Due to the spread of Coronavirus, some companies have advised their staffs to work from home.

 

While this is a welcome development at preventing the virus through social distancing, it is important that one stays focused while working from home.

 

If you’re new to the work-from-home lifestyle, either due to Coronavirus or because you’ve managed to find a remote-based job, you will need to change some of your habits and routines to make working from home a success.

 

Everyone who works remotely has to figure out when to work, where to work, and how to create boundaries between work and personal life.

 

If you are already working from home or will start anytime soon, you will need the following tips to stay productive.

1. Get a work-space

Having a laptop around and working on the couch, in bed or at the kitchen is part of the freedom of working at home. But sometimes when you move your work items around, your thoughts, ideas and hence productivity get scattered too.

 

Your work-space can be part of your house where you keep your laptop and your work tools. It should be somewhere devoid of noise and distraction.

 

Your work-space should not be in your living room where you can watch your TV at intervals, or your bedroom where you are likely to fall at sleep.

 

However, it can be in either of these places if you stay in a small apartment, just ensure you keep focused.

2. Stick to a Schedule

Set a schedule, and stick to it. Having clear guidelines for when to work and when to call it a day helps many remote workers maintain a work-life balance. One of the benefits of remote work is flexibility, and sometimes you need to extend your day or start early.

 

The beauty of working at home is that you have the freedom to control when you work. However, we all have times when we are most productive and creative. Identify your best hours and work them consistently.

3. Take Breaks

Grinding out work at all hours of the day and night isn’t healthy. You’ll need to step away from our screens and refresh our minds to get re-energised in our work. Every one hour, step away from your desk or work area for a quick walk, some sit-ups or a coffee break, a nap or just a little TV.

Also read:
-Google Tells Employees Everywhere To Work From Home To Prevent The Spread Of Coronavirus
– Things To Do In Preparation For Possible Covid-19 Induced Recession
– These Coronavirus Times: See How Your Smartphones Can Get You Through Social Distancing

4. Communicate

Working remotely requires you to over-communicate. Tell everyone who needs to know about your schedule and availability often. When you finish a project or important task, say so.

 

Ensure you communicate with your teammates while working from home. If you are under the weather or need to be somewhere, put a call across to your line manager and other teammates so they know you are unavailable. It would  be unprofessional if you were unreachable when needed.

5. Prioritize Right

if you will stay focused while working from home, you must get your priorities right. Have a time table and stick with it. You are not on leave remember, neither are you on a vacation, so your organization requires that you remain productive.

 

This is not a time to entertain visitors and socialize. Face your job squarely so your company does not suffer in this trying times.

 

Eliminate any activity that fills time but don’t bring in any value e.g long calls or chats with friends over the phone.

 

For your daily dose of tech, lifestyle and trending content, make sure to follow Plat4om on Twitter @Plat4omLive, on Instagram @Plat4om, on LinkedIn at Plat4om, and on Facebook at Plat4om. You can also email us at info@plat4om.com. Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE.