How To Work From Home The Right Way Amidst Coronavirus

There isn't any option left for us these days but to work from home and maintain social distancing amidst coronavirus outbreak. Many global companies even before the lock down was imposed, had made it mandatory for their employees to work from home to curb the spread of Covid-19. However, shifting to the “home office” may not be easy for many. The new environment with several distractions may not lend itself to productivity. But a few minor tweaks and clever planning can increase your productivity and help you deliver results on time.

Create a work space

If it’s a busy household, it’s all the more important to set aside some space as your work area. Make sure you tell others at home it’s off limits for them while you are working. It wouldn’t look professional if there were noises or disruptions while you were in the midst of a video meeting with your team. You also don’t want anyone to misplace your important documents and papers.  Set the ground rules, let others know that your work desk is out of bounds for them.

Look at it like a real job

Only because you are not stepping out of your home doesn’t mean you can lounge in your PJs or work cuddled up in your bed. A home office may seem casual but don’t fall into the trap, you will hardly get work done. Get up, take a shower, dress up, instead of sitting on the bed sit in an upright chair like you would in an office. This sends a signal to your mind that it’s work time and helps you concentrate.

Communicate!

When working from home, it’s essential to know what’s expected of you and to deliver accordingly. The key here is communication with your manager or boss. Fix up a time daily to speak to your reporting manager, set your goals and at the end of the day, send out a report on completed tasks. Having a clear-set of expectations will help you perform better.               

Make a daily to-do list

It’s easy to get distracted or lose track of time at home. To stay on track, make a to-do list and set a time limit against each task. This will make you stay focused and help you manage your time better.

Avoid feeling isolated

Especially those who are staying alone, it’s natural to feel isolated in times like this. This could affect morale and productivity. The way out is to communicate with the team to sustain a semblance of normalcy. Besides talking about work, set some time aside for a virtual coffee chat or some casual conversation. This is a fun way to lighten the otherwise difficult environment.

Unplug after work

Many complain they can’t seem to unplug from work at home. When you are not commuting or leaving a physical office after work, it can become difficult to mentally shut stop. In such situations, resort to psychological segues, like setting a task that signals the end of the day, it could be rustling up a salad or doing a short workout after work.