Transitioning from your office to a work-from schedule can be tricky, mainly if you are accustomed to an office setting to maintain productivity. Working from home saves you the trouble of traffic snarls, office drams, and poor weather patterns. Nevertheless, you are likely to experience some productivity challenges.
There are many ways you can stay on the edge of your tasks, maintain engagement with your team, and keep on producing stellar work remotely. Here are seven tips to make everything hassle-free:
1) Set up a good workspace
The most significant difference you will face is the absence of the traditional office space. As a work-from-home individual, setting up your working space should be the first thing before you embark on working remotely. The workspace should give you all the comfort you need as you remain productive, positive, and present.
Although you may have to fight the urge to work from your bed or couch, avoid it. Working from the mentioned reduces productivity since it prevents the brain from shifting from comfort to work mode. Most experts advise on finding a suitable spot in your compound that keeps you in an upright position, maintaining an eye level with your computer. This will aid in cloning a typical office setting while your body and mind remain engaged for the entire working period.
Another overlooked aspect is the idea of setting up your home working station, aping the function of your entire office. There are items that you frequently use in the office. Having the items in your home office replicates your office. Even though the offices will not be entirely identical, the items will ease the transition process.
2) Always dress up for work
To help tune your mind from the ‘home’ to ‘work’ mindset, maintain your morning work routine. Wake up early enough, freshen up, and put on that office attire. Although you might decide to remain in your pyjamas since you aren’t going anywhere, doing your hair, getting dressed, and touching makeup has a significant toll on your mindset. The mind automatically gets ready to handle the day’s tasks.
Even if you are not interacting with anybody, sometimes you will be required to attend one or a couple of videoconferences. Looking sharp on the camera shows your clients or employers that you’re giving the work the seriousness it deserves.
3) Maintain a work-life balance
Like dressing up in the morning for work, you should also wind down after work in your remote work routine. Whenever the clock ticks to mark the end of your workday, carefully shut down all the work devices. Your brain will understand that work time is done. Later, start transitioning into your regular evening routine.
Think about, for example, you are working from home, and you just delivered. While the work-at-home time may look like the perfect opportunity to bond with your baby, you equally have to balance between work and life. If you need a day off, be sure to inform your boss to maintain the highest possible work standards.
4) Stick to your work hours
Working from home saves you an early morning commute to work. The absence of the travel routine means extra time on your side that could have been spent stuck in traffic. The additional hours on your schedule are perfect for everything set before the actual working starts.
Failing to set your working hours poses a challenge to the brain to effectively juggle between the work and rest mode. This later results in poor productivity. Setting your work hours allows your mind to rest after transitioning at the end of your workday.
5) Online certifications and courses
Online certification courses are made to provide virtual training. The online certification courses fit learners with different knowledge levels and abilities. Many free certification courses won’t cost you a single cent.
Numerous great sites offer these online courses. Some of the courses that can be of great help are:
• Programming
• Design
• Marketing, and many more.
If you have much time at your disposal and need to learn some new skills and remain productive, enrol in some of the courses. It will typically take you less than three months to complete.
6) Learning new hobbies
There’s always something that you have admired for so long but never got the time to practice. This is the perfect moment to give it a try. During your work at home period, maximize your abilities. If you have that unending water phobia, try swimming. Maybe you admire how KFC does their chicken; give it a shot with their recipe. You can join the dancing, singing, instruments or cooking classes. You will be surprised at how perfect you might turn out to be with the new hobbies.
7) Brushing up skills
During your training days or past office days, you didn’t grasp concepts so well. The time to brush up on everything is during this work from the home period. Gather as many resources as possible and polish the ideas you are not perfect.
I hope this article keeps you as productive as possible during your working-from-home period.
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