The current situation of Covid-19 has made it a necessity for many people to work from home in the efforts of curbing the spread through social distancing. While ideally, many people would have wished to work from home, the reality is far from what many might have anticipated. It can prove to be a challenge, especially for those that are used to working in an office setting.
For example, there are tons of distractions, challenges in time management, and also it can get lonely more so for the extroverts. However, it can be the method of working if done well. Here are the top 6 tips to help you when working from home. You will be surprised how much you can do in 24 hours working from your home.
- Stick to a Routine
This is one of the most critical things to consider when working from home. It can be quite tempting to give yourself total flexibility over when to start, taking extended breaks, and when to call it a day. The downside of that is that you can find yourself lagging behind in terms of deadlines and decreased productivity. To make the most out of your time at home, set regular hours that you allocate only to work-related matters.
This avoids the temptation of taking up all the time doing other stuff and makes you more accountable to yourself and your boss. It also eases communication as the boss knows the hours you are available, and you will find that you will get a lot of things done faster than when you don’t have a routine.
- Set Aside A Specific Working Space
Creating an at-home office is one of the best things you can ever gift yourself when working from home. While you have the freedom to work from the comfort of your couch or even in your bed, it’s definitely going to take a significant toll on your levels of productivity. Designate a specific room or area with a god chair and table where you will be doing all your work. It will help your brain to realize the time for relaxation is over; it’s now time to get things done. You will be shocked by how more you can become when working from a custom-made office at your home.
- Plan your Workflow
In most of the usual offices, you get a regular brief about the tasks needed to be completed and perhaps someone else following up to make sure you have completed your assignments. Well, working from home is different. You are your own supervisor. Although you might be assigned the task virtually, it is up to you to sit down and plan how each task will be done, the priorities, time for breaks, and so on. It might even help to make a to-do list where you check off the tasks that have been completed and get an overview of how many more that are remaining. You will soon realize that planning your workflow before you start your day is one of the sure ways of taking your productivity to a higher notch.
- Ramp Up The Communication
One thing that makes people look forward to going to the office next morning is the chance to connect with your workmates and colleagues. The office chat and work collaboration is something that you are definitely going to miss while working from home, but in no way does it mean that communication and collaboration should come to a sudden halt. Technology has made it very possible to interact as if we were in the same room; you can make video calls, text messages, WhatsApp, email, Skype, among many more. Keep the communication going, and you might not even feel like you are miles apart from each other. However, it’s essential to keep private communication to your own free time.
- Take Care Of Your Health
I cannot emphasize this enough. At home you have access to all the junk food, you spend most of your day sitting in front of your computer or have very limited movement-maybe just from one room to another. While all this is fun and definitely you want to enjoy your time at home to the maximum, take a minute to think about the toll it will take on your health. While some will argue that they are not allowed to get out in some areas, you will be surprised to learn that even doing little things in your home can be critical to your health.
First, plan your diet well. I am not a nutritionist, but I definitely know that our bodies are a product of what we eat. Take care of your diet, and your body will take care of itself. Secondly, take regular breaks and possibly take a walk around your home if you can’t get out. Your body needs regular stretching, and by spending all the time sitting down, you will be doing a disservice to it.
- Have Quality Time With Your Family
Having family members around is essential to help you not feel lonely at home. Don’t spend all your time staring at your computer. Dedicate some quality time to spend with your family and utilize this extended time at home to interact more with your family. If you are a parent, this is the best time to get to know your children better and know what they are going through. Talk to them, engage them, have family activities together- anything that brings you closer to your family.
