If you are lucky enough not to have lost your job during these difficult times caused by the coronavirus outbreak and you have the opportunity to work from home, you might be faced with this situation for the very first time. If you are not sure whether you will be able to stay productive at home and enjoy what you do, keep on reading for some essential tips when it comes to working from home and social distancing.
Set Up A Separate Area For Working
A lot of people think that working from home means working from their bed or couch but the truth is that this approach will become painful quite soon. You will start feeling stiff and you’ll regret this decision quickly. This is why you should have a designated area for your work that includes a desk and a chair. While having an ergonomic chair like you probably have at the office might not be an option, make sure you are sitting properly and taking care of your neck, back, and legs.
Have All The Necessary Equipment
Seeing as how you will be confined to your home for the foreseeable future apart from the grocery runs you will probably go on, you need to ensure you have all the necessary equipment at home before you actually start your remote working endeavour. If all you need is your laptop, great. However, if there are certain documents, gadgets and other tools you might need during this time, think about it on time and make sure you get everything you require. Luckily, delivery services still work so you can buy certain items if you find yourself needing them.
Make The Work Environment Pleasant
To stay productive, your work environment has to be pleasant. Start by decluttering the area and getting rid of everything that has no place at your workstation. Organize your documents and tools so that you know what is where and that you have easy access to everything. Don’t eat where you work and even if you snack, clean up after yourself. You can light a candle or get some flowers to create a relaxing and inspiring atmosphere. Air out the room regularly and consider putting some motivational quotes around the space.
Try to Stay Eco-Friendly
If your company is doing its best to be sustainable, you should do everything in your power to keep up with these practices. For example, lowering your thermostat as that will both save money and electricity and unplug all the devices that you are not using. If you work with a lot of papers, there are even some eco-minded printing ideas you can implement, such as using recycled paper and determining whether a document actually needs to be printed. Luckily, everything can be shared among coworkers these days with the help of cloud services.
Get Rid Of Distractions
Unfortunately, it is very easy to get distracted when working from home. This is why you need amazing self-discipline and work on preventing distractions. First of all, if you live with roommates or family members, you need to tell them not to disturb you during work hours. Even though you are home, that doesn’t mean that you are there to talk or spend time with them. Then, you need to control your urges to go on social media and constantly check the news or see how the celebs are passing time in self-quarantine. There are apps you can use to control the time you spend on your phone so consider installing them. Finally, if it’s noisy outside or in your home, get noise-canceling headphones or earplugs to disconnect from everyone.
Take Regular Breaks
Sitting for too long and staring at the screen all day is not healthy, as you certainly know. So, make sure you take regular breaks. If you live in a house, go into the yard for a few minutes. Look through the window for a while if you are in a building. Staying fit is also vital, so set some time aside for a good workout. There are plenty of indoor exercises you can do even without any equipment and you can even download an app for a 30-day workout challenge. Of course, watching a funny video while taking a break is also a great way to calm your mind.
Don’t Completely Avoid People
Even though we are social distancing at the moment, it doesn’t mean that you have to be completely alone. First of all, keep in touch with your boss and coworkers. Then, after you’re done with work, look for ways to get your mind off of everything and relax. If you live with other people, play video or board games and watch movies together. If you happen to live alone, video chat with your close ones and have a drink or even dinner together.
While this is a hard time for everyone, keeping your job and working remotely is a luxury not everyone has. So, make sure you make the most of it.
It may seem strange, but I liked working from home more than from the office. It may be just a part-time job, but it’s really easier for me to work from home. It just takes good self-discipline, which probably isn’t for everyone.