You may find yourself regularly working from home over the coming weeks as employers attempt to limit staff exposure to the corona virus outbreak. Thanks to technology, many professionals can now work from anywhere with a laptop and a high-speed Internet connection.
We at Centric HR feel that working from home for at least a while, whilst things are uncertain, will become the norm for those able to do so, but even for those accustomed to it, working from home can feel unstructured and isolating. Here’s our top seven tips for anyone feeling a bit apprehensive at this sudden change in their work environment.
Clear communication with your boss and colleagues is key here. Video calls and Skype may be your new best friends to enable you to reach out and still feel part of a team.
If possible try and create a specific workplace so you feel productive and professional. Try and minimise distractions from the TV and remember to still take breaks away from your screen etc to ensure you stay motivated.
Make sure you start and finish your day as you would at work-set clear boundaries so you feel you have achieved a full days work and can relax in the evenings to create your work/life balance and start the next day refreshed.
When you work from home each day and you don’t have a boss to turn to, it can be challenging and sometimes overwhelming, to keep track of what you have to do each day. It’s easy to lose sight of priorities, tasks, deadlines and even the little things. In order to stay on task, quickly write down all the things that need to get done at the start of each day
We are all guilty of spending too much time on social media but working from home means the distractions are far too accessible and before you know it a quick glance at Facebook and Instagram has turned into a whole lost morning of work. Set your social time for two 15 Min’s break, in the morning and afternoon and schedule your lunch hour for the time to eat and catch up with personal time.
If possible taking a break from inside your home is paramount to reset your mind. Leaving your home and workspace for a brief period of time, even a quick walk, can allow you to get some fresh air, and provide you with a mental reset to ensure you remain productive upon your return and avoid cabin fever.
Remember, it all boils down to self-discipline and making sure that you work smarter and not harder, so you can make the most out of your work day and enjoy the benefits of working at home. Use this next few weeks as a positive and relish in the fact your daily commute and stressful traffic jams are at least on hold for a while!
