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When working from home, create a designated workspace.
Four Tips for Effectively Working from Home
| With a number of our employees working from home, the Employee Assistance Program has a few tips to help make the experience less stressful and more productive.
- Get dressed — As simple as this sounds, the very act of putting on clothes suitable for public viewing serves as a signal to your brain that it’s time to get up and get things done. Taking a shower and dressing for the day increases confidence and adds a sense of normalcy to your day even in the most abnormal circumstances.
- Designate a home office or workspace — It is important to separate your work and home lives as much as possible. Create a space in your home just for doing your job. Design a space that is comfortable, well-lit and work appropriate. Entering your workspace each day will help you tune into your work, maintain focus and minimize household distractions. Leaving the workspace each evening provides a decisive end to the work day and helps the transition back to your personal life.
- Develop clearly defined work routines — When working from home, you must hold yourself accountable for your time and productivity. Devise a routine that provides structure to your work hours. Set your alarm. Start the coffee maker. Spend a few minutes at the beginning of your “work day” to schedule your tasks and set productivity goals. It is gratifying and motivating to have measurable outcomes and definitive results from work hours well spent.
- Communicate with colleagues — If you don’t routinely work from home, miscommunication can become a problem when you suddenly start working remotely. Schedule regularly check-ins with your manager (preferably by phone or teleconference rather than text or email) to maintain a clear understanding of expectations and objectives. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the same people you would usually turn to for help. Also, stay in touch with co-workers just to say hello and be supportive of others.