Coronavirus—How to Start Working from Home

There is no doubt that the recent outbreak of COVID-19 has caused millions of people to have to work from home. For many, the change to working in the home environment is challenging. Perhaps you were already working remotely for some hours a week but can’t get into a routine. Or, you are like so many people in the world today, you’ve no idea where to start.

If you have never worked from home before, you might not see this as a big deal. The first few days might be fantastic as you reply to your emails in your pajamas and take an extended break to catch up on Netflix. However, it won’t be long before reality kicks in. You might even begin to start missing the most annoying person from your office.

Even before coronavirus put countries into lockdown, many studies have shown the correlation between working remotely and productivity. In an article posted by Harvard Business Review, a study showed the benefits of working from home. One company experienced a 4.4% increase in productivity by those employees who were working from home. This increase represented up to “$1.3 billion of annual value to the U.S. economy”. Other studies have shown up to a 13% increase in productivity.

For you to start feeling productive at home, you are going to have to manage the incredible amount of interruptions and distractions. The article will guide you through the transition of working in the office to working from home.

7 Tips for You to Start Working from Home

1. Stick to your usual routine

Of course, you’ve got no early mornings, no getting stuck in traffic, and you might not even have to get the kids ready for school. But this doesn’t mean that you can sleep in and start the day when you feel like it.

Working from home requires a good routine. Set your alarm, have a shower and get dressed. Be prepared to work at the same time you would normally get to the office. Start work immediately. A leisurely breakfast sounds nice, but it will likely slow you down. Throughout your day, try to stick to the same routine as you would in the office, like taking breaks at the same time. And don’t let your working day extend past your usual working hours. This routine will help you maintain your productivity as you adapt to your new working location.

2. Find an area in your home that can call your workspace

Where you work is important for creating the right environment. Working from the sofa isn’t going to be an option as you are preventing others from using the living space. You might be comfortable at the kitchen table, but you will get distracted. If you don’t have an office at home, then choose a quiet area that doesn’t have a constant flow of people passing.

3. Make sure others appreciate your workspace

Friends, family, and especially children may not understand that although you are at home, you still have deadlines to meet. Encourage visitors not to drop by during your working hours and ask your family or roommates to treat your workspace as if it were an office in any building.

4. Take advantage of your most productive times

Some people are buzzing in the mornings while others get more done in the afternoon. Use your productive moments to your advantage. You may concentrate better on numbers and statistics in the morning and prefer to make calls in the afternoons. When you are feeling a little sluggish, use the time to complete some trivial tasks.

5. Plan your activities in time with the household

For working mums and dads, the COVID-19 lockdown is especially challenging. You need to try to stay productive while entertaining your kids at the same time. Know that this isn’t going to be forever. If you can be productive now, imagine how much you will be able to achieve when they go back to school.

Children also have moments when they need more attention and other downtimes or naps. Use these moments to really crack on with your to-do list as you will be able to focus more. With this in mind, plan your day and even your week based on the rhythm of the household.

6. Create a work and home to-do list each day

One of the most difficult things about working from home is the niggly things you know need doing. For some people, it’s impossible to work from home knowing that dishes need to be done. Or, that pile of laundry may suddenly seem more important than deadlines you need to meet.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of “I will just have a quick clean up before I start work.” Yes, before you know it, you are spring cleaning, and no work is done. You will need regular breaks from your work, so use this time to put the washing machine on or run the vacuum around. This way, you’ll feel that you are taking care of the other jobs you need to do as well as working.

7. Keep in touch with people

This crisis could last for weeks or even months. If you aren’t used to working from home, you will soon begin to feel isolated. So, you might fall into the trap of seeing what everyone else is up to on social media. The danger is that one quick look becomes an hour or more. Use the modern technology available to keep in touch with your coworkers. There must still be communication within a company, either through instant messages or video conference calls.

Related reading: how to get more done by avoiding distractions.

Working from Home During the Coronavirus Outbreak—A Takeaway

Right now, most of the world is having to adapt to some very extreme conditions working from home. But once life begins to return to normal, the ability to work at home may still be an option. There will be many benefits when the coronavirus restrictions begin to lift. We’ll be able to focus better with fewer interruptions, participate in video calls without the kids shouting in the background, and even take our computer to parks and coffee shops to interact with others.