In recent times, countless people have all of a sudden been thrust into working from home due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Remote work has become the new normal. Companies and Employers around the world are motivating their employees to work from home in order to encourage and maintain social distancing as well as promote the health and safety of their community and workforce in the midst of CONVID-19.
While the idea of working from home can sound like a luxury, it certainly is no vacation. Working through this rapid change can however be challenging as most employees are now trying to adjust and stay productive without their everyday routines and office resources. In short, working from home is great but it can be problematic at the same time if not managed well and effectively.
Here is hubub’s tips on working from home during this era of self isolation.
1.Create A Dedicated Workspace
Creating a designated space in your home for work is the very first step in your journey to working from home. One of the greatest challenges of working from home is the kind of distractions you come into contact with, being it your family, pets among others. You can also sometimes get too comfortable and be tempted to either stay in bed or relax on your sofa which everyone will agree it’s not an effective way of working.
Hence the reason why it’s very important to have a dedicated workspace. You don’t necessarily need a large workspace if you are pressed for space. If you have a spare room to convert to a home office, perfect. Otherwise, make do with a portable desk or your dining room table for your computer or laptop and office supplies. Aside making you feel like you’re within your work premises or office, this also helps you retain a great posture, avoid all kinds of distractions and make you feel fulfilled at the end of the day.
2.Stick to Your Routine
Not commuting and going into your office doesn’t mean you should do away with your daily weekly routines. A routine can be very powerful than a clock to help you get started every day. So, when working from home, make it a must to wake up at your usual time, shower, and get dressed in real or even your office clothes but not pyjamas and maybe even take a short walk before you start work. It may sound insignificant, but this actually helps you get prepared for the day mentally and sets you in the working mood.
It is also handy to maintain a set schedule. If your typical working hours are between nine-to-five, keep up with that at home. Don’t get too comfortable and change your working hours simply because you are working from home. It is very easy to lose track of time if you can’t maintain a typical work-life balance.
3.Update Your To-Do List Every Morning
It can most at times be challenging to keep on top of your daily tasks when working from home. This is because you have no boss breathing down your neck and monitoring you frequently. When this happens, it is quite easy to lose track on deadlines, tasks and even priorities. Keep on top of your work by making it a daily habit of writing down your daily tasks at the start of the day. Make it a point to stick to your task list after reviewing it.
Also, make it a point to set goals including time limits for every task and whenever you complete each one, cross it off your list. This technique is very efficient when working from home to keep you on track.
4.Take Short Breaks Regularly
Research has found that humans work best and more productive by taking short breaks throughout the day when working. However, we sometimes assume that by working from home, we will be able to sit for long hours, stay glued to our computer screens and get more done with minimal distractions. In the long run, we end up over working which kills productivity and creativity. If you don’t adopt to a work-life balance in your working environment, you will find it challenging working at home. It is important to pace yourself. Taking short breaks regularly will create a great difference and impact your daily work life from home positively. The reason behind this is to take time to refresh your mind and body. That five-fifteen minutes break will make a difference.
Many remote workers usually recommend the Pomodoro Technique, a time management method which breaks your working hours into twenty-five minutes blocks. Each block is followed by a five-minute break. During these short breaks, you can either take time to stretch, make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, have your lunch, get some fresh air by taking short walks, that is if only you live in an unpopulated area since experts now advise to limit contact with people and stay at home more, and be sure to wash your hands as soon as you return home from your walk. This helps you to get time to recharge and avoid you from getting easily burnt out.
5.Practice Self-Care
In times of social distancing, many are in self-isolation, so it is important to be mindful of your physical and mental well-being and not to also neglect self-care. Maybe you need time for meditation, talk a short walk even if it is in your garden, join online yoga classes, virtual mindfulness exercise which are recently being offered for free due to CONVID-19 or maybe it is enough to take the breaks you planned for. It is also a good idea to use your breaks to look out for yourself in more ways than just stretching your legs. You can take advantage by either watching TV, lie down, read a book, check up on your kids or play with your pets. You can even ‘go for lunch’ with your colleagues working from home via Zoom or Skype. You should not only welcome the disruptions of home life just like office life in these times of uncertainty but prioritizing your health and safety is very essential. Research from the World Economic Forum shows evidence of health and wellbeing taking a hit while working from home. Taking care of ourselves and others through the means we have today is key.
6.Keep in Touch With Your Colleagues
Keeping in touch and staying connected with your colleagues while working from home is more important than you think. When working in an office environment, you get to stay connected with your colleagues easily and more effortlessly. Now that you have to work from home, it is really effective to keep the rapport and communication lines going. Fortunately, we live in a world where technology has introduced many tools for easy communication via video calls, digital whiteboards, digital chats and even collaboration programs. There are even tools to set up virtual breaks in between work. If your work involves a team, make it a habit to check in with your co-workers regularly. You can even share the status of your work update with your supervisors or managers to keep them updated on the progress of your work. Programs like Slack will be a great idea to establish frequent check-ins through your phone aside emailing and messaging. You can also consider video conferencing via FaceTime, Zoom or Skype.
7.Prepare For Disruptions If You Have Kids
It can really be difficult to work from home if you have children, and even more challenging with babies and toddlers. But nothing is impossible if you have made room for flexibility and have planned ahead. One major tip of being a parent and working from home is to seek help if you can. It might not be the best option because of the social distancing and self-isolation going on but if you know someone who can help you out and at the same time agree to stay isolated with you, you will be able to work effectively and get most of your work done. You can also take turns with your partner if you co-operate and you’re both currently working from home. Another useful tip is to explain the situation to your kids. It is best to have a chat about Coronavirus with your kids and let them understand the impact it will have on your daily life with regards to working from home. That way, they will always keep their distance and try not to distract you whenever you start working. Mixing up your hours if your job permits you is a way to get through working from home with kids especially babies and toddlers involved. Most companies are more flexible around CONVID-19. You can try to get some work done when your baby or little one is asleep mostly in the morning, nap times or at night and when they’re awake, you take your break to attend to them. It might be uncomfortable, but you will be more productive if you work that way. Finally, try new activities by introducing your kids to new games and fun toys they haven’t played before. This will keep them entertained for longer hours. Also, time consuming activities such as puzzles, legos, crafts and stickers are sure to keep them busy.
Working from home is critically important, hence the reason why it is important to get it right. Start putting hubub’s Tips on working from home into practice now to increase your productivity and streamline your routine.
Drop your comments below and let us know what your tip for remote working is.
Stay Safe Everyone!
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