How Best to Work from Home Productively
- Knowledge
- 21st March 2020
The way we work has changed greatly over time. Traditionally, offices were where employees were crammed like sardines in a can, churning out spreadsheets all day as a part of their desk-job daily grind, and homes were sanctuaries for relaxation and watching TV post-work hours. However, these lines of distinction are now blurring in the current world climate where "work" is becoming more fluid everyday. With the proliferation of digitization and social media, one may make a healthy living by being an Instagram influencer, a travel blogger, or a Youtuber - occupations that didn't even exist until very recently. Work towards these professions are not limited to the confines of office spaces. Moreover, inspired traditional businesses are also providing more flexibility for people to work from home to encourage a better work-life balance.
While for most, working from home might seem like a luxury, for the better or the worse, right now it is a need of the hour. In light of the current COVID-19 outbreak, it is of utmost importance that we practice self isolation. Businesses and schools have closed their doors and started functioning remotely to ensure the safety of people while minimizing interruptions to routine life. The following are some ways in which you can increase your productivity while working from home, to make the best of the given situation:-
Organize yourself and your thoughts.
Organization of thoughts and spaces are key ingredients for a clean workflow. The simple practice of spending a few minutes every morning to jot down a to-do list, and formulate a plan of action can make one feel composed and in control. It is also helpful to follow a routine and keep up good sleeping and eating patterns to maintain the body clock and stay healthy.
Be self-disciplined.
Without the presence of a boss or coworkers looking over our shoulder, it can be very easy to get distracted, become lazy and lax. The only way to overcome this problem is by maintaining integrity and keeping ourselves in check. A potential solution can be to set mini deadlines throughout the day and chip away at our work little by little to meet them. For instance, distributing one-third of your tasks for completion before lunch, before tea, and before the end-of-day respectively should serve as a reminder to get back to work everytime we might procrastinate.
Designate a workspace.
While working from the comforts of our homes, one of the biggest demons to conquer is the desire to nap, or lounge around in our beds. While some people may be very productive working from a bed or a sofa, others might find themselves feeling sluggish and in need of a desk and chair. In this case, we must introspect and figure out how we function best. Of course, this is largely dependent on the facilities we have available, and the nature of the work, but having a tidy, organized workspace is likely to improve productivity.
Maintain good communication.
Work projects often require collaborations with clients and coworkers, and in case of teachers, communication is of paramount importance to ascertain that students are assimilating instructions. Therefore, it is imperative to establish sound communication. We should do our best to install effective internet and phone connections to facilitate communication by regularly checking our emails, and notifying teammates of work completed and/or carried forward.
Make the best of the situation.
Physical and mental well-being are the most important prerequisites for productivity. Looking at the bright side of things will help us maximise our achievements. For instance, the time that we save on commuting to and from work can be used to pursue hobbies, exercise, or build new skill sets. In regards to the contemporary difficult times, use remote work as an opportunity to do things that are usually put on the back burner. For all you know you might start enjoying work from home enough to want to continue doing the same even after it isn’t compulsory any more.