With the Covid19 outbreak causing so much disruption, mayhem and loss to our daily routines, it has never been more important to stay at home as much as you possibly can.
Given all going on, working from home is becoming more and more common with many companies and employees establishing both a self-quarantine and government regulated quarantine as a way to protect themselves and all around them.
Unfortunately, working from home isn’t something that is suited for everybody and we often find ourselves at a loss of how to remain productive with work.
Here we have put together a series of tips and advice to help remote employees stay organized and productive.
Set Up A Great Working Space
Working from home isn’t always easy. You are suddenly surrounded by your everyday life. Objects, family members and even pets suddenly become a distraction and this can be difficult to get used to, especially if you are used to having a quiet, distraction-free office to work in.
Have Your Own Work Space
The way to combat these distractions is to create a separate working space at home. If you have a spare room, turn it into a temporary office for yourself. Get rid of any unnecessary clutter from the room and surround yourself with things that are helpful to make you feel like you are in a work environment. Creating an environment separate from your everyday and family life will help keep your mindset focused on work during work hours.
The way to combat these distractions is to create a separate working space at home. If you have a spare room, turn it into a temporary office for yourself.
Get rid of any unnecessary clutter from the room and surround yourself with things that are helpful to make you feel like you are in a work environment. Creating an environment separate from your everyday and family life will help keep your mindset focused on work during work hours.
Keep All Supplies Close At Hand
Make sure you have everything you are likely to need on hand. Custom Notebooks, files, engraved pens and pencils, and paper are all personalized office supplies you are likely to use while working so make sure you have them.
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Your home office needs to suit the work you are doing. Many new home workers will be working at a desk so if possible try and make this comfortable to use all day long. The right chair and desk can make a big difference in your health and wellbeing.
Finally, make sure your family knows that this room or area is your office and needs to be respected as such. When you are sitting at your desk then it is work time and you need to be left alone as much as possible.
Stick To A Schedule
When working from home it can be difficult to stick to your usual routine but it is important to try and keep your work time and home time separate – Especially when working from home!
A schedule will help keep your mind on work during work hours and give you the opportunity to transition back to a home life mindset when appropriate.
Dress For Success
Working in your Pj’s might seem like a great idea but this can make you less productive as you are in a more relaxed state than you are used to. So before your working day starts, make sure you are showered and dressed. You will be far more productive and feel better too.
Keep The Same Working Hours
If your usual office hours are 9 to 5 with a 30-minute commute at each end of the day then try and stick to this schedule whilst working from home.
Instead of your morning commute time grab yourself a coffee or tea and take the 30 minutes to prepare for work. Sit and relax for a few minutes or check your to-do list and schedule for the day. Using this time to start to think about work will allow your mind to be ready to start at your usual time.
Your working day can then look the same as it would if you were in the office! Take your usual lunches and breaks. Instead of meeting up with a colleague for a coffee meeting have a skype one.
Don’t forget your end of work commute time either. At the end of your day in the home office spend a few minutes clearing up your work. Put everything away so you are not reminded of work whilst you are not working. Doing this at the end of each day will help signal your mind that it is no longer working and you will be ready to enjoy your evening with your loved ones.
Don’t Forget To Take Breaks
Working from home has many benefits but it also has some issues surrounding it. Firstly, it can be easy to get lost in your work when you don’t have the usual signals around you that signify different aspects of the working day. Set yourself an alarm to make sure you take your usual breaks and lunch hours.
Take Advantage Of The Extra Time
Alongside routine breaks, take care of yourself so you can stay mentally sharp during your at-home workday. Some extra activities can include:
- Meditation
- Stretching
- Journaling
- Getting your heart rate up
- Playing brain games
- Getting caught up on sleep
Let’s face it; there aren’t many times in your life when you’ll be asked to stay home for this long. Use this to your advantage and soak up all the extra sleep and relaxation you can, while you can. Taking care of your mental state during this time will help you keep things in perspective when it’s time to get back to work once again.
Essential Working From Home Items
When working from home there are a few things that you definitely need to make life easier and to keep your spirits up. Here are a few!
- Customized Headphones. When working in isolation things can get lonely so make sure you have a good set of headphones so that you can hop on to skype and have a video call with someone. When you aren’t on a call then you can listen to some motivating music while working.
- A great personalized ceramic mug or an engraved insulated mug to keep your coffee hot all morning
- Stationery Supplies like notebooks, pens and desk supplies.
- A great desk and chair to go with it
- Filing drawers or cupboard so that you can clear away all work items at the end of the working day.
Final Thoughts
While working from home isn’t for everyone, all we can do is make the most of it until the covid19 curve has been flattened. Keeping a work mindset during work hours will go a long way in staying productive!
Be sure to check out our other articles for both businesses and individuals.
- COVID Care Packages
- 20 Items You Need In Your Emergency Preparedness Kit
- Stay In Touch With Clients & Survive Working From Home
- Small Business Covid19 Crisis Response Resources
- Managing Your Business During Slow Times
