Stop and think about what you're doing -- right now. Sure, you're reading an article on telework. But does this activity conflict with what your body is telling you to do? Everyone has his or her own unique circadian rhythm -- an internal clock that determines when you're most focused and productive, and when you're sluggish and easily distracted.

Unencumbered by traditional hours and work schedules, teleworkers often find themselves working to their own natural rhythms. The early risers begin work early. The phone doesn't ring, the family is asleep, and instant messenger and e-mail are quiet. The night owls find they're most productive in the evenings, once the 9 to 5 office has gone home.

If you want to increase your productivity, consider "day mapping." This exercise can help chart productivity peaks and valleys throughout the day. Starting on a Monday, write down what time you made it to your desk or workspace. Begin working. Note when you take your first break, or feel the urge to step away for a change of focus. Then, note the time you return. Whenever you're at your desk, note the duration of your work stints. Also jot down if and when you drive the kids to school, take lunch or exercise.

Do this for a week, along the way tracking when you feel you were at your peak of productivity. The goal is to put together a road map of a day's flow. This will help you better match your internal fourth gear with the best times to get the most challenging work done. For example, if you're most productive at certain hours -- like 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. or midmorning, put the phone on voicemail, log off IM and start cranking.

Of course, this assumes that particular work style matches the needs or expectations of your corporate counterparts. Any action in the home office could cause an equal -- and possibly opposite -- reaction in the corporate tower. Before you disconnect, contact your co-workers and manager to ensure they won't need you during that time. Consider turning on your cellphone or pager -- and letting them know they can contact you that way in the event something urgent arises.

If your peak time arrives after hours, you could be setting yourself up for some intrusions. If co-workers -- or your manager -- start seeing e-mail coming from your office at night and on weekends, they could determine that your office is always open nights and weekends. Your effort to boost output could invite unwanted input from the troops in what would otherwise be personal time -- albeit time you occasionally elect to use for work.

If you sense that co-workers and managers have surmised that your longer hours mean you're more available, sit with those who have taken advantage of your off-peak productivity efforts and discuss why you work the schedule you do. Make clear that your time is your time. Tell them you welcome responses to e-mails -- or after-hours calls when they know you're working or you've invited their input.

And remind them that if they send an e-mail after hours, you may not get to it until the next business day -- albeit at 6 a.m.

That's a schedule everyone can live with.

» posted by ITworld staff

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