Tips On Working From Home
Many team members have been lobbying to work from home for
years. Studies have even cited the benefits to allowing employees to work
remotely on select weekdays. And now, working remotely has been imposed – and
it feels a lot different.
Posts on social media had people sharing updates on their
experiences of the first few days of being in self-isolation. Some were
humorous, ranging from facial regimens whilst working, to only wearing
professional attire from the top up, for video conferencing calls. Others
shared their struggles, to try and find their flow in a seemingly unusual set
up.
The good news is, there are many tips and strategies that
people can use, to work from home successfully. Here are the ones we recommend:
- Set your alarm as though you are going to the office. Make your coffee and keep your morning routine the same.
- Plan your day. With set work times and scheduled meetings,
planning your day was a simple feat. Today, the lack of structure requires a
bit more detailed planning and discipline. We recommend to wake up at the same
time and start your workday at the same time. Some have a tendency to extend
their workday, well beyond normal hours. Try to practice being efficient within
your allocated work time, to give yourself a break in the evenings.
- Home office essentials. Home offices do not need to be
elaborate setups. Instead, find comfort in your home office by setting up a
desk and a chair in a well lit room. Make sure it is quiet too! You can even choose a part of your bedroom
to dedicate to work from – just make sure you do not opt to work from your bed
(for psychological and posture reasons). Find pieces of furniture that are not
used at home, to start bringing the home office to life. If you are hopping on video conferencing calls while working
from home, make sure you have a proper backdrop that looks professional. If in
doubt, seat yourself in front of a plain white wall to take a call.
- To do lists. Working from home does not mean work stops. It
means that you will have to be more diligent to stay on top of matters. Update
your to-do lists daily and set goals for the coming week.
- Communicate with your team. Team members need to understand their roles and responsibilities even more than before. Keep the team synergy intact with regular communication.
- Internet connectivity. Internet connectivity is vital, to
ensure efficiency during your workday. Upgrade your home package if needed, and
switch to your mobile data plan, when faster internet speeds are required (just
keep track of your phone bill and data consumption!) Use Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Skype to stay connected with your peers.
- Set boundaries. Communicate with whoever is at home, about your current arrangements and ask them not to disturb you throughout the workday. This ensures that you have uninterrupted hours to be productive.
- Get off social media. When working from home, you may be
more inclined to be on social media platforms – which can end up wasting a lot
of precious time. Try to limit the number of hours you spend on online
platforms and channel that time into something productive.
- Work out. If you had a gym, yoga or fitness regimen, your
new work setup is no reason to stop. If you were never really fit, but had it
as a New Year resolution for the past decade, now is the time to start. There
are hundreds of fitness Apps that provide guided routines, and thousands of
videos and articles online, based on your interests. Some local gyms are even
sharing workout plans on social media. Factor in 30 minutes to an hour
dedicated to fitness during your day. No excuses…
- Eat healthy. The impacts of the lockdown may have adverse
effects on our mental health and body, if we are not careful. Staying confined
at home may entice us to eat more, and not move around much. However, being at
home, with a limited number of dietary choices may actually be a good thing.
Schedule your meals during the day and make sure they are healthy!
- Attire is crucial. What you wear during the day can have an
impact on your performance. Of course, choosing comfortable clothing is recommended.
But make sure you hop out of your pajamas, to be able to integrate with humans
again, once the lockdown is lifted.
- Human interactions. Just because you cannot see colleagues
or friends that is no reason to lose touch. Video chat with them throughout the
day, to maintain close ties. After all, we need human interactions to survive.
Just remember, we are all in this together. Do not lose
sight of your goals, aspirations or routines just because of a lockdown.
Startup in Lebanon
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on March 17, 2020
by Beirut Digital District