Working from home has been the new normal for some time now. While this comes with some drawbacks, it’s been a welcome change for many, especially those of us with long commutes. Less time spent in transit means more time for sleep, family, and other activities.
Overall, for most, there are more advantages to working from home than there are disadvantages. That being said, working from home comes with its challenges. Here are tips that can help you become an effective work-from-home worker.
First things first, create a schedule. We may get caught up with the freedom to do many things we weren’t able to do during traditional work hours, so it’s important to stay mindful of this ever-present temptation. The likelihood of procrastinating at home becomes greater since, technically, we’re able to do anything we want. To compensate, take the time to write down a schedule for the things you plan to accomplish each, and stick to that list. It’s best if this list is physically written down somewhere easily viewable, such as a notepad or whiteboard.
Aside from online video meetings. Sending out updates at the end of the day is also crucial. Staying focused on your responsibilities and communicating your progress to colleagues each day is crucial in the absence of traditional workplace “facetime.” Be proactive and inform people what you’re doing; this way, they’ll know you’re doing your job, even when they can’t see you.
With the freedom of working from home, one can have a tendency to overwork - meaning working beyond your self-designated hours when you should be spending time with your family or yourself. Set limits and create an alarm for when to start and when to stop work for the day. Don't forget your schedule, and what’s really important.
Getting hooked up to a fast, stable internet connection has become an absolute necessity. If there are multiple people in your household, there’s a high likelihood your internet will slow down as usage increases, especially if you have children who are e-learning. Having the best internet connection possible is always a good idea.
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Numerous studies have shown that those who work remotely have found a significant boost to their productivity, mostly due to time saved from no longer commuting and or attending in-person meetings. If you at times find yourself in the latter group, read on as we cover 10 tips for productivity when working from home.