10 Great Tips to Work From Home During Coronavirus Pandemic
The Coronavirus outbreak has caused the closure of most schools and companies worldwide. Such companies are urging their employees to work from home during the crisis. However, working remotely can become a challenge because of the distractions and comforts of home.
Also, there can be other hurdles like poor Wi-Fi connection that can really make working remotely a difficult task to pull off. When I started working from home a week earlier, I was not able to communicate with my boss effectively due to the slow Internet connection. Therefore, I subscribed to one of the very reliable Optimum Internet plans for a high-speed connection. That made things smoother and more efficient.
Besides this, here are 10 other great tips that can make your work from home experience successful:
Have a Designated Workspace
No matter how big or small your home is, you can always find a nice quiet corner in it. Working in a place full of distractions would make it very difficult for you to complete your daily tasks. So, find a quiet place in your home that can be transformed into a workspace.
Get Ready
If you don’t get dressed and ready for work, you won’t be able to focus and be productive at work. So, take a shower and get dressed so that you can concentrate fully on the task at hand. A formal dressing will also help you in maintaining a professional attitude during business meetings.
Communicate
Always communicate with your boss or colleagues if you encounter a problem. Don’t let physical distance get in the way. Reach out to your colleagues via text messages or video calls. Effective communication can help you in breaking social isolation and increase your productivity.
Have an Everyday To-Do List
Having a to-do list for every day will help you in achieving your work goals easily. Without it, there is a strong chance that you can get distracted and slack off at home. However, don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t manage to complete everything.
Avoid Distractions
Being at home can make it very easy for you to get distracted. After all, your family is also at home because of the Coronavirus pandemic. However, if you want to get things done in the designated time, you have to stay away from the TV, Netflix, and your kids during your work hours.
Define Your Work Hours
If you don’t define your work hours, you can end up working all day. Working from home is supposed to make you feel relaxed. Instead, it can end up making you feel frustrated and exhausted. So, have clearly defined working hours so that you can also make time to socialize and relax.
Keep Improving Your Schedule
Some tasks will require more time and attention than others. Identify such tasks and try to complete the easier tasks first. That’ll leave more time for the harder tasks. So, you can work on them later without worrying about other tasks.
Always Take Breaks
Don’t underestimate the usefulness of small breaks. These can make you feel relaxed and focused at work. So, make a schedule with quick 5-10 minute breaks in between various tasks. You can also have a quick 10-minutes workout session. This can boost your productivity significantly.
Get Comfortable
Your designated workspace doesn’t have to be boring, uncomfortable, and dull. Make sure to have some motivational posters around you to help you stay focused. Also, get a comfortable chair and have a cup or two of coffee during your 8-hours shift.
Stay Connected With Your Colleagues
Working from home doesn’t mean that you have to socially isolate yourself. Stay connected with your colleagues through text messages or voice calls and ask them about their day. That’ll help you in breaking the monotony and improving your mental well-being.
Set Goals for Yourself
Set weekly goals for yourself to improve your productivity while working from home. Also, keep a record of your achievements and revise these goals every two to three weeks. You’ll notice a great improvement in your performance by doing this.
Be Easy on Yourself
If you can’t manage to complete a task in the designated amount of time, don’t get down on yourself. Working from home can make even simple tasks seem difficult at first. Try to push yourself by working for 20 minutes and then taking a 5 minutes break to get started. This will slowly help you in getting the hang of things.
Working from home can make any worker feel distressed. I found it very hard and exhausting to work remotely because of the everyday chores. I spent a lot of time on very simple tasks like washing dishes or managing the monthly Optimum bill pay. Then, I defined my working hours and breaks that helped me in getting things done timely.
So, you have to overcome distractions and follow these tips to stay productive and focused at home.
