With the situation of COVID-19 changing rapidly and working from home becoming more likely for many, how can you make it work?
Here are three ways to get the most out of working from home:
- Set up a dedicated workspace
In order to minimise distractions, set up an area where you will work every day. Ensure you have all necessary resources, such as your computer, printer and phone, in the same area. By setting up a dedicated space, it will be easier to get into work mode each time you go there – just like ‘stepping into the office’. Avoid moving around the house with your laptop where it can be easy to become distracted and unfocused.
Create a schedule
One of the easiest ways to remain efficient is to keep to a schedule. OK, so you may not be getting on the bus and going to your usual coffee shop, but you can still get into a good routine. Think about how you usually spend your day and how you can recreate it. The gym might be swapped out for a home workout. Going to the coffee shop can be swapped for a coffee on the balcony. Morning chat with a co-worker can take place over skype. Do your best to stick to a schedule including getting dressed, work tasks, lunch breaks, weekly meetings and so on. Finish at the time you usually do. It might not look exactly how you’re used to, but you can still make it work.
Working with others
Perhaps the biggest hurdle of working from home is sharing a space with others. If you share a room or desk, set up a plan before you get underway. What are the expectations around noise levels, taking phone calls or playing music? Have an honest chat with your new co-workers about how you can best create a harmonious and functional workspace. If you have children to look after, this becomes tricky but not impossible. Set up a schedule for them as well including activities and breaks that align with your schedule. If there’s another adult who is caring for them, stagger schedules so that you have different times caring for the children and therefore times where you can work alone.
Working from home can be productive with a bit of planning, flexibility and an understanding that it’s not going to be perfect. There will be bumps and challenges along the way. However, being adaptable in tough situations is a great skill to learn. While this is a situation you may never have anticipated, it’s a skill you will use for life.
