How to Make the Most of Working From Home
If COVID-19 has forced you to start working from home, you’re not alone.
Employees across the United States are transitioning to the work-from-home life. Companies that would never have considered allowing their employees to work from home are now doing so for health and safety reasons.
Some are even saying that this migration to home could have lasting effects on the workforce—and I’m not just talking about the economy. The Guardian suggests that companies may find workers don’t want to come back to the office once the pandemic is over.
After all, a lot of us can naturally focus better while working from home. And the result is we get a lot more done.
But that’s not how everyone works. Some people find it really hard to be productive while working from home.
If that’s the position you find yourself in, I have a few tips for you today. This week has been a work-from-home week for me, and I’ve found that there are certain things that can make it super productive. (And certain things that try to sabotage my work day.)
Care to learn what those are? Keep reading!
1. Maintain your morning routine.
Don’t let the fact that you’re working from home make you lazy. Wake up at the same time you used to. OK, if you’re eliminating an hour-long drive, it doesn’t have to be the exact time you used to wake up. But you get my point.
I personally recommend a routine that includes reading the Bible, prayer, exercise, showering and getting dressed (in real clothes). If you’re a breakfast person, make sure you make time for that too.
2. Keep the distractions as few as possible.
If you have kids, this one can be hard. But you definitely need times in the day when you are free to focus and do deep work. Maybe that means keeping a strict nap time with your little ones and a set reading time with your older ones.
If you don’t have kids, try to make sure you put distractions out of your line of sight so they don’t pull you away from what you should be doing.
That might mean turning off your social media notifications, requesting the TV stay off the whole day and not working where the refrigerator is in your view. If your pet is a little too obsessed with you, you may need to keep it out of the room.
I promise that keeping the distractions to a minimum will help prevent unnecessary stress.
3. Keep the communication strong.
If you have co-workers, it’s crucial that working from does not mean going AWOL. Some great ways I’ve stayed connected with my bosses and co-workers is through texting, Gchat, Slack and email.
Stay attentive to the team’s needs and be as quick to respond as you can. Working from home can be an excellent opportunity to do deep, focused work. But don’t let that go so far that you’re ignoring messages.
Online meeting tools like GoToMeeting or Zoom are great ways to connect with your team as a group. All you need is a basic mic to plug into your computer and some headphones. You don’t have the benefit of being able to read other people’s faces and body language, but it’s still pretty effective.
4. Have a workstation.
This one, I’m a little flexible on, because I think it depends on your personality. Some people get a lot more done when they’re more relaxed. They may be able to crank out tasks like it’s no one’s business while lounging on the couch or in their bed.
But that’s just not me. I need to have my spot either at my computer desk or with my laptop at my dining room table. Sitting upright keeps me attentive and makes it much easier for me to focus on my tasks. With the many moving pieces of my job, I have to stay alert.
It’s important you know which style is most effective for you. Then go with it!
These four tips can make a huge difference in how effectively you work from home. Even if you already work from home regularly, these ideas will go a long way in making your daily work much more impactful.
Beyond these, a few more things I’ve learned are: Keep a list of all the passwords you need for your job, transfer your work extension to your cellphone if possible, and make sure you have the equipment and programs you need.
Oh, and grab your favorite coffee mug. That’s essential. 😉
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