Keeping Productive Now That You Work From Home

Coronavirus has many people working from home, and even though things are begging to get a little more normal, the majority are still home-based. If you’re new to working remotely, then these tips should help you to become a home-office professional and help you to stay productive. 

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Stick To Regular Hours 

When working from home it can be easy to let your routine slip, however, the key to succeeding when working remotely is to set a schedule and stick to it. Having clear guidelines for when you should be working and when it’s time for home helps remote workers to maintain their work-life balance. One of the big benefits of remote working is flexibility, so if at times, you need to extend the working day you can, but be sure to give yourself the time back another day. 

Keep A Morning Routine 

When you were commuting to work you probably had a very good morning routine in place. If you’ve all of a sudden been thrown into home working you may feel as though you’ve got extra time in the morning and not know how to deal with it. The best thing you can do is stick to your old routine and use the time wisely. Whether you get to work earlier so you can have an early finish, or use the time to clean or go for a walk make sure you don’t lose your morning routine. Keeping in a good morning routine will minimise the temptation to start your day too late. 

Set Ground Rules With The People In Your Space

You need to set ground rules with the people in your home, especially when they share space with you. If you have children at home while you’re working you need to set clear rules for when and can’t approach you during your working day. Likewise, just because you are home and can let service people in or look after pets, don’t let others assume you are able to do this. 

Have Breaks 

You should already know your companies policy on taking breaks, so make sure you still take them. If you’re self-employed set yourself some adequate break times too. Usually, two fifteen-minute breaks and an hour lunch are standard. Unless you are getting the time back at the end of the day, make sure you take your full break entitlement. 

Leave Home

Now that we are able to leave home a little more, get out of the house. Working and living in the same space can be overwhelming at times. Fresh air and natural light will do you wonders and keep you productive. You don’t need to go to crowded public spaces, just go for a short walk or potter around in the garden. 

Ask For What You Need 

The more you work from home the more you will be able to identify exactly what you need for working from home. Don’t hesitate to ask for what you need to complete your work. Companies are acting very proactively to the Covid-19 Outbreak and are supplying their employees with a good work-from-home set up so if there is anything that you feel you need don’t be afraid to ask for it. Just remember to be patient as there is bound to be other employees making requests too. 

Have A Dedicated Working Space 

Ok, so it’s not possible for everyone to have a dedicated office or room to work from, however, it’s important that you try to find somewhere in your home that can be sectioned off or used just for work. Even if it’s just a desk it’s better than mixing personal life with work life. As well as this you need to ensure that you ask for help with getting the right IT setup whether it’s from an external source or through work, this is a vital part of being able to work correctly from home. 

Have A Separate Phone Number 

Set up a phone number that is only used for calls with clients or colleagues. It doesn’t need to be a landline, a second mobile will do, or even just a sim card you can put in when it’s working hours. Having a separate phone number will help to minimise the risk of a bad work-life balance. 

Use A VPN

Use a VPN whenever you connect to a network that you don’t control. This includes  Wi-Fi at co-working spaces, libraries, cafes, and airports. Some organizations will provide their own VPN that off-site employees can use to access the areas of the server that they need to complete their work. Check out this very helpful and insightful nordvpn review to help with working from home.

Socialise With Colleagues

One big thing that you lose when you work from home is interaction with colleagues. It can leave you feeling lonely, isolated, and disconnected. This is often a much bigger problem for extroverts. Companies who are used to remote working will normally offer socialising opportunities, so if your workplace hasn’t started these it could be a good idea to recommended a few ideas. 

Take Sick Days

When you work from home the temptation is to work through feeling sick. However, if you’re not well you need to take the time that you need to recuperate. Sometimes it’s just better to look after yourself so you can be back to being as productive as possible. 

Look For Opportunities To Train 

When your not in an office with your fellow employees, you can sometimes miss out on opportunities for on the spot training. Your company may even forget to offer these opportunities to those who are working from home. It can be really tempting to think of this as a dodged bullet, however, you could be missing out on learning a valuable skill to help with the future. 

Communicate More 

When you work remotely you need to overcommunicate. People need to know your schedule, and when you are going to be away. It’s also god to make sure you are getting regular feedback on tasks that you have completed, just to ensure that remote working is working well. If you have annual leave coming up, prepare a signing off email to let your managers know where you have got up to and what your plan of action is when you return to work. 

These twelve tips should help you to be productive while working from home. How have you found the change to working remotely? Would you like the opportunity to work from home more? Please share you thoughts in the comment below.