{"id":10149,"date":"2020-06-05T11:00:15","date_gmt":"2020-06-05T10:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/?p=10149"},"modified":"2023-01-16T18:06:29","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T18:06:29","slug":"effective-time-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/effective-time-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Effective Time Management While Working From Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time management is one of the biggest challenges any professional has to face.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even in a traditional workplace, figuring out how to organise your schedule to be as productive as possible is tough. When you\u2019re working from home and you don\u2019t have the structure that used to guide you, the problem becomes even more significant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/aboutus\/transparencyandgovernance\/freedomofinformationfoi\/telecommutersremoteworkersintheuk\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Office of National Statistics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the number of UK employees working remotely has increased by a quarter of a million in the last ten years. In the last few months, that number has skyrocketed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><span class='bctt-click-to-tweet'><span class='bctt-ctt-text'><a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fringcentr.al%2F2ACfLZP&#038;text=According%20to%20the%20Office%20of%20National%20Statistics%2C%20the%20number%20of%20UK%20employees%20working%20remotely%20has%20increased%20by%20a%20quarter%20of%20a%20million%20in%20the%20last%20ten%20years.%20In%20the%20last%20few%20months%2C%20that%20number%20has%20skyrocketed.%20&#038;via=RingCentralUK&#038;related=RingCentralUK' target='_blank'rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">According to the Office of National Statistics, the number of UK employees working remotely has increased by a quarter of a million in the last ten years. In the last few months, that number has skyrocketed.  <\/a><\/span><a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fringcentr.al%2F2ACfLZP&#038;text=According%20to%20the%20Office%20of%20National%20Statistics%2C%20the%20number%20of%20UK%20employees%20working%20remotely%20has%20increased%20by%20a%20quarter%20of%20a%20million%20in%20the%20last%20ten%20years.%20In%20the%20last%20few%20months%2C%20that%20number%20has%20skyrocketed.%20&#038;via=RingCentralUK&#038;related=RingCentralUK' target='_blank' class='bctt-ctt-btn'rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it\u2019s true that remote working increases employee satisfaction, happiness, and even productivity in some cases, the best results come with proper planning. Now that many employees are suddenly in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/work-from-home.html\">remote environment<\/a> without warning, it\u2019s up to dedicated team members to find a way of staying productive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The benefits of time management<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10173\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Benefits-of-Time-Management.jpg\" alt=\"Benefits of Time Management\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Benefits-of-Time-Management.jpg 1920w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Benefits-of-Time-Management-300x169.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Benefits-of-Time-Management-640x360.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Benefits-of-Time-Management-768x432.jpg 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Benefits-of-Time-Management-1536x864.jpg 1536w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Benefits-of-Time-Management-250x140.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.powwownow.co.uk\/smarter-working\/flexible-working-statistics-2017\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">45% of people<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> say that they spend over an hour on their commute every day. Working from home instantly eliminates one of the major drains on our time when it comes to mastering the workday. However, it\u2019s essential to learn how to use these new schedules to our advantage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you can master proper time management, your productivity will naturally go through the roof. Some of the benefits of time management skills:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<h3><b>Improved punctuality<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll be more likely to deliver work and tasks on time, which means that you master your deadlines. The more you complete work on time, the less stress you need to deal with, worrying about losing an account or disappointing a boss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<h3><b>Better work quality<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organising your time effectively involves using your most productive hours to focus on your most challenging tasks. When you discover how and when to use the majority of your brainpower, you benefit from a better quality of work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<h3><b>More productivity<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time management means that you spend less time figuring out what to do next, and more time getting work done. With <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hubspot.com\/marketing\/smart-goal-examples\">smart goals<\/a> to guide you, you\u2019ll find yourself accelerating towards your targets at a greater rate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<h3><b>Reduced anxiety and stress<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling as though you\u2019re always struggling to keep up at work can be a source of significant stress and anxiety. This hampers your productivity and takes a toll on your overall health and quality of life.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<h3><b>More opportunities<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A person with time management skills will often have access to more opportunities. You\u2019ll be the first person on your boss\u2019s list for new and engaging tasks, and you may discover new chances to gain promotions too. What\u2019s more, you prove that you can <\/span><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/working-remotely-the-2020-recipe-to-high-productivity\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">thrive in a remote environment.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The implications of poor time management<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10151\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/effective-time-management.jpg\" alt=\"effective time management\" width=\"1254\" height=\"836\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/effective-time-management.jpg 1254w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/effective-time-management-300x200.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/effective-time-management-640x427.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/effective-time-management-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1254px) 100vw, 1254px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just as good time management delivers a host of positive benefits, being unable to properly handle your time provides several issues. When you don\u2019t have a strategy in place to guide you through your day, you start stumbling from one task to another, never benefiting from the right amount of focus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As valuable as the remote working environment can be, it can also lead to stress, procrastination, and poor productivity without a proper plan. Some common implications of poor time management include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<h3><b>Procrastination<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most obvious result of poor time management, procrastination happens when you\u2019re not sure what you should be doing at any given time. When you don\u2019t have a clear plan in front of you, it\u2019s easy to start with <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">easy tasks <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and put more complex projects off until later. Applying good time management skills helps you to work smarter rather than harder.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<h3><b>Reduced energy and motivation<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it feels as though you have an insurmountable pile of work ahead of you, it\u2019s hard to find the get up and go you need. Learning how to effectively manage your time can make every workday feel less daunting. This increases your feelings of motivation and allows you to leverage your energy properly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<h3><b>Decreased efficiency<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not knowing how to effectively manage your time often means that you spend longer on certain tasks. This could mean you often end up working longer than you should be just to finish crucial projects. When you\u2019re pushing yourself too hard, your risk of burning out increases too, which means that you\u2019re more likely to get sick.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<h3><b>Strained working relationships<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When things don\u2019t get done on time, it has an impact on the entire business \u2013 not just one person. If your colleagues don\u2019t feel as though you\u2019re pulling your weight, they\u2019re going to start feeling unhappy with you. This could lead to problems with <\/span><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/remote-workforce-tips-for-building-and-managing-remote-workers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">strained relationships in your work<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t<div class=\"cta-banner  CID-2FdM5dTp IID-6a0ad214bc09c\"\r\n\t\tdata-dl-custom-type=\"ctaButton\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"cta-banner-img-wrap\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cta-banner-img\" style=\"background-image:url(\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/remote-teams-cta.jpg)\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"cta-body\" data-dl-custom-type=\"ctaButton\">\r\n\t\t\t<span class=\"cta-sub-heading\">Collaborate from anywhere<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"cta-heading\">One application for all interactions<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t<p>Keep your team connected and collaborating while working remotely.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<a class=\"rc-cta-shortcode btn btn-primary btn-lg\" data-dl-element=\"button\"\r\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/teams\/overview.html\" class=\"btn btn-primary\"\r\n\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-dl-additional-info=\"One application for all interactions\"\r\n\t\t\t\tdata-dl-name=\"One application for all interactions | Find out how\">Find out how<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<h3><b>Damaged customer and client relationships<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you miss deadlines or deliver work that isn\u2019t the right quality, your customers and clients start to feel unhappy too. This becomes even more of an issue for businesses that have service level agreements to live up to.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Working at home tips for effective time management<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10175\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Working-at-home-tips-for-effective-time-management.jpg\" alt=\"Working at home tips for effective time management\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Working-at-home-tips-for-effective-time-management.jpg 1920w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Working-at-home-tips-for-effective-time-management-300x169.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Working-at-home-tips-for-effective-time-management-640x360.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Working-at-home-tips-for-effective-time-management-768x432.jpg 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Working-at-home-tips-for-effective-time-management-1536x864.jpg 1536w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Working-at-home-tips-for-effective-time-management-250x140.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now you know why effective time management is so crucial, you may be asking, \u201cWhat are some good time management skills to learn?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most cases, the more time you spend working from home, the more you\u2019ll discover about your working strategies, and how you can make yourself more productive. However, there are steps you can take to ensure you\u2019re moving in the right direction. For instance:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. Finding a new routine<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10185\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-daily-routine.jpg\" alt=\"remote work daily routine\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1413\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-daily-routine.jpg 2048w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-daily-routine-300x200.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-daily-routine-640x426.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-daily-routine-768x512.jpg 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-daily-routine-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2121px) 100vw, 2121px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you were working at the office, you probably woke up and prepared yourself for the commute to work. You\u2019d stay in the office until it was time for you to end your shift, then you\u2019d return home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, the moment you wake up, you\u2019re simultaneously at work and at home at the same time. This means you need to re-think the way you approach the workday. Staying in bed for another hour because you don\u2019t have to take your morning commute might not be the best way to handle your schedule. Instead, it might be worth setting your alarm for the same time and arranging your day from there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you don\u2019t have your commute to worry about, you can calmly go through your morning routine, eating a healthy breakfast, rather than just grabbing a piece of toast, or getting some exercise into your morning. When you sit down for your day \u201cat the office\u201d make sure you know when you\u2019re going to start work, and when you\u2019re going to stop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. Take plenty of breaks<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10184\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-coffee-break.jpg\" alt=\"remote work coffee break\" width=\"2119\" height=\"1414\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-coffee-break.jpg 2048w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-coffee-break-300x200.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-coffee-break-640x427.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-coffee-break-768x512.jpg 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-coffee-break-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2119px) 100vw, 2119px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to embed plenty of breaks into your working routine so that you can refresh your mind. Remember that when you\u2019re at the office, you\u2019ll often have moments when you go and get a cup of coffee or talk to a coworker. You can still have these small relaxation moments at home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re using a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/why-use-ringcentral-desktop-app.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">desktop app for collaboration<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, learn how to set your presence at certain times so that your colleagues know when you\u2019re available to talk, and when you\u2019re away. This will be particularly useful at the end of the day when you decide to \u201clog off\u201d for the night. Setting your presence as offline may prompt employees to avoid messaging you until the next day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t<div class=\"cta-banner  CID-2FdM5dTp IID-6a0ad214bc0b8\"\r\n\t\tdata-dl-custom-type=\"ctaButton\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"cta-banner-img-wrap\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cta-banner-img\" style=\"background-image:url(\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/happy-employee-working-from-home.jpg)\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"cta-body\" data-dl-custom-type=\"ctaButton\">\r\n\t\t\t<span class=\"cta-sub-heading\">Home work\/life balance<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"cta-heading\">Make working from home work for you<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t<p>Find your balance when teleworking from home.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<a class=\"rc-cta-shortcode btn btn-primary btn-lg\" data-dl-element=\"button\"\r\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/work-from-home.html\" class=\"btn btn-primary\"\r\n\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-dl-additional-info=\"Make working from home work for you\"\r\n\t\t\t\tdata-dl-name=\"Make working from home work for you | Learn more\">Learn more<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t\n<h3><strong>3. Remove unnecessary distractions<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10195\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-room.jpg\" alt=\"Worker work from home in bedroom in the evening near mirror. Isometric room interior and character using laptop. Stay at home.\" width=\"2070\" height=\"1449\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-room.jpg 2048w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-room-300x210.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-room-640x448.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-room-768x538.jpg 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-room-1536x1075.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2070px) 100vw, 2070px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the biggest challenges of <a href=\"https:\/\/focus.meisterlabs.com\/work-from-home-required-here-are-meisters-6-top-tips\/\">working from home<\/a> is that there are often more distractions around you. In the office, work surrounds you on all sides. Even if you\u2019re briefly distracted by a team member, the conversation often has something to do with work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you\u2019re at home, there will be family members, noises from pets, and even televisions in the background. The best thing you can do is reduce distractions wherever possible. Turn off un-needed electronics that might steal your attention and clean your desk, so you know where everything is. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember to set aside scheduled blocks of time when you can check your phone and your email, so you\u2019re not constantly responding to messages instead of getting work done.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>4. Plan around your energy levels<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10186\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-distraction.jpg\" alt=\"Working at home, coworking space, concept illustration. Young people, man and woman freelancers working on laptops and computers at home. Vector flat style illustration\" width=\"2114\" height=\"1418\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-distraction.jpg 2048w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-distraction-300x201.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-distraction-640x429.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-distraction-768x515.jpg 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-distraction-1536x1030.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2114px) 100vw, 2114px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some employees are their most productive when they first arrive at the office. They wake up fresh and feel ready to tackle the day, until about 2pm when they hit a productivity slump. Other people don\u2019t feel productive until later in the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now you\u2019re working from home, you\u2019ll have more freedom to organise your tasks based on your own energy levels. Think about when you\u2019re most likely to feel driven and motivated. If it\u2019s okay with your boss, you could even decide to start and finish work at a later time in the day. For those moments when you know you\u2019re going to be less productive, set time aside for more monotonous tasks, like responding to email.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>5. Establish smart goals<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10159\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/smart-goals.jpg\" alt=\"smart goal setting concept\" width=\"1254\" height=\"836\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/smart-goals.jpg 1254w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/smart-goals-300x200.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/smart-goals-640x427.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/smart-goals-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1254px) 100vw, 1254px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may have used smart goals worksheet before to plan for business targets. The same goal-oriented process can also work when you\u2019re at home. Set targets at the beginning of each day that is:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong><span style=\"color: #002fa7; font-size: 20px;\">S<\/span><\/strong>pecific (simple, sensible, significant)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong><span style=\"color: #002fa7; font-size: 20px;\">M<\/span><\/strong>easurable (meaningful, motivating)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong><span style=\"color: #002fa7; font-size: 20px;\">A<\/span><\/strong>chievable (agreed, attainable)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong><span style=\"color: #002fa7; font-size: 20px;\">R<\/span><\/strong>elevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #002fa7;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><b>Time-bound<\/b><\/span><\/span> (time-based, time-limited, timely, time-sensitive)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10213\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10213\" style=\"width: 606px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10213\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Smart-Goal-Worksheet-sample.png\" alt=\"Smart Goal Worksheet sample\" width=\"606\" height=\"829\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Smart-Goal-Worksheet-sample.png 606w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Smart-Goal-Worksheet-sample-219x300.png 219w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 606px) 100vw, 606px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10213\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartsheet.com\/blog\/essential-guide-writing-smart-goals\">SmartSheet<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance, you might decide that you\u2019re going to finish an entire pitch for a new sales customer by the end of the working day. Once you\u2019ve set your goal, focus on that, and don\u2019t let anything else grab your attention. This could even mean getting rid of things that might steal your focus, like notifications from your team members, or phone calls.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>6. Make meetings more meaningful<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10187\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-meeting.jpg\" alt=\"Work from home video conference meeting with team in social distancing Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic concept, office guy stay home working at home chair conference meeting with team on laptop computer\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-meeting.jpg 2048w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-meeting-300x200.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-meeting-640x427.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-meeting-768x512.jpg 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/remote-work-meeting-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2121px) 100vw, 2121px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In an environment where instant messaging exists for quick conversations with remote teams, there\u2019s no need to launch a meeting for every conversation. That means that when you do decide to get together with your team for a video or audio conference, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/teams\/overview.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">conversation needs to be meaningful<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plan the agenda of the meeting in advance, and make sure that everyone who should be attending knows what you\u2019re trying to achieve. At the end of the meeting, follow up with other team members to ensure that everyone knows what they should be doing next. You can even use time management and product management tools to assign specific projects to colleagues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Create a productive environment<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perhaps one of the best things you can do to make the most of your work-from-home environment is to organise it properly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If possible, it\u2019s helpful to set aside a specific space for your work. Converting your garage or spare room into an office while you\u2019re working from home will help the \u201chome\u201d life from encroaching on your work environment. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a door that you can shut when you\u2019re at work to block out the sounds of family and other distractions is incredibly valuable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a dedicated workspace that includes everything you need to stay productive and connected. If you have time management resources available from your team, like collaboration tools, and time-tracking apps, make sure that you know how to use them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t<div class=\"cta-banner  CID-2FdM5dTp IID-6a0ad214bc0fd\"\r\n\t\tdata-dl-custom-type=\"ctaButton\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"cta-banner-img-wrap\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cta-banner-img\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/content\/dam\/ringcentral-l10n\/en_us\/images\/content\/teams\/video-chat.png)\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"cta-body\" data-dl-custom-type=\"ctaButton\">\r\n\t\t\t<span class=\"cta-sub-heading\">RingCentral Glip&#x2122;<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"cta-heading\">IM or video chat with your team<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t<p>Achieve your business goals with the efficiency of smart collaboration tools and the simplicity of team messaging.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<a class=\"rc-cta-shortcode btn btn-primary btn-lg\" data-dl-element=\"button\"\r\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/teams\/overview.html\" class=\"btn btn-primary\"\r\n\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-dl-additional-info=\"IM or video chat with your team\"\r\n\t\t\t\tdata-dl-name=\"IM or video chat with your team | Learn more\">Learn more<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take the time to explore the video collaboration tools that you\u2019ll be using to work with your team members. Find out how file and screen-sharing works, and make sure that you have a good enough <a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/ultimate-guide-to-broadband-for-your-home-office\/\">internet connection<\/a> to deliver a good voice call. You should feel 100% comfortable and familiar with all of the technology that\u2019s available to you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You could even look for ways to reduce the number of distractions that you face each day by cutting down on email and using instant messaging to keep on top of the conversation instead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, make sure that you keep your office space clean and organised. Cluttered space often leads to a cluttered mind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Make the most of your new workplace<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working from home can an incredible experience for a lot of employees. It\u2019s a chance to leave the frustration of the morning commute behind and organise your day in a way that suits you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, before you can unlock the full benefits of working from home, you need to figure out how to manage your time and your space effectively. Using the tips above to ensure that you have the right setup in place will help you to minimise distractions and increase efficiency in your new <a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/how-to-setup-voip-server-home-office\/\">home office<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good luck mastering the work-from-home lifestyle!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 24px; line-height: 30px;\">Working from home? RingCentral can make it easy for you<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 24px; line-height: 30px;\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg\" style=\"margin-top: 16px; font-weight: bold;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/work-from-home.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Find out how<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With a vast and sometimes lonely nine-to-five working environment stretching before us at home, prioritising and managing your time can be challenging. Here are some tips for improving productivity and time management at home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":244,"featured_media":10209,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single-blog-series.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[182,183],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Effective Time Management While Working From Home<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Working from home? 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These time management tips will help you to accomplish your smart goals, and improve your productivity in no time.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/blog\/effective-time-management\/","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"RingCentral Team","Est. reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":":\/gb\/en\/blog\/effective-time-management\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/effective-time-management\/"},"author":{"name":"RingCentral Team","@id":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/cc4f043d2b478862a8622c28b0ebd08c"},"headline":"Effective Time Management While Working From Home","datePublished":"2020-06-05T10:00:15+00:00","dateModified":"2023-01-16T18:06:29+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/effective-time-management\/"},"wordCount":2289,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/#organization"},"keywords":["smart goals","time management"],"articleSection":["UC - Collaboration"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":[":\/gb\/en\/blog\/effective-time-management\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/effective-time-management\/","url":":\/gb\/en\/blog\/effective-time-management\/","name":"Effective Time Management While Working From Home","isPartOf":{"@id":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2020-06-05T10:00:15+00:00","dateModified":"2023-01-16T18:06:29+00:00","description":"Working from home? 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