While the internet helped give way to a new era of flexible working practices, which was accepted by some and frowned upon by others. However, this year with COVID-19 and for our safety, the implementation of social distancing regulations, many companies and workplaces, large or small had to swiftly switch to work from home (WFH) mode.
Whether you’re a WFH newbie or veteran, here’s a few things to get you started and work more productively and efficiently.
Designated workspace
When you first moved in, you probably never thought you’ll be working within the vicinity of your home. So first thing to do is to set up shop. This is more than just a table and chair, ideally you’d want to be free from noise and distractions, somewhere that doesn’t have people moving about throughout the day. So the kitchen table might not be the best idea. If you have the luxury of a designated study, great. If not find a less busy part of your house with good lighting and temperature, maybe invest in some quality noise-cancelling headphones to keep you in the zone.
Create a routine
You might no longer need to wake up at 6am to beat the morning rush hour. However, this doesn’t mean staying in bed till 5minutes before the morning stand up with your co-workers.
Adhering to a 9-5 schedule may no longer be necessary but it’s still important to have a routine. Set a reasonable time to get up, have a decent breakfast, fit in time for chores and exercise, and have specified working hours where you are dedicated to work. Stick to this daily you’re more likely to get more done and forget about the dirty laundry sitting in the next room.
Keep out distractions
Apart from designating time to work, keep things that might potentially distract you at bay is also important. For example, put your phone on silent or turn off notifications. Try a Pomodoro Focus Timer, keep a jar of water and some snacks close by so you are not tempted to visit the fridge every 10 minutes.
Setting boundaries
Not only are you working from home, so may your housemates, spouses, family members and children who will need your attention from time to time. It is important to communicate to them even though you are home, you are still working and ask them not to distract you unless it is important.
Let them know your working hours where you don’t want to be disturbed. You might set 5 minutes every hour to check on the kids and make sure the pantry is filled with snacks or invest in a few online streaming services to keep them entertained.