Social distancing practices have been mandated across the entire country and many employers have switched to a working from home basis. While working from home may sound exciting, there are many challenges that can be faced such as: issues with technology, separating work life from home life, taking care of children, physical and mental health, etc. Although these challenges may seem intimidating or impossible, they can be dealt with and overcome allowing work from home to be easier.
These tips found in articles from The Muse, National Public Radio, and Google will help workers to ensure they are successful, productive, and do not get “burnt out.”
1. Get Dressed – you may not need to dress in the business attire or work uniform, but the simple act of following your morning routine (keeping up on personal hygiene, changing clothes, eating breakfast, etc.) before your work day will help you maintain a feeling of normalcy.
2. Designate a Workspace or Home Office – one of the biggest challenges when working remotely is keeping your work and home lives separate. If you never fully disconnect from work, your productivity may suffer and your home life can be affected. Be sure to designate an area that can be isolated and uninterrupted and treat this as your new office. Begin your work day here and end your work day here to help ensure work life and home life are kept separate.
3. Get your technology in order & make sure you have adequate internet access – Technology and internet access is what enables remote work in the first place. Ensure you have the proper tools and resources to accomplish working from home. Slower internet speeds may cause for issues with communication during video calls, sharing documents, and receiving emails. If you’re not familiar or comfortable with technology take time to watch PD videos, read How To guides, and use product tutorials.
4. The kids are alright – but they’re home too – if you are working from home with children in tow, you’ll need to make a plan for education and entertainment. There are many child appropriate shows through streaming services and educational apps available to use. Be sure to be flexible about how much work you might realistically be able to get done if you’re balancing child care. Develop and set a schedule of when to homeschool/parent and when to work.
5. Communicate and socialize – be sure to communicate with staff, family and friends. Working from home can be isolating and lonely. Text base communication (email, text message, & IM) are standard for the work and home, but phone calls and video calls help with staying connected and having human interaction.
6. Physical and Mental Well-being – working from home can take a toll on physical and mental health. You’re no longer commuting to work, meeting the physical demands your job requires, and may be staring at a computer screen for much longer than you’re used to. Take time to move around, exercise, give your eyes a rest, and get outside of the house (while following social distancing guidelines). Be sure to take care of your body and mind.
Additional Tips for Working from Home:
The Muse – https://www.themuse.com/advice/coronavirus-work-from-home-tips
NPR – https://www.npr.org/2020/03/15/815549926/8-tips-to-make-working-from-home-work-for-you
