For some of you, working from home is a natural thing, but there are lots of people who were used to working in an office and in the blink of an eye were forced to start working from home. In the beginning, it’s normal to feel excited about that because you don’t waste time commuting, you don’t have to think too much about what you are going to wear for work, you don’t have to prepare a meal to take to the office, and many other advantages. But after a while, the disadvantages start arising and it is not that easy to get things done. This is why there are several things you have to manage in order to have a pleasant and productive day of work at your home.
These are just some tips to keep in mind:
- Set up an office space: you sit on the floor with the laptop on your coffee table and you think it’s the perfect setup? Wrong! You need to find a space in your house where you have good lighting, a desk, and a good chair. Not everybody has these items at home but they are worth it, so go shopping for the best chair and your back will thank you later.
- Create a schedule and stick to it: if you don’t set your own schedule, and alternate work with home chores or other tasks, it can feel like your workday never ends. It’s good for your health to establish your working hours and stick to those, and leave everyday chores and other tasks for after work.
- Go out, even for a walk: go out right after work, respecting Covid-19 rules in your country (wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, etc.). This way you can mark a clear end of the workday and you don’t feel like you’ve been locked in your house all day.
- Set rules with other people in your home: sharing your office with other people or pets can be a source of stress if they don’t cooperate, so it’s imperative that you establish some rules such as: not entering your office space without knocking, not putting the TV or stereo too high, keeping the dog quiet if you have a meeting, etc.
- Socialize with your coworkers: communication is key when you don’t get to see your teammates anymore. It’s good to have one-on-one or group meetings to know what everybody is up to and also to chat a little about non-work stuff.
