It’s been ingrained into our vocabulary at this point. Work From Home, or ‘WFH’. You’ve probably had to do it at some point during the global catastrophe that is the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ve definitely heard of all the ways it can go wrong – from children infiltrating Zoom calls to the sudden sense that work is everywhere, at all times. We’re here to help smooth out the process. Read on for a guide to making the work from home gig work for you.
Create a routine
You used to wake up, shower (hopefully), and commute to work every day. These days, you roll out of bed, grab the coffee, and open your laptop. While these changes are significant, it’s important to maintain a sense of routine in your day that mirrors the routine you are used to following. Wake up at your usual time. Take a shower, and get dressed (or at least, change out of your pajamas). This routine will help create a sense of normalcy in a time when everything is up in the air. Your productivity and mental health will thank you.
Keep communication lines open
You have gone from working surrounded by an office of people to working on your own, all at once. This change can create a sense of isolation. Counter this by ensuring you keep your communication lines to your workmates open and ready. Whether it’s Slack, Discord, WhatsApp or just a regular email, a clear sense of connection to others will make a world of a difference to both your productivity levels and your sanity.
Set up your work-space
It’s too easy to feel constantly switched on when you’re working from home. All of a sudden, your couch, dining table and bed are all places that your boss can reach you, when previously they were places designated to your relaxation. Counter this by setting firm boundaries. Set up a space to work, even if it’s just a small desk in the corner of your living room – this set space allocation will ensure that the rest of your home remains your sanctuary to unwind, relax and recuperate from work.
Focus on what needs to be done daily
Thinking about the 12 things that need to be completed by Friday morning is the easiest way to overwhelm yourself into a tizzy. The list will always be long. Make a plan of what needs to be done in the day, and stick to it – deal with tomorrow’s targets tomorrow.
Take a break
Breathe in, breathe out. You’re doing great. In a time when everyone is still figuring out what the new normal looks like, take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come from those first few days of WFH life. Give yourself space to do something enjoyable outside of your working hours. Take a break, read a book or pick up some painting. The workload will still be there when you get back. Make sure you’re in the best possible mental space to tackle it when you do.
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At Brandt International, we take employee welfare and well-being as one of our key priorities. Managing virtual and remote teams is one of the biggest challenges organizations and teams face today. If you are keen on exploring a FREE demo of our Virtual Leadership class at your organization, drop us a line .
