In the eyes of recent events, like COVID19, the concept of work from home (WFH) is becoming increasingly relevant. This allows companies to keep their business running and employees to maintain their jobs. Or maybe you are trying to test your luck being your boss and working independently. No matter on what track you are, the transition from office work to homework may be challenging in the beginning.
Therefore, if you are new to this style of work, maintaining the same efficiency as you have at the office, might be hard. You will have to deal with a lot of distractions. And adaptation to the new environment might take some time. However, no matter what circumstances have caused such changes in your life, follow the tips below to make these changes easier for yourself.
1. Try on some music
According to Oberlo‘s guide on how to work from home, music can be one of the things that can make working from home smoother and easier.
While working in an office, you are surrounded by your coworkers. It means that you are getting used to all the fuss going on in the workplace. But most of the cases, when you work from home, there is no one near except for the silence. Believe it or not, it can harm your efficiency.
To avoid that, you should try to turn on some music. According to researchers, it can even boost your productivity and ability to concentrate.
2. Set working hours
An important thing to have in mind is how many hours daily you should work. If you do not keep a regular schedule every day, it might get hard to find the balance between your home life and work life. Also, it is a good idea to keep your working hours as they used to be when you were working in the office. However, if you start to work independently, it is better to adapt to your client’s schedule. This will make communication easier for both sides, as it is the key to success.
Another reason to always stick to defined working hours is that they do not interfere with your family time or free time activities. Neither side will not feel happy about that. Moreover, do not try to cover the lack of time by increasing the working time. In the end, that will hamper your productivity, even if it will have some one-time positive effect.
3. Take care of workspace
When you are working in your office, there is a physical boundary that separates the workspace from home space. However, work from home makes that line vanish. Why it is so important to find a dedicated area to improve productivity from home. Also, there should be nothing in this place that could distract your attention. Whether it is a tv or a sofa, it is better to take them out to avoid any temptations to get away from work.
You have to feel like you are entering into the work area. So do everything necessary to feel this way. If it is needed, just put your table in the corner, so that the only thing you will be facing is the wall. Over time you will get used to it, and your ability to keep the attention and work effectively will only get better.
4. Find time to exercise
The difference between working at home compared to the office is that you always stay in the same place. It means that your physical activity is getting near to zero. And If you still think you have not exercised while you worked at the office, you are wrong. Your daily commute to work was exactly this. So be so kind to yourself and devote at least twenty minutes each day to keep your physical health in good shape. Or at least take a short walk. It will help to clear your mind and keep you focused for a longer period. It is also scientifically proven that taking a breath of fresh air can have a positive effect on your physiological and mental health.
5. Plan your schedule
One thing you should always do before starting your work week, write down the list of jobs that have to be done by Friday. No matter how much you rely on your skills, having the list in front of your eyes will keep you on track. The point is that when working from home, no one will stand next to you and follow what you are doing. On the other hand, you will likely feel less stressed than working at the office.
If you manage to develop the ability to plan your tasks, you will be surprised how much you can do during a workweek. Also, having a list in front of you will help not to get distracted from the main task and complete all the jobs on time.
6. Take regular breaks
There might be times when you have more stuff than usual, but taking regular breaks should still be on your list of things to do. If you can, leave home even for a bit and take a walk.
Overworking will be detrimental, especially in the long run, when you cannot be sure about how much longer you will have to work from home. Therefore, it’s necessary to take adequate breaks to avoid burnout. Check out asakyu.com to learn more ways of taking real breaks when working from home.
7. Establish ground rules with other people in the home
If you have a family, make sure that everyone is on the same page. It is more than likely that they are staying at home as well, which means that they might get in your way and distract work. The whole thing can get awkward, especially if you are on a conference call with your colleagues.
Be sure to set some ground rules so that your workflow is not disrupted. It will also prevent quarrels that make living harder for everyone involved.
8. Create a reward system for yourself
The work should be a priority. Even if you feel a lack of motivation, you should still look to finish the tasks and be done with it for the day.
Procrastinating will only complicate matters. If you are struggling, create a reward system for yourself. Perhaps there is a new episode of your favorite TV series? Or maybe you have a delicious dinner waiting for you in the evening? Tell yourself that you can enjoy these things after you are finished with work.
