With working from home now becoming the norm, many of us are looking for ways to get good at it. If life is going to be like this from now on, we might as well do it properly. No more lounging around in our PJs from the waist down, lying in bed with our laptops!
Here are some tips and tricks to make working from home easier and productive.
Schedule Regular Breaks
Remember the good old days when your office used to give you a lunch hour? Well, there was a reason for that. Not only was it an opportunity for you to eat, but it also gave you some time to unwind, relax, and generally forget about work for a while so that you were ready for the afternoon.
If you can, take a fifteen-minute break in the morning, a lunch hour, and a fifteen-minute break in the afternoon. You will find that by putting gaps in your work schedule, you become more productive overall.
Set Ground Rules
If you are working from home, setting ground rules for who is allowed in your workspace (and when) is essential. While having kids walking in and out on Zoom calls is cute, it can sap your productivity and drain your ability to focus.
Tell your family that they are not allowed to disturb you during working hours unless it is an emergency. Be clear that during certain parts of the day you need quiet to be able to concentrate on what you are doing.
Get Into a Proper Morning Routine
When working from home, it can be tempting to just roll out of bed, open your laptop, and start firing off emails. But habits like this eliminate your morning routine – something that you need to set up properly for the rest of the day.
Try this approach instead. Start the day by having a shower, getting dressed and eating breakfast, just as you would before a regular day in the office. If you have more time on your hands because you are not commuting, you can also try fitting in a short meditation session. Be sure to wear clothes that get you in the mood for work. These create a clean psychological break between “home and leisure time” and your actual job.
Get Out of The House When You Can
Working from home comes with another challenge: the difficulty of leaving the house for sunshine and fresh air. Usually, you would get this on your morning drive. But if the office is still closed, then you will have to create your own outdoor time. If you can, try to go for a stroll in the morning, at lunch time, and after work. If there is a gym nearby, visit it during your lunch break.
Ask For Support
Finally, be sure to ask your organization for support in setting you up for remote work. Many will agree to provide you with the equipment that you need to do your job well.