Is working from home working for you? The last two years have seen many of us working from home, and post COVID, work from home could be here to stay for a while. Working from the comfort of your home may seem like a dream come true for some, but work from home productivity is not always easy to attain.
I’ve been working from home for years now, but despite that, during the early days of the pandemic it was a struggle to manage working when everyone else was at home as well. So I could empathize when friends struggled with the new normal which saw many of our homes turn into co- working spaces.
Here are some tried and tested tips that have really helped me manage the whole work from home gig:
1. Plan your time
Take a few minutes out every night to plan your workflow for the next day. Depending on what your day looks like, you may want to plan large chunks of undisturbed time during the day in which to work, or, you may need to work in shorter windows depending on your schedule. Whatever it is, make a plan and think about how you’ll space your work out during the day ahead of time, so you have a head start for the next day.
2. Have a dedicated workspace
I can’t emphasize the importance of this enough, because this is something I learned the hard way. Trying to work in an unstructured manner from the dining table or your bed will only lead to frustration and loss of productivity. Have a designated workspace where you go to work. A consistent space where you work everyday helps your brain associate that space with getting work done.
Amp up productivity by creating a workspace you love. Put up some pictures of your friends or family. Create refreshing pops of color through art or décor pieces you love. Place a potted plant for some greenery and better air quality. Creating a clear space where you work also helps compartmentalize your work time from your non work time. That way when you’re done with work you can physically move away from your ‘office’ and unwind without distractions.
3. Build structure into your children’s day
Every work from home mom has a story about how her kids interrupted her during an important work call. If you have children, plan a schedule for them just like you’ve planned your own work schedule. Kids do well with structure and having a framework in place will help them manage their own time and respect yours as well.
Once you have a broad structure in place, plan some activities that will help your kids make use of their time when you have an important work meeting or need a chunk of undisturbed time. This could be an activity they love, screen time or even their own virtual playdate. And when all that planning is done, it helps to remember that sometimes the best laid plans can go to naught. So be mentally prepared for interruptions and the occasional fiasco!
4. Stay social!
What many of us miss the most about going to office is the casual social interactions with our work friends and colleagues. Working from home can be lonely and disorienting, taking away the many human interactions that make each day at an office unique. Preempt work from home loneliness by reaching out to your colleagues and peers. Pick up the phone and talk to them instead of sticking to email and text. Plan a video call or a Zoom meeting. Use your breaks to interact with others, including your family and friends. If you’re a work from home mom, find a social group of work from home moms like you. When the most part of your work day is solitary, it helps to have interactions with other human beings, both in and outside of work.
5. Take clear breaks
Don’t let the guilt of working from home stop you from taking breaks. Breaks are equally important to refuel you and keep your productivity going, so don’t neglect them. What you can do however, is design your breaks so that they are recharging you to work better. Scrolling mindlessly through 40 minutes of Instagram is likely to drain your energy or distract you. Instead, use your break to get in a snack, get some sunshine or spend time with your family during your break.
Are there any tips/ strategies that have really worked for you during your work from home phase? Do share them in the comments!