Work from Home 101

Because of the recent outbreak of a disease called Corona Virus Disease, or CoViD-19, many companies had to let their employees start working from home. The virus belongs to a family that can cause you to have a common cold or, more importantly, severe respiratory diseases. The symptoms of CoViD-19 are dry cough, fever and breathing problems, and it can easily be spread by an infected person coughing, sneezing, laughing or even just talking. Hence, so many companies, big and small, are suggesting their employees to stay at home and work. Here are some important factors to keep in mind to make you focus on work, because it really does get very easy to get distracted at the comfort of your own home.

Dress for Work

This might seem unnecessary, but a study has shown that your attire influences your job performance. It is advised to get ready for the day as you would to go to your workplace, even if not as much presentable. It helps to keep your mind focused and do your work effectively.

And, in case of a meeting being arranged at the very last minute, you won’t get distracted from your work as you fret over which clothes you should change into, and lose time doing so.

Identify your Workspace

You will think that one of the main perks of working from home is to work as you lay in your bed in your pyjamas. But, in reality it’s one of the best ways to decrease your efficiency. It might take you some time to find the best spot in your house with the least distractions where you can work in peace, and the sooner you realise that, the better. Otherwise, you will slack off in your bed or couch but start to believe this is the most efficient you can be, which is far from the truth. It doesn’t have to be an entire room for you to work properly, it can just be a desk in your room which you will have to train yourself to believe to be your workspace and act accordingly.

Also, studies have shown that places with good lighting and a lower temperature improves your mood, causing you to be more productive. So, the best way to identify your space would be to make a corner as much like as your actual workplace and get to work.

Communicate

This is the most important key in any type of work, you must always communicate with your co-workers. This doesn’t always have to be formal emails; you can decide to call them once a while and give them updates on what you are working on and what you are trying to accomplish by the end of the day or the week.

This doesn’t just make you alert of your deadlines but also helps others understand what to expect from you and when to expect it, rather than worrying constantly, affecting their productivity. You could ask for feedback and give yours, which would help to not let anyone feel neglected and feel just as important as everyone else. Moreover, it can help you improve your relationship with your co-workers, as you’re working as a team in a bigger picture.

Have boundaries

Since you will be at your own house, with no co-workers around or the need to finish work in time to go home, you won’t really keep track of time. This means you might sometimes forget to eat or even move from your desk. Constantly being on your laptop or computer can cause you to have headaches, sitting in one place for a long period of time can lead to backpain or numbness of feet, and not getting enough food or sleep due to working overtime might cause you to fall sick and not work at all. On the other hand, you might take breaks to eat or sleep for so long that you might not meet your deadlines.

To prevent this you could set alarms, or ask a family member, to remind you of what time it is and what you should be doing. Everything should be done at its own time and this will help to keep you healthy as well as be productive.

Don’t Take it for Granted

Its times like the coronavirus that we are facing right now, it is an advantage to get to work from home, which isn’t one that everyone gets. You can use this advantage to prove how you deserve your position in your company or how you deserve more.

It might take a while to adjust to it, as most of us haven’t done this ever before, and also because there is a constant fear of you or your loved ones acquiring the disease, but it can also help you to hone your skills and learn things better. Constantly communicating on platforms may give you the confidence to speak your mind and make your presence felt once you get back to your actual workplace. And, using digital communication among yourselves can improve your understanding of the tone of those companies abroad and deliver to their wants and needs. Also, always having to use technology can help you use them better for your own work and efficiency.

Hopefully we will get over this pandemic as soon as possible with the least impact to our health and work, and until then may we all stay safe within the walls of our own home.