With Coronavirus terrorizing the whole world, quarantine and self-isolation are the best things you can do for your and others’ safety. Now, working from home during quarantine can seem like the best thing ever, but it can also feel extremely distracting and difficult at times.
Of course, it is a much more comfortable option when it comes to working from home, as you don’t have to travel back and forth, and you get to work in the comfort of your home. But sometimes, working remotely can end up throwing your whole work routine off-gear. But the good news is that there are certain steps you can take to make sure that you work at home in the same disciplined manner as you do in your office.
Here are 15 Handy Tips If You Are Working From Home During Quarantine
1. Start your day like you always do.
On a normal day, you get up in the morning, take a shower, have your breakfast, get dressed and leave for work. If you are working from home, try to follow the same routine, except for obviously going to work. Get up at the same time in the morning, have a meal and start working like your normal office time.
This will help you stick to your usual routine, and prevent you from feeling lazy. As long as you adopt a disciplined approach towards your work at home, you will be able to finish all your tasks efficiently and in a timely manner.
2. Wear proper clothes.
You can never have the proper working mindset if you continue to work in your pajamas. When you get up in the morning, have a nice shower and wear some clean clothes which you would wear in your office. This will give you a sense of purpose, and provide you with the much-needed energy to do a whole day’s work.
3. Deduce when you feel the most productive.
Everyone has a specific time in a day when they are the most productive. For some people, it is in the morning, for some, it is in the afternoon and for some, it is in the evening. In order to have a productive workday, find out which is the best time for you to work.
Once you are able to do that, you can do all your creative and mental work at that time, and finish your remaining tasks during the rest of the day.
4. Stay in touch with your employer.
One of the most important things you should keep in mind when you are working from home during quarantine is to communicate with your employer. Just because you are at home, that does not mean you will cease to have all sorts of contact with your employer/boss.
Update your boss on the work you have done at the end of the day. This will help establish a sense of trust in your boss towards you. They will acknowledge the fact that despite being at home you are working just like the way you would if you were in the office.
Want to feel happier when you are working? Read 6 Hacks To Be Happier At Work, Backed By Science
5. Abide by your office hours.
If you are working from home during quarantine, then the best thing you can do is to follow your work hours. This will make sure that you are able to finish all your tasks in the stipulated amount of time, and you won’t have to work overtime.
When you are working from home, it is very easy to lose track of time. But, if you do your work in a disciplined and time-bound manner, you will find yourself to be more efficient.
6. Reduce all kinds of distractions.
When you are at home, it is incredibly easy to get distracted by a lot of things. You might want to play with your dogs or take a quick afternoon nap. It might be a bit difficult in the beginning to keep your whole focus on your work, but you will have to try hard to do that. Don’t forget, that just because you are working from home, that does not mean you will have to do less work.
7. Your workspace and personal space should be different.
Since you will be spending a lot of time on your computer, you need to set up a proper workspace, so that you feel motivated enough to work diligently. If you choose to sit on your couch and work, you will find your attention and motivation slowly leaving you.
Try to build a proper workspace so that it feels like working in your office. This will keep your cortisol levels high, and you will also feel like working.
8. Take breaks when needed.
Even if you are working from home, take a few occasional breaks. Rest your eyes for a minute or lie down for 30 minutes or so. You are not a robot, and you need to give yourself a short break then and now.
Just because you are working from home, that does not mean you will give up on your personal life and burn yourself out. Work as long as it’s needed, and then do what you want to do.
9. Incorporate some exercise.
How many times have you had to compromise on working out because of your job? Well, then this is the best time to change that. Since you won’t have to commute to your office every day, you have extra time on your hands which you can invest in exercising.
Exercise will not just keep your mind and body fresh, it will also give you that extra boost of energy to last the whole day. No more canceling your morning jogs!
10. Establish boundaries with your family.
Just because you are working from home during quarantine, your family might want to spend some quality time with you. Even though their intentions aren’t wrong, they might not understand that you will have to work at home just like you do at your office.
Gently make then understand that you have a lot of work, but once all of that is done, you will spend as much time as you can with them. Make them realize that your work is still the same and is equally important even you are doing it from home.
11. Stay away from social media.
When you are at home, there is no one to supervise you, unlike your office where your boss might keep an eye on you, from time to time. That is why, when you are working from home, make sure that you do not pick up your phone every other minute and start scrolling through social media.
Finish all your work properly at first, and then catch up on social media to know about all the latest news and happenings about Coronavirus.
Is Coronavirus giving you a lot of mental stress? Read Coronavirus Anxiety: 5 Things You Can Do To Beat It
12. Put on noise-canceling headphones.
One thing you need to keep in mind is that, when you are working from home, you are not the only person there. Your other family members might be doing the same, or they might be busy with their household chores. And that can mean a lot of noise.
If you want to concentrate properly on your work without any distractions, then it’s best to put on a pair of noise cancellation headphones. This will help you work better and more efficiently.
13. Never compromise on your hygiene.
Compromising on your hygiene is always a no-no, especially when you are working from home. Make sure that you brush your teeth properly when you get up in the morning, and have a nice, hot shower. Also, make sure that you wash your face so that you don’t look or feel groggy.
Maintaining your hygiene will not only keep you clean but will also make you feel fresh, both mentally and physically.
14. Maintain a list of tasks.
In order to keep your motivation and efficiency at a high, you can create a list of all the work tasks you will have to get done in a day. Maintaining a list will help you get everything done on time, without you freaking out or burning yourself out. Always remember, that as long as you are organized, you will be able to get everything done in time.
15. Prioritize your household chores too.
Just because you are working from home, that does not mean you have to ignore your personal and household chores. Your mother might need help with the dishes or your wife might need help with the laundry- don’t stop doing all this for work.
Be smart about your office work and family work by following a proper schedule, and you will see that everything ends up running smoothly.
Coronavirus does not seem like it is going to go away anytime soon. So, as long as you are working from home during quarantine, try to follow these steps. Hopefully, this will help you balance both your work and home at the same time, without compromising on the other.
If you want to know more about working from home during quarantine, then you might like this video:
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