Tips for Working from Home
This blog was written by YMCA Newcomer Information Centre previous Information and Referral Specialist Mesut Doganguzel. He is now pursuing his study in Ottawa, wish him all the best!
In the last few decades, working from home was an ideal job scenario for many people. Today, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19, employers are requiring their employees to work from home. However, if you are new teleworker, you have to adapt and alter some of your habits and routines to successfully work from home.
One of the biggest challenges with working remotely is keeping your work and home lives separate. When working remotely, you would need to find out when to work, where to work, and how to set boundaries between your work and personal life. Should you continue to work from home, you should take a look at these tips that will encourage you to work efficiently at home!
1. Have a Clean, Regular, and Comfortable Workspace
The productivity of workers is directly related to their work environment. For maximum efficiency, your workspace must be comfortable enough. This is why your bedroom and office should be different places (if it’s possible). When you are doing your work, don’t let your point of view be your bed.
2. Pretend like you are going into the Office
For most of us, working from home is a temporary situation due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. Once life is back to normal, we will be going back to our offices or work. Therefore, pretending like we’re going into the office helps us not to forget our daily routine. When working from home, do all the things you’d do to prepare for an office role: set your alarm, make coffee, and wear nice clothes. Otherwise, it will be a struggle when going back to office.
3. Define your working hours, do not forget to take breaks
Try to stick with your working hours. If you were working at the Office from 9 to 5, you may try to stick with it. The point is that you must set a time to finish your work. Otherwise, you will feel like you are working all day. At the end of the day, you will be fatigued and exhausted. If you live with roommates or spouses, establishing boundaries between you and your roommate will minimize the distractions during the work hours.
4. Prepare Daily and Weekly To-Do Lists
Having some plans and following those plans will make you happy. Amid coronavirus, it is really hard to focus on your tasks. While working from home, you are more likely to lose concentration. We should approach these to-do lists as daily and weekly goals. Reaching these goals will keep you motivated.
5. Stay in Contact With Coworkers and Customers
Communication is our first rule while working remotely. Not only with customers, but also with managers and colleagues. We all know that online meetings may be daunting for everyone, however, you may have to show your manager and colleagues that you are active and available during working hours. One way to overcome feelings of boredom may be to remind yourself that staying connected not only keeps your disciplined, but also provides socialization in your life!
6. Get Dressed
It is one of the vital things to do before we start working. Although it seems simple, after a while you will notice that may not want to wear anything but your comfy pajamas! You don’t have to dress as formally as you did while working at the office. Getting dressed will gain your own respect. It makes you feel confident and more “human.” Your brain will process that you are at work, otherwise every second you will be imagining going to sleep as soon as possible.
These are 6 basic and essential tips while working from home. Amid this pandemic, all companies have been innovative by launching their recent online platform. This shows that job definitions are changing, and therefore, our performance and outlook on our work has to evolve as well. In all, as a community, we have to adapt to a “post coronavirus world.” It’s evident that the transition is not going to be easy, but with hard work and determination, we can do anything. Stay Safe!
