The coronavirus pandemic has pushed millions of workers all over the world to adopt remote work as countries grapple with the health crisis. Even after coronavirus restrictions were lifted in many cities and countries, many employers still extended remote work for some of their employees through the next year. While some workers may already be habituated to remote work, others find it taxing to adapt to the change.
Although remote work may deepen the social disconnection between people and potentially mitigate work efficiency, there are strategies you can adopt to make it more fun and productive. Here are five simple steps to make this happen.
To get the most out of working from home, you need clear boundaries - physical and social. Designate a specific area of your home as your workspace to minimize distractions and improve your focus. In choosing the best space for our home office, select a stress- and distraction-free zone that is off-limits to other housemates. If you share a living room with housemates, that would be the wrong spot for a workspace, for instance.
Set social boundaries while working from home to improve your productivity and help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. Keep distractions such as social media or your favorite TV shows away from your workstation to help you get your tasks done more efficiently. If you live with your spouse and children, communicate with them politely about your need to work for that period.
One surefire strategy for highly productive at-home work is to plan the workflow. While working from home, we may be faced with the temptation of handling tasks at our pace without having a structure to make work more efficient. Before you tackle the tasks for the day, draft a plan that compartmentalizes your tasks based on their priorities. You will find that you get some tasks done for much longer when you tackle them without a plan.
Planning your workflow also starts by planning other activities of the day. If you need to do household chores or drop your children off at school, plan ahead. Get up early and clear them off your to-do list or they’ll infiltrate into your work hours and derail your work plans for the day.
To limit physical and mental strain at your at-home office, work in breaks. You could work for an hour or two and take a 10-minute break or take breaks after completing each task. Working through your work time without breaks will not only leave you feeling physically and mentally fatigued, but it will also make you less ready for subsequent tasks.
Further, you may practice meditation or take yoga classes during your break time to help you relax. Exercising before your work starts also keeps you feeling pumped up and energized for the day’s tasks. You may also take some time between tasks to exercise before returning to work.
The coronavirus pandemic has already disconnected us physically. New lockdown measures being introduced as cases surge have got many people back into their homes, away from colleagues, friends, and loved ones. A great way to improve your mental health during this time is to stay connected with the people you love.
Further, ensure to keep communication channels for work open. Working in isolation could put you on the wrong track when handling your tasks. Communicate, communicate, communicate until you have all your questions answered. Being clear about what your boss requires for each task keeps the stress out and helps you focus on the most important things.
Working from home, for many, has been stressful in these unparalleled times. Dealing with the health crisis and grappling with home demands have made remote work tense for many workers. However, practicing these strategies, including setting physical and social boundaries, and planning the workflow, is a surefire way to make working from home fun and productive.
