Having quite a bit of experience working from/at home, here are some tips that I wish to share for those who have to do this for the first time.
1. Wake up on time
It is easy to sleep in when working from home, but I always wake up by a certain time each day. This helps to get you into the "mood" for work.
2. Wear working attire
When working from home, it is possible to stay in your pajamas the whole day. But being in pajamas can be too comfortable for work, making you lazy. So I like to change into something just to feel like I am at work. This includes putting on make-up too. Basically, it should be just like working at the office.
3. Start work on time
Sticking to a schedule helps. At home, there are many distractions. TV, the laundry, washing the dishes, and other things can draw our attention. To help us resist those distractions, starting work on time is important. It forces us to drop those distractions.
4. Take a proper lunch break
On busy days, it can be easy to work through lunch, dinner, and even sleep when working from home. But that is not healthy, and not sustainable. Even on busy days, I try to set aside time for a lunch break at least 45 minutes long. The same goes for dinner, if working overtime.
5. Set aside a working area
If you have the luxury of a room to work in, good. If not, a designated work area that everyone in the family knows about is important. Not only will it signal to them that you are at work and should not be disturbed, it also helps you to get mentally into the working mood when you are in that designated working area.
6. Keep things you need within reach
Your coffee (or tea) and anything else you need while working should be in the working area. This helps to limit trips out of the working area (except toilet breaks, unless your working area is the toilet), which reduces the chance of you being distracted by all those things in the house, like dishes in the sink, laundry waiting to be folded, etc.
7. Draw up a daily work schedule
I use Google's calendar app for this. I plan my day ahead, setting aside time for every task that I want to accomplish each day. Keeping to this schedule helps to keep you focused. Plan in your lunch break in this schedule too!
8. Limit overtime
For the hardworking ones, it is easy to work well into the night to get things done. Just remember, when working from home, we are usually not paid overtime wages. Pace out your work. Remember Point 7 above. Unless someone is going to die, stop work by midnight, no matter how tight the deadline is. If you work yourself to the hospital (or to death), whoever is paying you will just hire someone else, but your family will have to deal with the consequences of your decision.
The above are my tips for working from/at home. Hopefully, it has served as a guide for those who need to work in a new(?) environment in these difficult times.
1. Wake up on time
It is easy to sleep in when working from home, but I always wake up by a certain time each day. This helps to get you into the "mood" for work.
2. Wear working attire
When working from home, it is possible to stay in your pajamas the whole day. But being in pajamas can be too comfortable for work, making you lazy. So I like to change into something just to feel like I am at work. This includes putting on make-up too. Basically, it should be just like working at the office.
3. Start work on time
Sticking to a schedule helps. At home, there are many distractions. TV, the laundry, washing the dishes, and other things can draw our attention. To help us resist those distractions, starting work on time is important. It forces us to drop those distractions.
4. Take a proper lunch break
On busy days, it can be easy to work through lunch, dinner, and even sleep when working from home. But that is not healthy, and not sustainable. Even on busy days, I try to set aside time for a lunch break at least 45 minutes long. The same goes for dinner, if working overtime.
5. Set aside a working area
If you have the luxury of a room to work in, good. If not, a designated work area that everyone in the family knows about is important. Not only will it signal to them that you are at work and should not be disturbed, it also helps you to get mentally into the working mood when you are in that designated working area.
6. Keep things you need within reach
Your coffee (or tea) and anything else you need while working should be in the working area. This helps to limit trips out of the working area (except toilet breaks, unless your working area is the toilet), which reduces the chance of you being distracted by all those things in the house, like dishes in the sink, laundry waiting to be folded, etc.
7. Draw up a daily work schedule
I use Google's calendar app for this. I plan my day ahead, setting aside time for every task that I want to accomplish each day. Keeping to this schedule helps to keep you focused. Plan in your lunch break in this schedule too!
8. Limit overtime
For the hardworking ones, it is easy to work well into the night to get things done. Just remember, when working from home, we are usually not paid overtime wages. Pace out your work. Remember Point 7 above. Unless someone is going to die, stop work by midnight, no matter how tight the deadline is. If you work yourself to the hospital (or to death), whoever is paying you will just hire someone else, but your family will have to deal with the consequences of your decision.
The above are my tips for working from/at home. Hopefully, it has served as a guide for those who need to work in a new(?) environment in these difficult times.
1 comment:
One thing to add: as far as possible, keep food outside your working area. If you still want to be able to leave the house after this is over, keep all those snacks somewhere else.
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