The art of working from home efficiently takes some time to master, but a couple of do’s and don’ts will help you stay productive while you work from home.
DO’s
Use your morning for any form of meditation:
Use this time to disconnect and focus on you and set your intentions for tasks you want to get done throughout the day.
Act like you’re going into work; When you are working from home act as if you are going into the office and structure your day like you usually would. The association between work and an office can make you more productive. You are your own manager at home, therefore it is important to hold yourself accountable for completing tasks on time, regardless of your working environment.
To avoid burn out, be sure to take breaks periodically.
Plan out each day
– Have focused work time so that you can focus and give your best to one task instead of spreading yourself thin.
– Set out time to answer emails, brainstorm, work on specific projects etc. It may help to try setting timers for each task so that you ensure you dedicate enough time to get things completed.
– Setting reminders can even help you know when it’s time to shift gears and start something new.
Get into the habit of creating a routine that signals the closing of your workday.
– Choose what works best for you, but ensure that you do it consistently to mark the end of your work day.
DON’TS
Work from your bed
When you do this, sleep, working and relaxing can become blurred together, which isn’t a good recipe for productivity.
Try to create a designated place that acts as your home working space or even office. A good place would be somewhere with bright lighting (natural lighting is preferred) and is clutter free because nobody wants to work in a messy space.
Be sure not to blur the lines between “work” and “home”. In some cases you might be glued to your computer screen for a long period of time, but make sure to set time aside for yourself.
Try incorporating morning exercises into your routine like floor work, or go for a walk or run. Consistently keeping your body moving will prevent you from feeling lethargic from the work day.
Limit communication with your team
Getting used to working from home can be challenging at first, but it is important to remain in communication with your team on a regular basis.
This will help you feel connected to your colleagues even though you are not fact-to-face in the office. If you’re dialing in, be sure to announce yourself to the group so that your team knows you have joined. Also, don’t be afraid to participate in calls and share your ideas – just as if you were in a physical meeting.
Keeping in constant communication will help you feel less isolated, get tasks done faster and let’s your team know what areas they can provide support in.