It’s been weeks since companies started work from home set-up to keep their businesses afloat during the coronavirus crisis, but how are you coping? While it may sound easy and uncomplicated, many are still finding the structure of working remotely.
Do you feel you’re less productive while working from home? Or you realized it’s not as dreamy as you thought it would be?
Don’t worry, let me share these tips will not only provide you structure but will make it easier once you back to your office desk.
1. Follow regular working schedule and stick to it
Flexibility is one of the awesome things I personally love about working remotely, but this is not easy for those who lack time management skills (Read: Most of us).
A regular working schedule even when working from home helps you find the balance between work, household tasks, and most of all, family. This will also keep your focus so the time when you have to go back to your office, you don’t have to adjust that much.
If your company has a flexible working time for your WFHM arrangement, plan your day and set your working schedule. Check your company’s mandate on your working hours and follow if you have one.
2. Find a dedicated working space at home
Wire your brain to work even when you’re not leaving your house by having a designated working station. Working in one specific nook or space in your home has many benefits. It gives you order for productive work from home and helps you to focus more.
As soon as you sit on your working desk, it signals your brain that it’s time to go to work. Having a fixed work station is a sign for people around you that you are working and shouldn’t be interrupted.
If you don’t have a home office, convert a space in your home into a working space. Most of the time, all you need is a space for a table and a chair. As much as possible, skip your bed and your dining table – they are simply not conducive for working.
Make sure it is free from noise – you don’t want your boss to hear your roosters or dogs during telecons. Find a nook where there is zero room for distraction.
3. Create a morning routine/ritual before working
Keeping in tune with your productivity doesn’t mean you skip the perks of remote working. Working from home during coronavirus pandemic means taking a break from the morning rush you’ve been doing for so many years.
Have coffee, or cook breakfast while the family sleeps in for extra hours (thank you, husband!). Stretch or just enjoy your peaceful mornings.
4. Shower and dress for work
Working from home amid covid makes you lazy. Boost your energy by taking a shower. Even if your colleagues can’t smell you, they can see your fresh-from-bed face on camera. Plus, it’s just tacky. Please, take a shower or at least…wash your face.
Forget about what many freelancing coaches say about working on your pajamas. Stay professional by looking presentable even if you don’t have any scheduled conference calls for the day.
Maintain the business atmosphere even when your whole office is working remotely by dressing properly. You don’t have to wear your usual uniform or wear a tie, dress as if you’re going out of the house. Dressing for work let you feel that you are working, helping you with your productivity level.
For the ladies, fixing your hair and wearing light makeup (please your eyebrows!) goes a long way!
I personally don’t believe in “pants optional” idea but feel free to be more relaxed on this as long as you don’t have to face a camera while working and you’re not wearing boxers or tiny shorts. You don’t want to risk an embarrassing mishap while working from home arrangement during the coronavirus pandemic. Believe me, your boss and workmates can have a glimpse of your pajama while on video conference calls.
I think, the only optional here are shoes. So there, wear your pants, people!
5. Turn off social media
Sure you spent some hours on social media while in the office, but with more freedom from your boss’s prying eyes, you might have given in to Tiktok already! If you want to stay productive, turn off social media while working. Distraction becomes more threatening to your productivity now and social media tops the list.
6. Stand up every 30-45 minutes and take breaks
Desk work makes you fat, working from home will make you FATTER. It can be comforting now that you don’t have to walk from one department to another in your office, but working from home obviously lessen your overall physical activity.
Take a break. Just stand up – that’s the least you can do. Of course, feel free to do 20 squats if you like. Like any working day, take a break. Use your break for a quick family bonding or even a nice coffee break.
7. Set boundaries with your family
Having more time with your family is one of the blessings of working from home. How many of you have dreamed of earning money without leaving your kids? But here’s the thing – how do you balance being a worker and as a mother/father/spouse?
This set up brings forth new challenges especially if you are working from home with children. Following tips #1-2 will make this easier.
Avoid being interrupted while you are working. Close the door if you are inside a room. If you are in an open space, let your family know that as soon as you are in your working space, they should not bother you ( refer to Tip #2).
You can also agree on some communication cue especially when it comes to “Do not Disturb”. Some freelancers use headphones as cues. If they are wearing it, that means they shouldn’t be disturbed.
When my kids were smaller and I had to use their room as a home office, my instruction to them was, “You can only knock and enter if the house is on fire or one of you is dying”. My kids learned to slide a note under the door if they need to communicate with me, ” Ma, can I have another Yakult?” or ” Ma, we are playing outside.“.
Even those without kids and living with extended family, any concerns or errands should wait except for emergencies. Build a routine for the whole household – working hours and family time (remember Tip#1).
Coronavirus and working remotely
Working from home during this coronavirus pandemic ensures our economic mill running. Not only that, but it also helps in how we cope with this unfortunate global crisis.
If you are adjusting or anxious about this whole new set up, let these tips guide you are you traverse on this new way of working. Take one step at a time, you won’t master it right away. Embrace your own glitches but learn from it.
If there is something you need help about working from home, feel free to ask by leaving a comment!
Thanks for reading!
*Feature Photo by Arnel Hasanovic on Unsplash
