Across America, millions of companies have ordered employees to work at home in an effort to reduce the spread of a novel coronavirus known scientifically as COVID-19.
You’ll be in a different work environment during the weeks or months that social distancing lasts in our efforts to combat the virus. But you’ll still want to be a productive employee during this time of economic uncertainty. By making an effort to keep your productivity on track, you can embrace the comforts of home along with the structure provided by working in an office. Here are a few tips to make working from home work for you.
1. Stick to a Routine
Working from home may seem like a chance to lounge around in your pajamas and work around your family’s schedule. But the reality is that it’s difficult to get everything done if you don’t have a set workday and make it a point to restrict work to specific hours of the day.
Get up and get dressed like you do every day before going to work. That will put your brain in the mindset of working. Simply getting dressed professionally can help you concentrate more and take your work more seriously. I personally get up, get dressed (even if it is one of my AOPA comfy flannel shirts or joggers), take the dog for a walk, and then have breakfast. But your routine should be something that works for you. Find something to do every day to transition from home to work, and keep the same dedicated hours set aside each day to do your job.
2. Create a Designated Workspace
By creating an environment that you only utilize during work hours, you can (ideally) cut down on distractions. If you don’t have a home office or an extra private room, you may have to get creative. One suggestion is to put a desk in a large closet to create an office space without disturbance. Do what works for you, but don’t try to get your job done in the middle of a bustling kitchen where your family will be coming in and out all day.
3. No Chores During Work Hours
It’s really easy to get tripped up with home to-do list distractions. Paying bills, scheduling appointments, and exercising seem like valid excuses to stop working for a bit. It’s not like these activities are enjoyable, but they can take up a lot of your time and focus. Set yourself a chore schedule outside of work hours and stick to it.
4. Find a Way to Touch Base With Your Colleagues
It can be lonely working from home, and that can impede your productivity. It’s also harder to get stuff done if you don’t feel like you have people to collaborate with — especially if you’re used to working in a team environment. Fortunately, there are tons of tools you can use to touch base. Video conferencing software such as Zoom and Skype also makes it easy to have face-to-face time. Ideally, you can schedule meetings often with the coworkers you need to work closely with. Or what about a virtual happy hour? What a great way to stay connected to your colleagues after the workday is over!
5. Get Out and Log Off
It is extremely critical to break up the day when working from home. Take a ten-minute walk around the block to freshen up and encourage the flow of new ideas.
One of the most important aspects of a healthy work-from-home routine is creating boundaries. Log off for the day — and not just from your laptop. Consider developing a phrase to say to yourself at the end of the day to signal that it’s time to stop thinking about work. Have a last-minute idea come up after office hours? Jot it down, but come back to it tomorrow. Just because you have access to work anytime doesn’t mean you should be logged in 24/7. Allow yourself downtime to create a work-life balance. We all need it, no matter where we are working.
The next few weeks are going to be confusing and anxiety-inducing for many of us. With these tips, you can stay on the ball and make the most of your time at home.
Related Articles
