While working from home gives you flexibility, it often means less structure and more distractions from the people you live with, so you'll need to change your hours and learn new ways of working.
Here are some tips to help you find your balance, including ways to set boundaries, create productive routines, and connect with coworkers virtually.
While the prospect of being able to work in a sweat suit can be comfortable and appealing, remote jobs can also bring a new set of challenges in time management, communications, and teamwork. Those who work from home must readjust their schedules and learn new ways of working.
Establishing a routine, adapting the workspace and setting a schedule are some of the tips that specialists give to obtain excellent performance by teleworking without endangering your physical and digital well-being
For things to run smoothly, both at work and at home, it's crucial to communicate expectations to those around you .
Social networks.
Social networks are designed so that you can open and consult them in an instant, but if you are working this can harm your productivity and concentration, avoid accessing social networks during work hours because these platforms have addictive power. You might also consider working in a private window or, if you're using Chrome, an "incognito" window. This way, you won't be logged into any of your accounts and every web search you do won't automatically complete the words you type.
home office
Prepare and condition a space in your home to telework. This space must be exclusive, it must be in a quiet place, with good lighting and airy. If you can avoid establishing your home office in your personal room, so much the better. If you have no alternative and you have to install it in your room, it must be tidy and clean. For this, you will need a work table or small desk and an ergonomic chair to protect your back. Putting a bit of nature in your workspace can bring benefits such as stress reduction, but if you don't want to have one more responsibility in your day, choose a plant that is easier to maintain. Remember that having plants at home also helps improve air quality.
establish a routine
As important as the work space is to follow the same habits as when going to the office in person. That is, get up at the same time , wash up and have breakfast before starting your workday. No working in your pajamas, from bed or from the sofa. Get up earlier, take a short shower, dress in street clothes and have breakfast. With this habit you predispose and prepare both your body and your mind to work.
organize your work
To be really efficient in your working day you need a good organization . Even if you think that your work is automatic or you already have that organization internalized, certain distractions may arise at home that can make you forget or overlook certain aspects. A good way to organize is to create a to-do list , write it by hand and underline what you have already accomplished in your day.
If you want to make the most of your peak productivity periods, book the most difficult tasks when you know you'll have 100% of your mind on them. Use the periods of less motivation to complete the simpler logistical activities, because they allow you to get more done efficiently and can help you gain momentum for the more difficult projects that the day throws at you.
If you find it difficult to organize a reasonable routine when you work from home, start your day with the tasks that you must carry out on your own. Save phone calls, meetings, and other collaborative work for when you feel wide awake.
No one maintains constant productivity throughout the day. It is normal for your level of motivation to vary. However, when you work at home it is very important to know when these fluctuations occur and to have a plan.
There is a tendency to think that more and more people are multitasking, that is, that they can carry out several activities at the same time; but this is false and working like this is not productive.
mark a time
In line with the above, we advise you to set a schedule . Working from home implies that you must follow the same routine that you did when you went to your job in person.
respect your breaks
It may seem logical, but do you take breaks while teleworking? Working from home is very comfortable, so much so that you can skip your breaks, a very common mistake but with severely negative consequences. Never skip your breaks .
For example, you can take 5-minute breaks every hour and a half of work and allocate this time to stretch your legs, breathe fresh air, stretch, answer your personal messages or others.
This gesture will help you to rest your mind, eyesight and resume the workday more efficiently .
Work in team
Don't forget that you still have the same obligations : team meetings, comment on the results of the work or have more relationship with your colleagues. To do this, rely on the communication channels that you use regularly or that your company has set up for this purpose.
Many companies are preparing for their staff to work from home without losing contact with their colleagues or bosses .
In this way, you show a total commitment to your work , to your work team and improve your image in the opinion of your superiors.
To maintain communications, schedule regular meetings with your direct reports. Meetings can be held daily, weekly, or every other day. In these teleconferences, team members will be able to talk about issues that are difficult to deal with by email, you will also be able to understand more and better how your teammates are.
Check online tools and programs
If you have already prepared your workspace, routine and schedules, it is time to check that everything works correctly . At this point it is essential that you have a good Internet connection and that your computer is suitable for working remotely. If your work, for technical reasons, requires software specifications, buy a specific computer or laptop to work on.
Comments (0)
There are no comments for this article. Be the first one to leave a message!