Furthermore, here we are not talking about a couple of days but an extended period of time with no clues to when it would last. Therefore, to ease it out for you a little bit, we have brought in some expert tips for working for home. These tips will help you in getting most out of your day and also in maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Top Tips for working
from home during the coronavirus pandemic –
1 Get Dressed
First tip one on our list can seem like a simple one (and maybe even unnecessary) but it’s really a crucial one. It can be tempting to stay in your pyjamas all day long just like you would do but experts suggest that it can significantly hamper your productivity. However, you don’t need to dress as formally as you might do for the office. Simply taking care of your looks and putting on clothes more apt for public viewing can serve as a signal to your mind that it’s time to get to work. Moreover, being in this tech era, you can also expect a lot of video meetings with your boss and colleagues. Therefore, getting dressed slightly formally for your working hours might be a good idea.
2 Keep a dedicated space for work
Even if you can’t spare an entire room to work, just having a specific corner or table dedicated for work can be useful. Moreover, it is likely that your partner is also working from home while you must accommodate for your kids learning from home too. Furthermore, you also need to consider the kind of work that everyone has. For instance, job roles with more frequent phone calls or video meetings can be more loud and disruptive. On the other hand, some roles demand full concentration and hence a quite environment. Given all these dynamics and stress of current times, investing into allotting comfortable space for work to everyone can go a long way in easing your collective struggles.
3 Design a schedule
Working remotely from home can actually prove to be even more challenging with all the distractions that surround. Moreover, not getting to see your colleagues and quite Corona anxiety in the atmosphere can make many people feel tensed and uneasy. Therefore, having a work schedule or routine can help you feel a lot more normal and will keep you going. Moreover, if you are used to working in an organised way with daily goals, having set hours and a to-do list at home can be useful. However, it is also important to understand that you might not be able to finish all your daily goals. Although it is important to stay focussed, you also need to give yourself some time to relax and adjust. Given the abrupt nature of your new WFH (Work From Home) status, your productivity may take a toll during the initial days. However, with a little time and dedication, you can crack it too like millions of employees who successfully work remotely from their home.
4 Don’t get distracted
Distractions are probably the biggest challenges you’ll face while working from home (especially if this is your first time). It is only human to get distracted with all the possible distractions available at home including your pets and family. In the current coronavirus crisis, news is probably yet another distraction that you need to stay wary of. With all the anxiety you might already, it is easier to get stuck with the news and forget about work. So, it could be helpful to turn off your notifications and watch news only after you are done with your work.
5 Schedule breaks
With none of your colleagues around pinging you for a break, you might actually end up working for prolonged hours without a break. Experts suggest that it is crucial to take breaks while working from home. However, on the flip side, being at home also carries the possibility of unintended extended breaks especially when your entire family is around due to the coronavirus. Therefore, setting timers and scheduling breaks can be useful in helping you strike the right balance. Moreover, though you cannot go outside in the current circumstances, even simple breaks to grab a snack or a quick walk around to check on others can help. Additionally, taking small breaks also help you to relax and restart work with a fresh mind and better concentration.
6 Communicate and stay connected
Communication is the key to combat many challenges that you may face as you begun to work remotely. Some of you might be initially anxious to communicate much with your boss or colleagues. But, the good part is they are all in the same boat too. Furthermore, if you are in a senior position or management role, you should keep channels of communication open for your team. It is important to communicate, set the right expectations, and support each other. Scheduling daily video-conference meetings, besides texts and emails can also help to keep the human connection. Moreover, don’t let the current crisis affect your workplace friendships. Even though, you cannot meet in person, being in 2020, you can utilise technology to stay connected.
7 Set Boundaries
Having to stay in the same place throughout the day can be quite overwhelming for many as lines between the two worlds threaten to blur. As much as dedicating spaces for work is important, designating a space that is not for work can be equally crucial to create a healthy work-life balance. Moreover, having a strict quitting time can be really crucial in ensuring your work doesn’t intrude your personal space and family time. Furthermore, as you try your best to deliver well at work; don’t forget to leave work at your workspace once you have called it a day. Furthermore, taking time to exercise, meditate or engaging in creative activities inside your home can be a much-needed stress buster to keep you going. It can be challenging but in the wake of such a fast spreading virus, staying away from crowded office spaces is our best bet to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Also Read: WHO Joins Whatsapp to Battle Misinformation On COVID-19
These were our Top 7 expert tips to help you work better from home and maintain a healthy work life balance even in the current times of coronavirus pandemic. However, these seven tips are only to help you draw an outline as you begun to work remotely. Learn from your experiences and do whatever works best for you. And, don’t forget to share your experiences of working from home with us in the comments below.
