Since the World Health Organization already declared the coronavirus outbreak as a global pandemic, the question lies as to how businesses and companies will continue their operations. Employees around the world are advised to work from home to prevent the spread of the disease. If they are more inclined to the corporate lifestyle and office setup, how can they adjust to their new workplace? Here are some tips on how to stay productive even when working at home.
1. Explain your situation to your family members
You have to involve your family members and everyone in your household into this situation. They have to know that you will be working and not taking a vacation. Explain the need to respect your time and space. Their full cooperation will ensure a peaceful working condition at home.
2. Setup a proper work station
Sure, you have your laptop and you can take your work anywhere. But did you know that setting up a small area for working makes it more conducive? Make it more realistic by customising it to look like an office desk. You won’t feel a change of environment and you get to focus more on the tasks at hand.
3. Set a schedule and divide your time wisely
Working from home means you have all the time in the world. You just have to know how to manage it properly. Create a schedule of the things you need to do starting from when you wake up until you go to bed. This way, you would know when you should dedicate your time for working and what part of the day goes to other stuff.
4. Create your own routine
When working, set a list of things to do as a habit. Should you check emails first? What task should you do first? Would you need to check up on what your other colleagues are doing? When would you know it’s time for a virtual meeting? Following a routine makes it easier to adjust to the new home office lifestyle especially that you are working alone in an all too familiar environment.
5. Make use of technology to connect with colleagues
Having no coworkers around might make you feel anxious. Especially if you’re used to collaborating with an actual team surrounding you, the silence could be bothersome. There are a lot of online tools that help remote workers communicate and work as a team even when separated by distance. Use these technologies to your advantage. Video conferencing, virtual office, messaging apps, and task management tools can make your lives easier.
6. Reduce distractions
Truth is, you can’t really avoid distractions when you are at home. As much as possible, lessen your exposure to what causes you to be distracted and eventually procrastinate. This could be your pets, your family members, other personal matters, or simply the act of sleeping or eating. TV and social media could also be the top sources of distraction. You might even be tempted to browse the internet for irrelevant stuff. Even if no one is watching you work, focus on your task and act as if there is a big boss hovering behind you.
7. Remember to take breaks
Because you are working at home, you are no longer confined to a 1-hour lunch break time off. You can take breaks whenever you want. There is no reason to be burned out at home when you have full control of your time. You can take a nap in between, eat snacks, or even sleep if necessary. Just don’t forget to follow your schedule and finish your work at the end of the day.
Working from home is truly a rewarding experience if you know how to handle it. The important thing to keep in mind is how you can combine work and leisure without having to sacrifice the productivity and status quo.
Are you ready to work at the comfort of your own home? Do you have what it takes to remain productive even outside the office?
This has been originally published in digiters.co.