Are you working from home to help stop the spread of coronavirus? For many people, it’s the first time they’ll have ever experienced working from home. While working from home can be beneficial in many ways, it can also be challenging, especially when it comes to staying productive.
Working from home successfully is about building a routine and being able to motivate yourself. It’s not always easy, but a positive attitude will help you get there.
Here are some great working from home tips for newbies to get you settled into your new setup.
Working From Home Tips For Newbies
Create a work space
Creating a work space in your home will give you a place to focus on work. If you try to work from bed or the couch, you’re soon going to run into problems. Choose an area that’s quiet and distraction-free. Your dining table can be a good substitute in place of a desk. Make sure you’ve got a comfortable chair and remember to take breaks to walk around now and then as you would in the office. With everything you need in front of you, you’ll be able to work from home as you would in the office.
Learn how to be productive
Staying productive is one of the most difficult elements of working from home. You can easily get distracted by other people in your house, as well as wanting to take on jobs around the house, watch TV, etc. It’s easy to put off what you need to do, but it’s important that you push past it and stop procrastinating. Make a to-do list and plan your day out – staying busy is key! If it helps, start your day a little earlier so you’ve got more time in the afternoons/evenings to do other things.
Make time for exercise and household chores
Working from home can become very samey day after day. It can be very easy to fall into bad habits and become a bit lazy. Taking control of your health is important and is something you need to prioritize, especially while you’re restricted from going to the gym and so on. Work out in your living room or take a run around the block – it will help you burn off some energy and give you a break from work. You should also take some time for your household chores – a quick break to put some laundry or do the dishes can help take your mind off work and help you keep your home in order too.
Working from home takes some getting used to, but over time you’ll start to find that you’re enjoying it! You can keep in touch with colleagues via phone calls, video chats and instant messenger, helping you to stay connected. Remember to switch off at night and take time to relax in your home – a work/life balance is still important, even if you’re just in the same four walls for the time being!
So true Corinne. Last week, did a post on WFH, something I’ve been doing for 4 years. True, we need to be focussed by sitting in a comfortable place and keep checking our daily goals to assess progress made, The arguments put forwards are very true with the to-do-list!