How to Succeed at Working From Home
The pandemic has taken the world by surprise and companies are scrambling to respond in responsible ways. One way is what is now called the “Work From Home”: millions of office workers have been asked not to come to the office but work from home instead, to protect themselves and their communities. In our recent blog called Coronavirus, work from home and well-being shares how to redirect goals during this time.
Half of those Work From Home report much greater use of digital communication tools like Zoom and Microsoft teams. Remote work comes with a host of unfamiliar stressors and many are struggling to adapt. From worrying about how we look to our coworkers on camera and when we will next be disrupted by our kids or pets, to recreating the same level of focus and productivity we felt in our old offices, it’s easy to feel lost and overwhelmed.
Here are some proven tips for success learned by others who have managed this approach effectively:
Create a Routine & Try To Stick to It
The first secret weapon is to make a well-planned routine for each day so that you have equal time for work and daily household chores. When you will start working from home, you will fall prey to distractions.
Gradually, you will realize that only concentrated efforts will lead to success. Be consistent with your business hours to create a sense of stability and professionalism.
Focus on the Right Setup
If you have made up your mind to work from home, you should work to give yourself the feel of an office. The area where you plan to work should be away from distractions and should have all the needed supplies and proper lighting.
Stay Focused & Don’t Mix Work and Home Duties
Your tangible work efforts will be in vain if you aren’t focused or get distracted easily. Strive to minimize such obvious distractions as personal emails and social media, uninvited calls, noisy children, and answering the doorbell. Such distractions can suck the focus out of you and keep you from being as productive as you need to be to provide the service your company and/or clients expect.
Rendezvous With the Latest Technology
Working from home is all about taking up the task on your own and getting it down within a reasonable timeframe. Therefore, make sure that you stay abreast of latest technological updates and breakthroughs as you may never know what software or hardware update you may need to succeed now and in future.
Polish Your Communication Skills
Working remotely and getting your tasks done can be challenging as you will be interacting with clients and others via email and phone - not in person - and you'll need to make sure you capture all communication between you thoroughly and effectively.
There will be instances when you might have to explain verbal or visual cues, and having good communication skills can help you do this in an efficient way.
Take Breaks and Relax
We all take breaks during the workday, and working from home should be no different. You may want to consider working in smaller spurts and allowing yourself to relax in between, which can be really refreshing and help you both physically and mentally. Getting up from your chair for a while at regular intervals can also help your eyes and spine relax.
People who work from home often work more hours than at the office, because they feel guilty when they step away from their desk. Not immediately responding to phone calls or emails could be perceived as “doing other things”, meaning personal and not focused on work. Remind yourself that it’s not about being available, it’s about delivering the work. When you work from home, don’t feel guilty, and don’t overcompensate by working long days.
Here at Inbloom, we are offering all our clients virtual meditation sessions. These sessions focus on enabling you to stay calm, collected, and focused in these times of uncertainty. If you would like to hear more about them, simply email us.