How many times a week do you see photos of really fancy and nice home offices? I myself see them fairly often and it made me think about the reason why they started popping up.
More and more people, especially young entrepreneurs, are working from home. Whether they are freelancing, working on their own business or working for a company from home, people are choosing this option as it can increase productivity and decrease stress.
If you’ve just started working from home, check out this article and find some tips on how you can organize yourself and maintain productivity.
1. Scheduling and routines
There’s a huge misconception that people who are working from home are spending hours doing nothing and doing minimal work in between.
The truth is, working from home requires a huge amount of scheduling, planning and creating good habits, so it can be challenging for people that are starting off or are forced to work from home.
It is important to establish a routine from the very beginning. Set an alarm for waking up and do your usual morning routine.
Exercise, read the news, eat breakfast and then start working. Some people that usually work in offices even put on work clothes when working from home, as it helps them get into the mindset and focus more easily.
If you wonder why it’s important to start working early, it is because our productivity is highest in the morning and decreases as the day goes on.
Scheduling and planning also involve breaks and we all know how easy it is to get lost in your work and forget the time. Set an alarm for every hour or so, and use it to walk around and stretch your limbs out for 5-15 minutes.
Also, don’t forget to stay hydrated while you’re working and keep water close to you at all times. Dehydration can easily cause a headache, which can hinder your work.
2. Self-care while working from home
Speaking of hydration and breaks, self-care is as important as anything else.
It is common that people who are suddenly forced to work from home start feeling isolated, anxious and stressed, which is understandable. It is a big change, and their home environment might not be as peaceful as their work environment.
Whatever be the reason for stress, it is important to understand and keep in mind that every change takes time getting used to. If you’re not managing your work and schedule as well as you’d like, remember, getting used to things doesn’t happen overnight and working from home is not something that we can just jump into.
Some days you will feel more productive, some days less, and that’s okay. Everyone has bad days and the important thing is to stick to your routine as best as you can.
Setting boundaries related to your space and time
If you don’t live alone, you know how difficult it is to get anything done with people around, hence why so many people are having trouble when they start working from home.
Talk to your family or roommates and explain that you need peace and as few distractions as possible during your working hours. Distractions interrupt trains of thought and therefore decrease our productivity.
Same goes for your colleagues. While chatting via text with them is important for the socializing aspect of working from home, it shouldn’t get out of hand, because, before you know it, you’ve sent them 500 memes and got nothing done.
Set your status to busy or talk to them about the hours during which you will be actively working with no distractions.
3. Socializing and communication
For people that are forced to work from home and those who are part of a team that is working together on a project, communication is crucial.
When working in an office, it is easy to exchange useful work information. Your colleagues are either right next to you or in the other room. When forced to work from home, these changes and all communication becomes online communication, either text or video.
Video calls
Make sure to participate in video calls, as they will help you learn what your colleagues are working on and how the project is progressing. Using them, you can make plans and take note of the completed project milestones.
Video calls are especially great if they’re scheduled for the same time every day, because they become part of the aforementioned routine.
Also, it is good that you know exactly what you did the previous day and what you will be working on today before the video call meeting starts, as it can save everyone some time. So, make sure to take notes about your tasks.
It is also recommended that a certain time of a video call is dedicated to casual conversation, so people can socialize and see how everyone is doing. The online service Zoom is free to use and great for video calls.
Communication via text
When it comes to text communication, email is the best option. Use it if you’re sending information back and forth, as it saves every file that you send and also tells you the exact date and time that you sent or received something.
There’s also Slack, which is another free online platform that allows you to make groups. It’s especially convenient for companies that have multiple teams, so every team can have their own group where they can discuss their projects.
If you’re a manager, it is your job to choose the platforms for communication and to let people know which ones will be used, so they can set up their accounts on time.
Click here to find out what does the relationship between the project manager and the client look alike!
Also, make sure to ask everyone what they did the previous day and what they will be working on. Write everything down, along with the dates, so you can have a clear picture of the project’s progression.
4. End your day with a routine
Just as you start your day with a routine, it is good that you also end it that way.
Some great ‘end your day’ routines include going through your to-do list, checking the tasks you’ve completed and looking at the ones you will be doing tomorrow, as well as looking at your schedule. Also, after you finish working and get a break, you can tidy up your workspace and prepare it for tomorrow.
Routines like these give people closure and help them mentally prepare for the next day.
Conclusion
While working from home is super convenient and easy to some people, others may find it more challenging.
To make it easier on yourself, start by getting sleep and waking up early, so you have time for all your morning routines and breakfast. Schedule the time when you will start working and also set the alarm for breaks.
Practice self-care and stretch regularly and also socialize with either your family members or friends over the phone. It is also important to set boundaries related to your time and space, so people can interrupt you as less as possible and let you focus on working.
When it comes to your work activities, participate in video call meetings and make sure to ask your colleagues how they’re doing and what they’re working on currently. When it comes to text communication, email and Slack are two great and free options.
And last but not least, it is good to also have an evening routine, where you can look at everything you did during the day and plan out the tasks for tomorrow.
I hope these tips help you while you’re working from home and thank you for reading!
