In a bid to reduce the spread of the very contagious and dangerous novel coronavirus, most organizations have asked their employees to work from home.
And while this seems like a boon for a few of us, who would love to work from the comfort of our homes, a majority of the workforce is not as productive when working from home. Suddenly, the pile of laundry or the dishes begin to come into focus more than the work at hand.
Here are a few tips and tricks to stay effective, efficient, and productive when working from home.
Schedule and structure your day
Working from home does not mean that you work in a haphazard manner. Set a daily routine and schedule for yourself. Wake up at the right time, brush your teeth, take a shower, have breakfast, and sit to work at the time that you otherwise would. You can, perhaps, start earlier.
Schedule your lunch and snack breaks to simulate your actual breaks at work. Also, schedule your meetings and calls effectively. Importantly, schedule your end time at work too! Just because you are working from home, it doesn’t mean that you will work all through the day and night.
Remember to not blend your personal life with your professional life!
Share your schedule with family members/friends
When you are working from home, there are bound to be some distractions. Also, family members and house mates might come in frequently, disturbing your work schedule.
To avoid this, share your schedule with people around you so that you are not disturbed often and they respect your space during work hours.
Set a dedicated spot in your house to sit and work
It is crucial that you set a dedicated spot in your house where you can work. It would be great if you have a table and a chair, where you can seat yourself comfortably. Avoid sitting on your bed or a couch, where it would be easier to take a quick nap.
Also, it would be great to have a work space that is filled with natural light and is generally conducive to work.
Leverage technology to communicate easily
Working from home can make you feel isolated and the lack of social contact can make things tough sometimes. To avoid jus such a situation, use technology effectively to keep in touch with your other co-workers.
There are a host of instant messaging and video conferencing tools that can help you feel connected despite working from home. Also, use tracking and organizing tools to ensure that you are working effectively.
Take well-defined breaks
Little breaks between work certainly help you rejuvenate and get back to work with more vigour and enthusiasm. Now, when you are working from home, you might be tempted to have lunch while watching a 15-minute YouTube video or an episode of your favorite stand-up comedian.
Nope, these are not breaks. Move away from your workplace for breaks. You might want to move away from your screen, sit at another spot, have your lunch peacefully and then get back to work. Spending some time chatting with others in the house when taking breaks is also a good idea.
Shut down social media
Without someone to monitor us, even the most diligent of us might get distracted. So, we understand that it is all the more easy to get distracted by social media when working from home. To avoid this, be conscious in doing all you can to make it harder for you to browse through social media. Perhaps, you can remove them from your shortcuts, or use an incognito browser to ensure that you stay signed off all your other accounts.
Are there any other tips that you would like to share on how to work effectively from home? Do let us know your ideas in the comments section below.
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