When the coronavirus pandemic first hit us in 2019, there were so many adjustments that we had to make in our day-to-day lives. The one that hit the hardest was the inability to socialize and visit our friends and families.
Organizations had to adapt to having their employees work from their homes. Working from home has its many challenges, the main one being endless distractions here and there. However, there are ways in which you can create a perfect work environment at home and be just as productive as you would be in an office, if not more. Let’s see how you can achieve this.
Create a Proper Home Office
First of all, start by choosing a room that you will use as your home office. Make sure that this room is not in close proximity to major rooms in the house, such as the kitchen and the living room. You do not want your kids to keep on popping into your office while you are working as they head to the kitchen for a snack.
Also, the noise from the TV in the sitting is a big distraction that can make you derail your work. Consider setting up your home office in that guest room that you hardly use; if you have an outdoor servants’ quarters, even better. Any room that is private and can lock from the inside.
Use Reliable Technology
Using reliable technology is crucial for effective communication and collaboration in remote work environments. Using a reliable headset during audio and video calls is just one of the many ways you can do to ensure reliable communication.
For instance, investing in a reliable internet connection is essential for seamless communication during remote work. A stable internet connection is necessary for video conferencing, emailing, and other online tasks. Similarly, using a high-quality camera and microphone can improve the overall quality of your video and audio calls.
Furthermore, using project management tools such as Trello or Asana can help you keep track of your tasks and deadlines, and communicate with your team members more efficiently. Similarly, using cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox can allow for easy sharing and collaboration on documents and other files.
Prioritize Comfort
Comfort is important for enhanced productivity but do not get too comfortable. Most people like to be cooped up in their sofas with their laptops as they work, and this is not an ideal work habit. Set up your workspace to be almost similar to your office setup. Find ergonomic office furniture for your home office.
This way, you are comfortable and also alert. You are likely to fall asleep on that sofa due to lethargy. Ensure that your home office is properly lit and there is good air circulation. You can include a small plant by your table or on top. This room should be your small haven that you look forward to every day. This will keep you motivated to work.
Get Ready for Your Day
The rest of your day is always determined by how you started it. While you were working in the office, you would get up early every morning and get ready for work. Maintain this routine when working from home too. Of course, there might be a few changes here and there, but do not let everything change. If you are a working from home mom, then your kids will need you more, but you can balance it all out with the right schedule.
Ensure that you take your shower in the morning and dress in comfortable work clothes. Do your makeup and even put on your vegan eyelashes. You will feel refreshed and motivated for your workday. You can also prepare everything for your kids in the morning, including their lunch, so that you do not have to spend office time cooking meals.
Take Short Breaks
The pressure of working from home might take a toll on you to the extent of making you overwork yourself. However, you still deserve a break to relax and reset your mind. While working from home, make it a point to stand from your desk every few hours. You can either go for a stroll or play with your kids in the backyard.
You can also take your dog for a walk as you enjoy some fresh air. Meditation is also good for you, especially in these times of uncertainty. Any activity that helps your ease off a little bit. You will find that after such breaks, you become even more productive and achieve even more tasks.
Set Ground Rules
Make your kids aware that they should not bother you when you are working. Make your office a no-go zone. Tell everybody how your schedule is going to be, so they do not expect much from you during the day. If it’s house chores, do yours in the mornings before you settle down for work. You will be required to attend zoom meetings, and you do not want constant distractions during your calls.
Make sure everyone understands that as much as you are home all the time, you are still working. If possible, ask them to assume you are not even there. On the days that you do not have so much work, you can interact with them more and help out more in the house.
Wrapping It Up
These are just but a few tips to maximize your productivity when working from home. Do not let your work derail because your boss is not there to supervise you. On days that you feel like you are losing focus and need to find your mojo again, talk to a colleague and find out how they are coping. Get a few tips from them on how they are handling everything. This will remind you that you are not alone in this, and you can actually hack it. Once you get used to working from home, you might not want to ever go back to the office.