One of the most challenging transitions that we have had to make during the course of the pandemic is adjusting to working from home. Many industries haven’t worked with this sort of model before, which can lead to huge differences in the way companies implement it. In order for you to succeed in an at-home workplace, there are some precautions and actions that you must take. It can be a bit of an adjustment period, but if you know what to expect and how to keep productivity up, you’ll set yourself up for success! Below, we’ve outlined some of the best tips you can implement to achieve maximum success while working from home.
#1: Free Your Area of Distractions
In a work from home environment, distractions can be plentiful. In order to get the most out of your productivity, it is vital that you give yourself an environment that is as free of distractions as possible. It might be a good idea to set up an area in your home or apartment that is reminiscent of an office setting. Regardless of how you approach it, getting away from things that might cause you to break away from the task at hand is vital to maintaining your productivity.
It’s also helpful to adjust your frame of mind while you’re working. Many people tend to change their behavior when they think they’re being monitored, a phenomenon known as reactivity. For helpful tips on how to curb that behavior, check out BetterHelp’s article on reactivity psychology.
#2: Keep a Rigid Schedule
A helpful tip to staying productive is maintaining a regular schedule, giving yourself allotted timeframes to do certain assignments. Not only does keeping a rigid schedule give your day a fixed structure for you to abide by, it can also increase your productivity. Make sure you give yourself enough time to do tasks effectively, and don’t forget to factor in downtime and lunch breaks. It’ll help keep the feeling of the in-person office environment alive, and can even make the days go by faster if you stick to it!
#3: Keep in Consistent Contact with Fellow Employees
In a team-oriented setting, it is crucial that everyone is on the same page about something, otherwise the whole thing can go wrong. Now that you’re working from home, keeping that same comradery between everyone is easier said than done. Nevertheless, the importance of this factor hasn’t changed.
You should always make a point to keep in contact with your fellow workers, regardless of what form that might take. You can participate in video conferences, send texts, emails, or even call them directly. Regardless, you should always make sure that you’re on the same page when it comes to doing an assignment. For the best chance of success, you’ll want to maintain a consistent level of contact with them.
#4: Technology is Key
Chances are, the technology that you currently possess may not live up to the standards and expectations set in a normal working environment. If you have work equipment, make sure that you take it with you to your at-home office. Of course, taking it home is just the first step; you’ll have to make sure that technology works from your residence.
Make a point to check the WiFi and outlets you use to make sure they work with your technology. Also, be sure that any security keys or firewalls to use them are things that you can access from your home office. If you take the proper precautions, you shouldn’t have any issues working with the tech.
#5: Don’t Overinflate Your Expectations
In a work from home environment, it can sometimes be tricky to appropriately manage your expectations for the work day. Before you start working in this new environment, make sure that you and your boss are on the same page about what can get done. It may take a little bit of trial and error to figure out what you can accomplish in a day, but you’ll want to relay that over to your supervisors to make sure that you aren’t feeling overworked. Of course, this should be a constant conversation. Depending on what projects you’re working on at points in time, the expectations of what you can accomplish can (and should) change. Like the last point, you should always make sure that you and your supervisors are on the same page.
Conclusion
The onset of the pandemic has come with its series of challenges, working from home being a massive one. Before you start, you should know what to expect and be able to deliver on your goals and expectations. It’s also important to be constantly informed about the changing state of the pandemic, because this new environment can have it’s fair series of changes. If you know what to expect and are prepared going in, you’ll have everything you need to succeed in an at-home working environment.
