The world has been flipped upside down since the lockdown was set in place due to the global spread of COVID-19. In a forecast study conducted by Global Workplace Analytics, it’s estimated that by the end of 2021, 25-30% of the workforce will be working from home at least a few days per week.
That’s a huge number compared to what the percentage was pre-pandemic; only 3.6%. So there’s a good chance that if you’re working from home currently, it may become a regular routine for you.
As a freelancer, I’d like to share with you some working from home tips I’ve learned over the years. These are 8 good habits to develop when working from home to ensure productivity, comfort, and success.
Table of Contents
Dedicate An Area for Work Only
It might be tempting to lounge out on your couch with your laptop to work, but this isn’t a good habit to develop.
Using the area that you relax and wind down in for work as well encourages distraction and disorganization. Having a separate home office room is ideal, but if you don’t have an extra room to spare, setting up an office at your kitchen table, kitchen island, or even going to a local library works too.
Separating your leisure areas from your work areas is essential if you want to stay organized and productive,
Develop a Morning Routine
Transitioning to WFH can be hard to adjust to, particularly when it comes to your morning routine. The temptation to sleep in and stay in your PJ’s is strong!
Treat remote work no differently than waking up, getting ready, and heading to the office. Setting and sticking to a set schedule keeps your responsibility in check.
Take Breaks
Don’t skip your lunch break and make sure you set aside time to walk out of your office, stretch, and get a glass of water or your preferred beverage of choice.
Working from home is a strange transition for your brain, and spending too much time in a single location without breaks – physical and mental – can be taxing in the long term.
Don’t feel bad if you need to take five. It’ll give your brain time to reset and return more focused.
Organization is Key – Organize Everything!
Tying in with tip #1, make sure you have an organization system for your work area. Nothing is worse than returning to a cluttered desk every morning! Organization experts at UniKeep have great tips for organizing paper clutter when working from home.
Invest in a pencil cup, desk organizer, filing cabinet, notepads, and whatever else your job requires you to have on hand. Keep your office neat and tidy; a cluttered space equals a cluttered mind.
Keep Set Working Hours
Keeping a consistent set of working hours is not only beneficial for you but for your coworkers if you have to collaborate. A bad habit I got into when beginning to WFH was the time frame in which I worked – some days it was 8-4, some days 10-8, and some days 8-12 and then 3-7…
It’s downright disorienting! Find a window of time that works for you and stick to it; it will train your brain to be consistent and available when people need you.
Socialize With Coworkers
Office banter can be dearly missed when everyone transitions to remote work. Working from home doesn’t mean you aren’t able to still engage in antics! Keep in touch with your work friends, because your social life is still important in times like these.
Make Your Home Office Comfortable
Transform your home working space into somewhere you want to be. Draw your curtains to let natural light shine, or get a lamp with a brighter white light (this will keep you awake and alert).
Plants also do wonders for creating a positive environment.
Avoid Using Social Media During Work Hours
Social media is a dangerous distractor for remote workers. If you feel tempted to use it, put your phone on silent and in another room and let your coworkers know you’re unreachable by phone.
If you’re unable to have a work computer and a personal computer, use a different browser for work where you are not logged into your social accounts.
Follow these 8 tips long and consistently enough, and you’ll have developed a great work from home ethic. Remote work productivity mainly depends on how structured and focused you are, and the more the better.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is to stay positive. Adjusting to remote work can be stressful, confusing and difficult. But approach it with a good attitude and everything else will fall into place.