.

Do you believe now that there’s no such thing as wasting time? If you believe it, then you can move forward without feeling guilty that you’ve wasted 24 hours for nothing. 

Final Thoughts

Each of us responds differently to the present situation, so the tips here may or may not apply to you.

What matters is you use time in a way that it increases your wisdom of things. After this whole pandemic thing is over, prove to yourself that you’re a better person than before, even if it’s just 1% better.

You don’t have to push for drastic changes because every tiny step will advance you closer to your goals. If something sparks your creativity, there’s no best time to invest time in it than now.