1. Regina Borsellino was born and raised in New York before moving to the Washington DC area to get a BA in English Lit from the University of Maryland and an MFA in Fiction from American University. When you work from home, it can be really easy to have your work life and personal life start to blend together. If you’re working at a table you need to use outside of work or a room you spend a lot of time in, pack up your work each evening to make the end of your day decisive. Communicate your expectations and ground rules with anyone else that may be at home with you (toddlers and younger are an exception). Employees working from home may be tempted to use their personal laptops, and you may be tempted to let them to avoid the cost of new devices. Your whole company is involved. When I worked remotely in my last job, I was working on my personal computer, so I’d make sure to close all the tabs and programs related to my job as soon as I was done for the day. It was tempting to stay in my pajamas all day, but any day I gave into temptation was much slower to start and less productive overall. Even if you don’t usually spend a lot of time outdoors, losing out on the time you spend outdoors during your commute can start to weigh on you quickly, and it will only happen faster if you don’t have natural light coming in. But with the help of these tips and tricks, you’ll have a much better grasp on working from home—and how to do it comfortably and productively. Communicate with the people you live with to establish boundaries so you can cut down on distractions during the workday—and then disconnect and give the people you care about your full attention. by. Mar 25, 2020 Working from home is the new normal for tech workers across the globe. Find an area with good natural lighting if at all possible. Based on our data, we’re estimating that weekday home energy usage will increase by 2-7 percent, depending on location, as people work from home due to COVID-19. 7 Zoom tips for working from home Don't forget the always-useful, eternally tidy room trick…. The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. Stay connected. With that in mind, here are seven suggestions that can help you be more productive while working from home, whether you're new to remote work or looking for ways to … Working from home can teach us a lot about our own work flow, energy levels, patterns and preferences. Working from home can be isolating, even if you enjoy spending time by yourself. Using that time to throw in a load of laundry is OK, but try not to look at your new work arrangement as an opportunity to finally clean out that closet or anything else that takes a lot of sustained focus. Entering your workspace will help you turn “on” at the beginning of the day and get down to work. You don’t want to get too immersed and forget that you’re at work altogether. “Feeling human” might seem like an odd thing to have to actively think of, but it’s especially important at a time like this, when the breakdown of your everyday routines might make you feel cut off from your “normal” life and the “real” world. Try scheduling in your "commute time" and spend it exercising, reading or listening to music before logging in. Keep your alarm set! These little interactions go a long way. If you don’t usually work from home, chances are there will be some bumps in the road if you have to suddenly go fully remote. “Your home is right in front of you,” Berger says. You may be surprised to learn that you consume a colossal 34GB of information every day. This plan is likely to change as you go. Either before you make the switch or as soon as you know it’s happening, come up with a plan that lays out expectations for how often you should check in and how you’ll convey any changes or new assignments to one another. Follow our simple do’s and don’ts to train and manage your work from home employees. Try to make your workspace comfortable with a chair you can sit in for eight hours a day and a few decorations. If you’re a remote work … You don’t need to go as all out as you would for the office if you don’t want to, but waking up and taking care of your appearance can go a long way toward helping you feel like you’re taking care of yourself. The key here is to do whatever you need to do to “leave” your workspace. Get work from home motivation tips for working remotely and methods to improve productivity with remote work best practices for working from home. Fortunately, there’s a simple way to take back control of your mind. If you never fully disconnect from work, your work productivity will suffer and your home life can take a hit as well. 2. JUST WATCHED Here's how to make the most of working from home. 7 Tips for Effective Teamwork. 1. Looking for more tech tips that will make remote work easier? That means that whatever you’re usually thinking about getting home to after work is now with you. Before coming to work for The Muse, I spent about eight months working from home when my full-time office job became a remote position with little warning. 7 Key Tips for Working From Home, Mindfully. In the midst of the new coronavirus pandemic, many companies are implementing voluntary or mandatory work-from-home policies. Maybe you usually read or listen to music on your commute. It’s human to get distracted. Most importantly, when your workday stops, stop working. Distraction is one of the big challenges facing people who work from home—especially people who aren’t used to it. For those unexpectedly working from home who are also trying to reduce face-to-face contact, set up a video call with your colleagues or manager once a week to check in. When the world is freaking out, it’s more important than ever that we reach out, connect, and take care of one another. Before joining The Muse, Regina worked scooping ice cream, attending parking lots, breaking into cars (legally! It might be for an extended period of time rather than a day here and there (and you’re not at all sure how long it’ll last). The key to steering through these bumps is communication—especially with your manager and direct reports. 7 tips to survive working from home with your spouse. Berger also suggests setting aside time to talk to or catch up one-on-one with a coworker. That’s why it’s also important not to spread yourself across your home—while it might seem great to be able to move from desk to couch to bed, if you let your laptop creep into your downtime space, it makes it harder to keep your work separate from your home life. You don’t even need to plan that much: My best friend and I live in different parts of the country but stream TV shows simultaneously so we can text about them in real time. So make sure to circle back and change the plan if problems come up. While you’re at it, don’t just check in with coworkers about this project or that TV show you both like—really check in, Berger suggests. New to working from home? Things are changing quickly every day, and most of us have seen our typical routines turned upside down. One key benefit to having employees use work-authorized laptop is your company can manage security updates and patches, pushing those electronically to devices as needed. ), opening mail, and editing for InvestorPlace.com. Adjust Employee Story David Hartery Senior Content Marketing Editor. Blog 7 tips to work from home effectively 7 tips to work from home effectively. Specialist Marketing, PR, Ecom & Design Recruiters Since 2002 7 Tips for Working From Home If you usually ask your coworkers about their weekends, keep that up. Your morning commute not only gets you to work—from one physical location to another—but it also gives your brain time to prepare for work. And that’s on top of the 50,000 thoughts you generate in the same 24-hour period.With this amount of mental activity and pressure – it’s easy to see why you might feel overwhelmed by the endless information and data that come your way. One of the big challenges when it comes to working remotely is keeping your work and home lives separate. Shut down, stop checking emails and focus on your home life. You may not be able to meet up with friends for dinner after work, but you can organize a group of people to discuss a book or TV show or just to catch up over Google Hangouts. Working from home will look different for everyone, so the most important part is understanding what works for you may not work for someone else. Take breaks away from your “workspace” and go back to your workspace immediately after your break time is over. As such, there is need to develop a new set of skills which involve self-discipline so as to ensure that you remain productive. Or maybe you can spend some time with a pet or loved one. When you work from home, you don’t have that,” Yurovsky says. By Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping Institute is a big part of the input side of our equation. To workaround this, try and schedule regular calls or chats with your friends and family. Do the same with anyone you usually work collaboratively with throughout the day. 7 Effective Ways to Work From Home During the Coronavirus Outbreak If your job becomes remote, these tips will help keep you productive and sane. All this doesn’t just apply to the workday and people you work with. 7 Benefits of Bullet Journaling and Why It’s Great for Everyone, 3 Effective Ways To Collaborate With Your Team, How to Become a Leader That People Respect. It's now a necessity for companies all across the globe. 7 Tips for Working From Home With Kids When Coronavirus Has Shut Everything Down. Working from home is quickly becoming common. These breaks are vital even if you’re not leaving your home.). Updated 1813 GMT (0213 HKT) March 31, 2020 . Sticking to a familiar routine helps - it’s still a work day. You don’t need to dress as formally as you might for work, but the simple act of changing clothes serves as a signal that it’s time to wake up and get things done. This is a new situation for everyone. by. She's excited to be back to a city that's only humid eight months of the year. Keep your alarm set to its usual time and get showered and dressed by the time you’d usually be leaving the house to commute to work. You can do that at home. And Facetime your mom, will you? This will cut down on miscommunication and break up some of the social isolation that can come from working from home. I’m writing this in the room that is my office, kitchen, living room, and dining room all in one. I’ve done it off and on for more than 35 years. Plus, if your role is collaborative, being on the same schedule as your coworkers makes everything much easier. Check out this list. “People forget they need to be around others because it’s the small talk and random fire alarms that keep your days feeling unique and prevent that hamster-wheel feeling. And you don’t have to stick with only text-based communication. Even if you’ve done it before, working from home because of coronavirus might feel like a whole new world: It’s probably sudden. Getting dressed also applies to other appearance-based tasks: Take a shower, brush your hair, even put on makeup if that’s what you’d usually do. 7 Essential Tips for Working From Home During the Coronavirus Pandemic. Discover the 7 most important rules for managing remote employees effectively and you will be able to increase engagement, set clear expectations, and improve employee satisfaction. Here’s our seven tips for creating a positive daily routine, if you find yourself working remotely. “Do not default to email if you would have spoken to a coworker face-to-face while at the office,” Yurovsky says. Besides, just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean that no one from work will see you. You can even add in a workout (preferably at home because of the new coronavirus, but see what is being recommended where you live) or spend some time on a hobby (again, make sure it’s appropriate given the health recommendations where you are). 10% off Career Coaching | Use code NEWYEAR10 thru Jan 17th |, keeping your work and home lives separate, Yes, You Should Still Take Time Off Work During COVID-19—Here’s How to Make the Most of It. These tips will help you make sure that you’re successful, both at getting your work done and at maintaining your mental well-being: It might seem like a simple tip, but it’s a crucial one. This means holding yourself accountable, but also recognizing when enough is enough, just as a good manager might. You can also schedule morning video call kickoffs with your whole team so you make space for that first-getting-into-work small talk, or carve out time for other check-ins throughout the day. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the same people you would usually turn to for help—even if you’re not in the same building as them. Having a separate time and space to work will allow you to be more present in your home life. 7 smart tips to help you get more done More and more people are working from home to try to limit the spread of coronavirus. “If you feel yourself extending your work hours because you aren’t doing anything in the evening...tell yourself it’s time to put work away, recharge, and start tomorrow with a fresh mind. When the whole office suddenly starts working from home, you’re cutting off a lot of the casual social interactions you’re used to having throughout the day that help you feel less lonely and break up the monotony of work. At the other end of the day, the evening commute does the reverse. Learn more now. Flamingo Images/Getty Images. When you work in an office, it’s easy to stay connected with coworkers, but working from home can feel isolating. Working from home? Working from home can be productive, I know. If you’re used to going into an office each day, the separation between work and home is physical, and you want to try to recreate that as much as possible with a designated physical workspace at home. You’ll also encounter unique challenges as you try to do your job remotely, which can vary greatly depending on the type of work you do. The work will be there in the morning.”. 7 Science-Backed Books About Spirituality That Will Change Your Life, 40 Ways to Find Peace of Mind and Inner Calm, How to Improve Memory and Boost Your Brainpower, How to Declutter Your Life and Reduce Stress (The Ultimate Guide), How to Continue Reading the New York Times Online For Free, How to Get Around Facebook’s New Photo Viewer, 7 Ways to Create a More Tranquil Workspace, 13 Bad Habits You Need to Quit Right Away, How to Reprogram Your Brain Like a Computer And Hack Your Habits, 14 Ideas on How to Measure Productivity to Make Progress, 11 Things You Can Do to Increase Employee Productivity. When she’s working remotely she often “gets lunch” with colleagues and friends by setting a time to chat while they eat. Take Sick Days As millions of people experience the benefits of working remotely due to the pandemic, the number of work from home reasons have increased and the pace of adoption of work from home policies have accelerated. It helped me decompress with something physical and fun, and the habit was self-enforcing since my dog would lie in front of the door when it was time to go or would come looking for me if I was taking too long. These tips will come in handy for anyone trying to find the right balance when working from home. Your workspace doesn’t have to be its own room—in my apartment, it’s a corner—but it should feel as separate from the rest of your home as possible. Set aside time once a week (or as often as you feel comfortable) to do some remote networking. It makes you feel human [and] confident and helps draw the line between being at work and being at home,” says Heather Yurovsky, Muse career coach and the founder of Shatter & Shine. On the flipside, leaving your workspace will also help you turn “off” at the end of the day and fully disengage. Experts provided some tips for better work-life balance when you work at home. You may scoff at the idea of a separate room for a home office if, like me, you live in a small apartment. I suggest setting timers for any breaks you take. “Don’t underestimate the power of putting on clothes suitable for public viewing. Effective Decision Making Process: How to Make Wise Decisions, How to Set Long Term Goals and Achieve Success, 8 Differences Between a Leader and a Manager, How to Live up to Your Full Potential and Succeed in Life, How to Change Your Life at 60 Years Old and Feel Proud of Yourself, How to Become an Entrepreneur (A Serial Entrepreneur’s Advice), 10 Simple Yet Powerful Business Goals to Set This Year, 20 Simple Things You Can Do Daily To Become a Mindful Person, Why Negative Emotions Aren’t That Bad (And How to Handle Them), What Is Self-Image (And How to Change It for a Happier Life), 20 Things Life Is Too Short to Worry About, employee morale translates into higher productivity, 50 Ways to Increase Productivity and Achieve More in Less Time, 35 Quick and Simple Tips for Better Productivity, 40 Powerful Productivity Quotes From Highly Successful People, When It Comes To Driving, Most People Think Their Skills are Above Average. That means lots of us are dealing with an unusual challenge: working from home for the first time, full-time. If you try to jump directly, “your brain doesn’t have time to hit the reset button, which can make you less present as you transition back into your personal life.”. 10'000 Hours/Getty Images. Why Is Time Management Important For Peak Productivity? Catch up over email, instant messenger, video … After all. If you’re someone who’s susceptible to getting distracted every time you get a news alert, turn your notifications off during the workday, too. Learn tips to face the challenge if you aren't used to working alone or being confined at home 24/7. You probably already take a few breaks throughout the day at the office, and that’s fine to do at home, too. 14. Right now, one of the biggest distractions is the news. Teresa Douglas. Give yourself something that will signal the end of work and serve as a buffer. Right now, remote working--or, working from home--has become more than a trend. The news will still be there after 5 PM. But you should resist that temptation. And you can’t necessarily socialize in person outside of work. But you need to be wary of how much you let yourself get distracted. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a coworker just to ask how they’re doing. Combat this by talking with your coworkers throughout the day through Slack, calls, text, Zoom, or however your company communicates. You’ll get your best work done and be most ready to transition back to the office if you stick with your regular hours. Regina Borsellino. “Commuters often take for granted the time they have in the car or on the train to wind down from a hectic workday and mentally prepare themselves for their evening routine.” Yurovsky says. And that’s OK. All Rights Reserved. Here are seven tips to help those who will be working from home for the foreseeable future: Have a dedicated workspace. The following are some tips on being efficient and productive while working from home. It’s good to stay informed, of course, but it’s also easy to scroll yourself into an anxious mess. Just because you’re not traveling doesn’t mean you shouldn’t carve out equivalent routines to help you ease into your workday. Continue your commute You might find it’s best to check in with your boss and coworkers over the phone or through video chat. In its simplest form, the productivity formula looks like this: If you have set up a system to track and measure employees’ performance, but you’re still not meeting goals, it may be time to look at your management style. Lots of us are feeling anxious and uncertain right now, and suddenly being isolated at home can amplify these feelings. It’s 2020 and we’re all about to have a lot of video meetings. Get up at the same time, eat breakfast and get out of your pyjamas. “For some people it becomes very blurry,” says Muse career coach Lynn Berger, who specializes in helping people navigate career transitions. And if you’re working remotely because of the new coronavirus, checking in on COVID-19 updates is going to be at the front of your mind. Staying home is critical to keeping people from getting sick, but it doesn’t have to result in a huge increase to your energy bill. When I worked from home, I made it a habit to take my dog for a long walk as soon as I was done for the day. If you’d usually comment to them about a specific topic, reach out. If you live with other people, this separation is even more critical. “The biggest difference between working from home and working in the office is that you are in charge of your environment and have to treat yourself like an employee,” Yurovsky says. By Kathryn Vasel, CNN Business. In the midst of the new coronavirus pandemic, many companies are implementing voluntary or mandatory work-from-home policies. (And you should definitely still take a lunch and step away from your work. Generally, you’re not going from getting a huge presentation done right to making dinner or doing chores. Just as you designate and separate your physical workspace, you should be clear about when you’re working and when you’re not.