If you’re not used to working from home, it’s possible that if you start, you will run into some challenges. Follow these tips to continue to be successful as you move from working at the office to working from home.
1. Set designated working hours
To help you get in a productive mindset, assign yourself hours that you will be working. Make sure you communicate to roommates, kids at home, your spouse and/or other family members that you will be working from home and that you need them to respect the time you have set aside for work. To be the most productive that you can be, start working at the time that you normally do, take a lunch break at your normal time, and end your work day at the same time as you usually leave the office.
2. Get ready for work
It may seem silly, but following the same routine that you always do for work will help you get into the “work” mindset. Get up at the same time that you usually do, get dressed the way you would for work, make yourself your usual breakfast, then sit down in your home work space. Keeping your morning routine consistent is the best way to continue to be disciplined and remain focused throughout the day.
3. Set up your work area
As best as you can, set up your home work area as it normally looks and feels at the office. If you normally sit at a desk, then sit at a desk (if you have one) or table. The bottom line is that you should at all times avoid the couch. Sitting on the couch will get you in the mood to relax, not be productive. Following this tip will help you keep the same mindset that you have when you’re at the office.
4. Make a list of tasks to work on
To help you stay focused when working from home, it’s a good idea to create a list of tasks that need to be completed before you get started for the day. A list will help you stay focused and help you power through your day. As you work on the items on your list, keep a daily report of what you have completed and what isn’t quite completed, but you still worked on.
5. Communication
When you can’t communicate in person, it can be easy for things to get lost in translation. When you feel the need to, try communicating with colleagues over a video call. It is much easier to communicate a point when you’re face-to-face with someone than through an email, message, or even through a phone call.