Nowadays, people are working more from home because of COVID’19. Whether you are willing to work remotely or looking to manage your work, the following tips will help you to maintain your work and stay productive.
From March 2020, people have started working more from home. However, companies do not have much time to look after the people who are working remotely and maintain an online environment. However, no one knows that how long this remote work will last. If you are new to this remote work lifestyle, you have to manage things so that you can have success in working from home.
Everyone who is willing to work from home must figure out where, when, and how to work. Before you start working from home, you have to build boundaries between your personal life and work. Here are the leading tips for working from home that can make your remote work productive.
Maintaining Working Hours
Make your proper schedule and stick to it. Having clear guidelines about when and where to work, helps many remote workers in maintaining their tasks. One of the biggest advantages of remote work is flexibility when the job allows it. Sometimes you need to start working early so that you can respond to coworkers in their time zone. When you are done with it, make sure to wrap it up earlier and sleep a bit early so that the next morning you can wake up for work.
You can also download a time tracking app to check whether you are sticking to your schedule or not. These apps also tell you that what time of day you are sticking to your schedule and when you are lacking off.
Develop a Morning Routine
Deciding that you will sit on your chair and start working is one thing. Creating a routine that will guide you to be in the chair is another thing. A routine is more powerful than the clock. What morning tasks will indicate that you are about to start your work? It would be a cup of tea or coffee before you get to check your To-Do List. Look at your existing habits like brushing teeth or coming from a morning walk, which can act as a signal. This way you can check up on your workday instead of kicking it. A morning routine doesn’t mean having a 9 to 5 schedule, you can start your routine at another time of day as well. However, look for your existing habit and try to start your work from there.
Set Your Rules
Set some rules with the people you are at your home and with the people who are sharing work with you. For instance, if you have children who are coming from school or learning from home, they must know the rules regarding what they can or cannot do at that time. If you are sharing your work with someone who is also working from home, then you have to arrange a meeting many times and share equipment like chair and desk.
Moreover, by setting some rules and regulations you can work easily and efficiently and this will help you in maintaining your productivity.
Arrange Breaks
If you are working with the company, you should know about their break time policy and utilize them. If you are a freelancer, give some time to yourself and walk away from your laptop and phone.
The two 15 minutes break and a lunch hour seem to be standard break times for US employees. It is essential to take breaks and move to have blood circulation once in an hour. Furthermore, it will also allow you to take your eyes off the screen on regular basis. You can also have a micro-break of 10 to 20 seconds.
Don’t Change Your Mind
Don’t change yourself during short breaks, especially on your meal break. However, there are apps that will allow you to set a schedule for yourself, when you lock your screen. These apps also have a pause feature that will allow you to have a 15 minute or an hour break. If you don’t need any apps in your life, then set an alarm or a timer on your phone or your computer and keep an eye on the time on the standard clock. No matter how you take breaks but make sure that after the break you start working. For example, if you’re having a 30 minute break then go to your table after 20 minutes, and walk away for 10 minutes.
Go From Home
If it is safe outside, then leave your home and move out for some time. Your body also needs movements for blood circulation. Moreover, the fresh air and nature will make you feel better and do good. You must step outside before, after, and between the working hours for a short break.
The same advice is also for the people who are working in the office. You must leave the building for at least 10 to 15 minutes during working hours. During non-pandemic time, home-based workers can also go to cafes, libraries, and co-working places to break up the boredom of being at home.
However, this is great but you can also move out of the house and get some fresh air and natural light. To take a break, you don’t need to go to crowded places, You can just get away from your workplace, take a break, sit in the garden, and get the picture.
Do Ask Whatever You Need
If your organization doesn’t support work from home set up, ask for the equipment required for the work, or within the few days of realizing you need something, so that you can start the work as soon as possible. It is essential to note down whatever is required for your job to be done comfortably.
Your essentials can be a keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, desk, chair, and others. Organizations that work with home-based workers also have a budget for home-based workers. However, some remote organizations also allow employees to bring a consultant to evaluate their workspace. Furthermore, if you are working from home for a short time, then do ask for the necessary equipments and be ready to do acceptable compromises. Don’t order so many things that cost high, you can just order a mouse, keyboard, monitor, printer, or the things which are necessary for your work that can cost below $2000.
Have a Proper Office Space
In today’s world, remote employees need not only a proper office but also two computers, one for personal use and one for work. It is secure for the employees as it keeps your personal activities private. However, not everyone has a separate room for office use at home, so keeping two machines sometimes becomes difficult.
Instead of two machines, you must have a desk and things which are necessary for home-based work. However, in one machine, you can also part Your hard drive and create a separate user account for personal activity. Making small differences between your work time and separate time will help your brain know, when it is time to work and when it’s not.
Have a Separate Phone Number and Good Internet
You must have a separate phone number that you can only use for contacting your clients and colleagues. For this, you don’t need to have a second mobile phone or a separate landline, you can also have another SIM card. Moreover, it can be some other services like Skype or Google Voice. Just like the other tips, having another SIM card will help you in maintaining your work life and your personal life equally. Also you need Internet with fast speed and good pings link BUYTVINTERNETPHONE
VPN Usage
Use a VPN, whenever you get connected to the network that is not in your control. It includes Wi-Fi at cafes, co-working places, Airports, libraries, hostels, and so on. However, many organizations have their own VPN that can be Used by their own employees, that access through some website where the personal information of that organization has been stored. In these cases, you also need to access the VPN at home. It would be good if you leave your VPN connected whenever it is possible because it is always safe to have it. One essential point about VPN is that if you are connected to a company’s VPN, then the company knows whatever you are doing.
Parting Thoughts
From all the above information, figure out which one suits you the best. Sometimes the answer is obvious, But the other time you might require some motivation from the other remote-based employees. A supportive group of employees do exist, whether you find them in your organization, or online through blogs or other communication platforms, do consider them. However, you must need to shuffle your routine once and then get back to it.
