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Waking up as per your leisure, not facing morning rush hour traffic and working from the comfort of your own bed sounds like a bliss to almost every office goer. But in reality working from home is a lot more challenging than the picture painted above. There are many challenges that come with remote working, like spending hours on end without any human interaction.
To make sure you get most out of remote working, and keep your sanity in the process, we’ve devised a list of the best tips to help you stay on track.
The first rule of a good work-from-home routine is to wake up in the morning and get dressed as if you were going to work in an actual office. Getting out of your night dress and getting into work clothes can positively affect the output of your work, as well as impact you on both business and personal level.
Having a secure internet connection is vital when working from home – any delays will waste a lot of time! Be sure to invest in a high-storage and high-speed desktop/laptop to ensure smooth work process.
Give yourself designated breaks throughout the day to help you keep your productivity levels up.
In order to stay connected, you need certain tools to carry out your work as effectively as possible. Your company’s IT department will most likely advise you on which project management, collaboration and web conferencing tools to use, and it’s a good idea to ensure you have everything you need before you start working from home.
It’s easy to get distracted in an environment that you associate with relaxing. To avoid this work from a designated office space in your home.
It is essential to create a to-do list and tick off your completed tasks. Don’t worry if you’ve over-estimated on your list; you can always drag things across to the following day.
It is a good idea to set your specific working hours and stick to them. The idea is to avoid working just two hours one day and then pulling an all-nighter the next just so you can catch up on your work. It’s counterproductive.
Plan and structure your workday to maximise efficiency. If you find that you’re more productive in the morning, arrange to complete the big, important tasks then and avoid checking your emails until they’ve been ticked off. Stick to your routine every day.
Set boundaries from the get-go and let family & friends know that you can’t be interrupted during your working hours.
It is a good idea to keep a clear line of communication open with your colleagues throughout the day and to keep your boss updated with your progress on specific projects.
It is essential that you set a time to step out of the house for a while, at least once a day, whether that’s to go for a walk in the morning or to grab a bite at lunch.
It is important to keep your desk area clean and tidy so it’s easy for you to navigate around it. It helps you concentrate better, making all those difficult tasks easier to solve.
Make sure you have solid proof of your workflow by tracking the time spent on each specific task throughout the day. You can also use a shared calendar system to mark when a project is completed so both your manager and yourself can assess your progress.
Have a few healthy snacks lined up at arm’s reach so you avoid the kitchen altogether during your working hours.
If you commit to doing a certain amount of work, there really is no way of backing out (unless you want to be unemployed, of course). In order to make sure you achieve your daily targets, focus on your projects and don’t waste time procrastinating.
If you find yourself missing the hustle and bustle of a normal office environment, consider switching the TV on to help you stay productive. If, on the other hand, listening to music helps you concentrate, why not make a playlist to listen to?
Make sure you take your lunch break away from your computer, somewhere where you can rest your eyes and do something else for a while.
Being comfortable in your chair is half the battle when you have a desk job, so invest in a comfortable chair with a good back support. You should look for five factors: ‘a comfortable cushion, armrests, an adjustable backrest, lumbar support and wheels’.
There’s nothing worse than being on a conference call with an important client, with dogs barking or sirens going off in the background. A good pair of noise-cancelling headphones should help you avoid getting distracted in such instances.
If you’re finding it hard to focus from home, productivity apps could be your saviour. With a variety of trusted tools available, you can reap the benefits of time-management trackers and project management tools and stay on top of your tasks.
Unless you work in social media or marketing, there really is no reason for you to be on any social platform throughout your working hours. Mindless scrolling is the largest time-waster and could be hindering your chances of success.
I know it’s hard to avoid playing with your cute furry friend when you’re working from home, but the more attention you give them during working hours, the more they will interrupt your work flow. It’s best to set some boundaries and avoid giving your pet too much attention during your work time.
As mentioned previously, you’ll be the most productive in a designated space that’s associated with work. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t switch up your office location from time to time, so that no two days are the same. For example, you could work outside in the garden or a park, or perhaps at your local coffee shop or library.
If you don’t like being alone all day, you could consider renting a coworking space in a local office building. You’ll pay a monthly fee for desk space and a normal office environment with people to talk to and consult with. But that’s not all: a coworking office environment can make you more productive and focused, as well as feel more confident.
Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you should take a holiday from time to time. Planning is easy, too, as you won’t have a manager hovering over you every second of the day.
It’s clear to see that working from home has its advantages and disadvantages, but by following these simple rules you can enjoy the best of both worlds and ensure that you have the ultimate work-life-balance.