7 Tips for Making a Productive Work from Home Environment
Working from home or remote work is a concept that’s no longer foreign to the corporate work—in fact, there are even companies that allow their employees to work remotely and there are companies that mainly rely on having remote workers. However, remote work isn’t always an option that many companies can do because of the demands of the industry.
The COVID-19 situation has drastically changed the corporate world with companies temporarily closing their doors for the safety of their employees and thus, many employees are now urged to work from home to prevent the further spread of the virus.
For some workers who have already tried working from home, the transition can be a breeze but for those who find themselves used to working in an office, the transition can be a little bit difficult especially if it’s you’re first time working from home.
While working at home can be advantageous in a couple of ways, it also has a couple of downsides if you don’t set your mind straight. With that, here are a few tips to help you get some work done and to maintain a productive environment as you work from the comforts of your home:
Get up and get ready
Similar to when you head out to work on a regular day, try to get dressed as if you were going to the office. It doesn’t have to be fancy, the important thing is that you get out of your PJs as this sets your mind that you’re going to be working.
Don’t forget to eat a meal before you start working to give yourself a boost!
Have a dedicated workspace
When you work from home, it’s ideal that you find a comfy space that you can freely move in and one that you can associate with work. Select a space where you can be away from distractions without intruding on other people in your house.
It’s ideal that you select a space where you can concentrate and be away from the TV or the bed.
However, if you can’t find a space where you can be alone, you can opt to find a space with minimal traffic or you can stay in the corner of the room. It might also help to have your favorite work playlist ready to help block out the noise from around you.
Create a To-Do List
Before you start working, consider jotting down a to-do list of your tasks just as you would when you’re at the office. Focus on your immediate tasks for that certain day and if you have time, you can continue on to complete the rest of your work tasks on the list.
Don’t beat yourself up if there are some tasks that you can’t finish for the day—what’s important is that you have done your immediate tasks.
You can opt to use applications such as EverNote or Wunderlist to help you track your progress if you aren’t fond of jotting them down on a notepad.
Communicate
Communication is key, no matter what situation you are in. Even when you’re working from home, it’s important to be in constant communication with your peers as this will help maintain your relationships with each other.
For this, consider using alternatives to e-mails where you can replicate actual in-person communication.
Use applications that will enable you to talk to each other like you would on a normal workday. You can also opt to use applications such as Google Hangouts, Skype, Slack, and Viber among others to make team conferences easier.
Put your gadgets down
When working at home, it’s very tempting to pick-up your gadgets and check the happenings on your social media feed but once you start going through them, you might find it difficult to stop. Consider putting aside your gadgets while you work to keep your focus on the task at hand.
You might also want to consider installing applications that can help you maintain your focus such as Forest or Focus To-Do to stop you from checking your phones.
Take a break
It is essential that you also take breaks in-between your work schedule. Taking a break will help you re-energize yourself and help you stay on track. This is also a good time to find inspiration to fuel your creativity and to keep yourself empowered despite being confined inside your homes.
Ideally, this is a good time to get out of the house and take a quick walk, however, the COVID-19 situation makes this a bit more difficult so instead of going out of the house, you might want to walk around your home. Taking small breaks will make a significant change in your attitude so don’t forget to rest!
Establish a routine
Once all that is said and done, it’s now important to establish this as a daily routine that you can follow while you’re working from home. Consistency is a big factor as far as how your work from home experience will play out.
It helps to also change your work routine a little bit to keep things from becoming monotonous but don’t forget that it is important to also stay on schedule so that working from home becomes a breeze.
What’s your favorite thing about working from home? Don’t forget to share your experiences with us in the comments!
