The coronavirus is continuing to work its way around the globe. Consequently, millions of people are in quarantine or self-isolation and having to work from home. If you are new to working at home or just looking for some tips to stay focus during this crisis, this is the list for you. Here are seven tips for working from home.
Tips For Working From Home
1. Create A Morning Routine
A morning routine is essential to a productive day. Decide on a few things that you will do every morning to get the day going. For some that may be walking the dog, sitting down for a cup of coffee by yourself. For others, that may look like 15-30 minutes of yoga followed by a light breakfast.
Whatever suits you, stick to it and make an effort to do it every morning. It sets the tone for the rest of the day, and it feels good to check things off your list before you start working.
2. Get Dressed
This is a small but vital tip! By taking the time to change into casual wear or even just a different set of lounge clothes, you’re setting yourself up for the day. You don’t need to be pageant ready, but carve out 15 minutes to get dressed, run a brush through your hair and prepare for the day.
3. Create A Dedicated Space For Working
Not everyone has a designated office room in their flat or house, but it’s important to have an area that’s yours. Start with the kitchen table or a place where you can sit in a chair with good back support. Most importantly – get out of bed! Sure, it sounds comfortable, but studies show that working from bed leads to less relaxation when you actually need to sleep.
4. Practice Time Blocking
Time blocking is a miraculous time management method that divides your day by times. It seems like a no brainer, but in the moment it can be hard to decide what to focus on. By outlining your days with time blocks, you take the fuss out of figuring out what to do and when.
5. Make A Schedule – And Stick To It
Set yourself a schedule just like you’d have in an office job. Whether 9-5 or 11-7, having those hours set allows you to focus more inside those times (and relax outside them). If you make it a point start every day at say, 9 am, you’re less likely to stall or get distracted doing other things because you’re on a fixed schedule.
6. Take Advantage Of The Perks
The important thing to remember is that at the end of the day, working from home is a seriously good gig. Want to pop some cookies in the oven before a skype meeting? Go for it. Feel like blasting your music way past cubicle limits? Why not.
7. Set Boundaries
Working from anywhere is a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, you can work from the comfort of your home, or anywhere in the world, really. And on the other hand, it can be hard to figure out when to stop. If not remedied, this can cut into your home life. Solve this by silencing all alerts/emails outside of your scheduled time. Close the laptop. You’ll get to it tomorrow.
