How to create a productive routine when working remotely - part 4

Set a Timer

When you’re working towards a deadline, you’ll want to avoid being constantly interrupted. That’s why blocking out time in your calendar (as mentioned above) and setting deadlines for your work is so important. Using a timer or countdown alarm for the time you’ve allowed for a task will help you retain focus – something happens at a subconscious level when you’re working ‘on the clock’. When the alarm goes off, take a break. The Pomodoro technique recommends a 25 minute block of time to focus on a single task and then 5 minute break. Do this 4 times and then have a longer break. For remote working, this allows you to fully focus on work activities and then do some domestic chores during the breaks, satisfying that nagging sense of things you need to do around the house. You can use a timer app such as Pomodoro on your smartphone or computer and/or a time logging app to keep track of your various activities during the day (eg: Rescue Time, Lazy Cure) so you can review at the end of the day where you actually spent your time.