Many advocates for Work from home (WFH) had predicted that 2020 would be a watershed year in terms of the move towards substantially larger acceptance of WFH.
Nobody quite realized how much the COVID-19 would tip things over in such a massive way. Companies big and small are scrambling to enable their workers to WFH.
What are some of the rules of working from home? According to an article by Bryan Lufkin on 12th March 2020 on bbc.com, “In a survey of 7,000 workers last year by FlexJobs, 65% said they’re more productive working from home, citing benefits like fewer interruptions from colleagues, minimal office politics and reduced stress from commuting.”
Some rules to remember for delivering high productivity and maintaining a practical WFH lifestyle are:
- Create a secluded space (or as secluded as possible) that can serve as an office at home.
- Set up a morning startup routine, which could be a 10-minute virtual huddle with your team.
- Make sure that you get dressed almost as though you need to go to Work, regardless of whether you have video meetings with colleagues.
- Follow your company’s schedule of check-ins and project timelines.
- Be accessible to colleagues and clients. WFH does not mean turning into an incommunicado hermit.
- Create a schedule of breaks for coffee and even a 20-30 minute break for exercising.
- Eliminate household chores distractions so that you can remain focused on your Work and keep productivity high – separate home from Work.
- Set up an end of day segway so that you can disengage from your Work at some reasonable hour – which doesn’t need to be 5 pm.
- Set some time into your schedule for personal development activities.
Keep your motivation up in these trying times.
Steeped Digital