If you are working from home, then you are telecommuting, and this way of working is steadily on the rise. Most companies have made it possible for their employees to work in the comfort of their homes, as a result of the pandemic.
In order to effectively work from home, you must be a master organizer, planner and hard worker. It may seem like a bed of roses, but it’s really not as it looks. The main reason why it can be hard to achieve your goals from home is due to the millions of distractions in the house.
Not only do you have kids to take care of, but most people have lots of chores. So, the key to telecommuting effectively is to stay organized. When you are organized, you stay on top of things, and ensure that you accomplish what needs to be accomplished on a daily basis. Here are some hacks to telecommuting;
Come Up With a Strict Morning Routine
When you don’t have to go to the office, you may be tempted to stay in bed just a little bit longer than other days. This however, will cause you to get lazy, as each day the time you spend in bed in the morning gets longer and longer.
So, to be able to achieve your goals, come up with a strict routine that must be followed each morning. Have a specific time that you have to wake up, and a few things you must do before you sit down to work.
Designate An Office Area
Create an office for yourself in the house. Don’t work in the dining area where everyone is seated. You will not accomplish much. Look for a room in your house that is unused, or even a corner in your bedroom where you can set up a mini-office.
This should be a no-go zone for everyone else in the house. This helps you physically separate from distractions, and can be a great opportunity for you to work without being disturbed.
Have a Schedule
Come up with a schedule of what needs to be done and achieved on a daily basis. Follow this schedule. If you have to check in with someone from the office, put it on the schedule and start with that in the morning.
Also, ensure that you communicate constantly with people who need to know what is happening, such as your bosses. This will give them confidence that you are indeed working.
Co-work
If being locked up in the house is getting too boring for you, and you are missing the comradery of the office, you could decide to visit a co-worker who probably lives near you, and then set up an office together.
If this is not possible, there are plenty of cafes that offer a quiet working environment. Look for one and go sit down and work. Being surrounded by people could really help you feel like you are back in the office and get your work juices working again.
Stay Social
Just because you are working from home doesn’t mean that you cannot connect with other people from around the world. You could use the different social media platforms to check in with your friends, and even share some laughs.
People all over the world are actually having Zoom parties, which means that it’s not all lost. You can still reconnect with friends for a social function even while at home. Take advantage of all the apps available for these kinds of activities and invest in them.
Avoid Distractions
We have mentioned that one of the main reasons why working from home doesn’t work for most people is the constant distractions. Let everyone know that you are working and cannot be disturbed. This should be your neighbors and family members who may want to stop by at any time because they know that you are at home.
Conclusion
Working from home, or telecommuting is one of the best things to come out of this difficult pandemic situation. But it also has its own limitations as you have noted above. We hope that our hacks above will give you the guidance you need to work effectively from home.
