The working from home lifestyle comes with many perks; you can have a cup of coffee anytime and spend unlimited time with your loved ones.
However, sometimes it can seem more of a curse than a blessing, especially when you don’t meet deadlines. Working from home has become necessary over the past year for many professionals. Here is how to make the new norm work in your favor.
You can learn to optimize your work from home schedule by preparing for your workday, maintaining regular work hours, planning out your workflow, setting up a proper office space, investing in proper technology, setting ground rules with your roommates, eating, and sleeping right, and socializing with colleagues. If you are interested in learning more about how to successfully implement any of the practices mentioned, continue reading.
1. Prepare For Your Work Day
If you are like many people working remotely, your favorite outfit is your pajamas. Getting out of your nighttime garments is a hurdle, which is why you may prefer staying in your comfort zone. Although most people don’t bother dressing up while working from home, they should. Get out of your sleepwear and wear nice clean clothes.
You should be comfortable yet well-dressed in case you have Zoom calls throughout the day. Pick an outfit that you feel confident in and that you feel is still work appropriate.
2. Maintain Regular Work Hours
If your company uses an employee time clock, you want to stick to stipulated working hours to sync with their schedule. Designing a program and sticking to the time-frame is one of the best things you will do when working remotely.
Determine your most productive hours and maximize them for the most critical tasks. It means that you have to let go of the mentality that 9 to 5 are the best working hours. You need to adhere to your company’s work schedule but also feel free to ask for flexibility if you feel that it would allow you to work more efficiently. The most important thing is to keep your hours consistent.
3. Plan Your Work-flow
If you want to have an efficient workday, make sure you have a good plan. Start by prioritizing your tasks and assigning the required time for each activity. A surefire way of implementing this tip is to set aside a few minutes before sleeping to plan for the next day. Y
You are likely to sleep better when you know what to expect the following day—factor in your natural cycles when planning. Schedule the most demanding work for the time you have the most energy. Remember to plan rewards and breaks throughout the day too.
4. Set Up A Proper Home Office for Work
Working from your home comes with excellent comfort levels. However, the cozy space might cost you many productive hours, target goals, and productivity. Although working from home is convenient, you might have difficulty resisting the temptation of sleep and watching the TV.
Set up a designated working space to increase your motivation and ensure optimum productivity. When picking the area, consider a corner with good natural lighting. Get a comfortable desk and chair for your home office.
5. Invest In Quality Technology
As much as working from home is exciting, having an outdated system or poor internet connection can frustrate you. What happens when you need to attend an important meeting, and your poor internet connection lets you down?
Imagine how embarrassing it can be for your voice to keep breaking during the meeting because of network issues. Make sure everything you need to run your home office is efficient.
6. Set Ground Rules With Your Housemates
Whether it is your kids, spouse, or roommate, you need to stipulate clear rules for people you share your working space with. If your kids usually come home from school while working or don’t attend school, explain that they should not distract you.
Staying at home doesn’t mean that you should take up all household chores. If you do, you might not have enough time to complete your work.
7. Eat And Sleep Right
Now that you have free access to the kitchen, don’t fall prey to scheduling breaks every minute. Avoid continually gravitating towards the fridge to fetch some snacks.
Doing so will not benefit you in any way. Stick to a healthy diet to help you function better. Remember that eating unhealthy food might drain your energy. If possible, write a menu including healthy meals to avoid eating too many burgers.
8. Socialize With Work Colleagues
Isolation, disconnect, and loneliness are common issues associated with working remotely. Extroverts are the most affected by these detrimental effects. Suggest socialization methods to your organization to promote positive mental health.
For instance, you can set up chat channels to discuss common interests and issues outside the work environment. Even if you are introverted, consider participating in a few interactive activities.
Working from home is a balancing act. You should find tips that work for you and stick to them. Consider staying proactive by maintaining a regular exercise routine.
