Working from home might seem like a dream come true for many people but it’s not as easy as it sounds. Yes, there’s the beauty of no rush hour commute and you don’t even have to get dressed if you’d rather work in your pyjamas but it does take some self-discipline. Here are some tips to making working from home as successful as it can be:
- Planning
Don’t let the day run away, plan your tasks with a to-do list and try to set achievable deadlines for yourself. It will help you to keep focused and keep distractions to a minimum. Imagine you are in the office and plan your work in the same way otherwise working from home will not prove productive for you.
- Create a workspace
If you use a computer or laptop then it will be beneficial for you to sit at a desk and not lounge around on the sofa or in bed. Having a dedicated workspace will help to focus you on the task at hand and is a good place to store everything you need so you don’t waste time looking for stuff. Creating this slightly more formal set-up will increase your productivity. If you’re struggling to find space for a workstation then think about repurposing space or consider an additional space in your home or garden. You also need to ensure that any paperwork that you have is secured and safe in order to comply with GDPR regulations and you may want to consider a confidential shredding package to ensure your paperwork is disposed of correctly.
- Take Breaks
Just because you’re working from home, you still need to take breaks just like you would at work. Proper breaks away from screens is essential to avoid eye-strain, headache and fatigue. If you want to work solidly then at least make sure you take a proper lunch break. Go for a quick walk, get some fresh air otherwise the quality of your work won’t be up to standard. Everyone is entitled to a break.
- Communicate
One of the gripes that people have with working from home is that they feel the person at home is unreachable and there’s a lack of communication with colleagues. Make sure you stay available and reachable at all times during normal office hours. Whether you stay in touch by phone, via e-mail or skype, being there and responding quickly keeps everyone happy. Send your boss an update on your to-do list so that everyone can feel comfortable that you’re not simply watching TV.
- Distractions
Don’t turn the TV on, it’s too much of a distraction. If you work better with the radio on in the background then that’s fine but keep your eyes on the job. The same goes for staring at social media updates on your phone – turn it off. If you wouldn’t be seen doing it at work then you shouldn’t be doing while working at home either. This is why having a personal workspace separate from the living areas of your home is a good idea, to avoid temptation and distraction.