Working from home can be tough if you’ve never done it before. Due to the recent COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, millions of office workers were sent to work remotely from home. If you need help with how to get things sorted and how to increase your productivity, this article is for you.
Working from home has made a shift in productivity
We can be optimistic about the long-term consequences of working from home, including increased productivity.
Overall, the latest statistics show that 62% of workers who work remotely feel more productive.
So, today, we’re sharing 20 useful work from home tips to help both remote veterans and people new to the lifestyle.
Work From Home Tips you for Productivity
1. Put a schedule together
When working from home, you’re essentially your own manager in a way. It’s easy to fall into the trap of working from your bed and not even bothering to get out of your comfy PJs. However, this will shortly become a disadvantage.
Make sure you enforce a schedule that accounts for everything, even outside of work hours. Make sure you have enough breaks, you have time to walk the dog and pick up the kids from school — and include the required work hours by your employer.
2. Maintain regular hours
As you plan your schedule, aim to maintain your regular work hours. Sure, one of the benefits of working from home is the ability to wake up late and take your time. But trust us — it’s much better to stick to your work hours and get everything done in a timely manner. This way, you also won’t show up looking like a sleep-deprived zombie when you have to wake up early for video meetings.
3. Make a morning routine
A morning routine will get you in the right headspace to begin productive work. Dedicate at least an hour to get yourself ready for work, as you would when leaving to go to the office.
Take a shower, eat some nutritious breakfast, and don’t sit down in front of the computer in a bad shape.
4. Get dressed
Yes, part of your schedule should be to put on some appropriate clothing. You never know when a sudden meeting is called and you need to show up looking presentable. Getting out of your pajamas also helps your brain get into work mode.
5. Make a to-do list
You’ve already made a schedule, so the next step is to plan your work time. Always have an outline of what you need to do during the day, breaking down large tasks into smaller to-do entries. This will make projects look less overwhelming.
6. Listen to music or white noise
Sometimes you might want to block off the noisy environment around you to help you focus on work. For this, the best thing to do is grab a pair of noise-canceling earbuds and turn on some white noise. For music lovers, we recommend calming, classical music that doesn’t distract you from your work.
7. Set rules with people in your space
If you live with family or roommates, make sure you communicate with them. Tell them your working hours and make rules not to bother you when you’re in your at-home office space.
8. Turn on Do Not Disturb
The number one distraction people run into when working from home is notifications, especially from social media. Turning the “do not disturb” node on will temporarily silence any and all notifications such as calls, SMS messages, and even emails. Once you’re on your break, disable the mode and check everything you’ve missed.
9. Create a dedicated workspace
Like we said earlier, working from bed is not the best way to get your work done. Try to dedicate a small space to only work — this can be a corner, a small secluded room, or even just a desk.
10. Take breaks
Avoid getting burnout and take regular breaks. Make sure to include these in your schedule as well. During your breaks, relax and try to get out of the house. A nice walk around the block, some exercise, or a healthy snack can boost your mood before getting back to work.
11. Tell your team and clients how they can reach you
When you work from home, contact often becomes hard. Ensure that your coworkers and clients have multiple ways to reach you when you’re needed. Always share your email address, any social media accounts where you’re available, your business phone number, Skype username, and so on.
12. Create a file share system
Sign up for a safe third-party solution if your employer doesn’t enforce a company file-sharing system. Many professionals prefer services such as Google Drive and Dropbox for their safety and reliability. Once you have your account, you can begin sharing files online and remotely.
13. Stay connected
Don’t neglect your colleagues! Many work-from-home employees get lonely and feel alone when not in contact with their team. Make sure you have a way to chit chat, catch up with friends, and lighten up your mood with the company of your coworkers.
14. Attend your meetings
Don’t skip out on those Zoom meetings! Be there and be present, make yourself heard, ask questions, and get involved in the process of a project. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and guidance either, as this may be one of your limited chances to get help.
15. Invest in good technology
You can work from home with an outdated computer, a pair of cheap headphones and some chairs you took from the kitchen. But this is definitely not the ideal setup, and you’re going to start feeling it several weeks into your remote journey.
Invest in purchasing technology and other supplies to enhance your work-from-home experience. It’ll be worth it, and the productivity boost will surely make you perform better to cover all of those expenses.
16. Get a separate phone number
Getting a phone number dedicated to work further helps you separate your personal and professional life. This is important if you want to have a balanced life and don’t want people bothering you during personal time.
17. Use a VPN
A Virtual Private Network, VPN for short, helps you stay secure online. Additionally, you can unlock region-locked content by changing your virtual location to an entirely different country. This is a huge help when doing research or needing access to international sources.
18. Stay safe with an antivirus
Sadly, a VPN isn’t enough to ensure you don’t run into online attacks and threats. A good, real-time antivirus is essential if you’re a work-from-home employee. With it, you can stop threats such as malware, hackers, ransomware, and identity theft before it happens.
To get the best deal on an antivirus, browse the SoftwareKeep catalog and make your pick. If you need any help in deciding what’s the perfect product for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer service agents.
19. Report your progress
During your workday, note down the progress you’ve made on a project. This helps you keep track of time and makes your workflow more organized for the next day. When you’re approaching the end of a workday, report the progress you’ve made to your manager and colleagues to help them get an idea of how a project is going on your end.
20. End your day with a routine
To distance yourself from the work mindset, have a small routine as you get up from your workspace. Shut down your laptop, change into more comfortable clothing, and tell yourself that it’s time to relax. You’ve done well, and it’s your deserved break time now!
Final thoughts
If you need any further help, don’t be afraid to reach out to our customer service team, available 24/7 to assist you. Return to us for more informative articles all related to productivity and modern day technology!
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