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20 Productive Work From Home Tips During The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic

Team AckoJan 17, 2024

Globally, several organizations have asked their employees to Work From Home (WFH) ever since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the ongoing COVID-19 situation as a pandemic. This distancing from office spaces and setting up a virtual office space in your home can seem unconventional – even inconvenient – for some. However, drastic times need drastic measures like Social Distancing, Lockdown, and Working From Home.

You need to make sure you are not resistant to this change. Embrace it with open arms and a calm mind. This article will present to you some tips that should help you to be productive while working from home.

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Work From Home Tips to Ensure Productivity:

Working from home might seem like a pleasant change if it is done for a day or two. However, this shift can come across as an uphill task if employees are asked to Work From Home for weeks and months. This can be the new normal for a lot of people in a COVID-19-affected world. Go through the following tips to ensure there is no dip in your productivity while you continue to give your 100% while working from your home.

1) Get Right Gadgets:

Make sure you have the right gadgets to support your Work From Home. A laptop or a desktop and a reliable Wi-fi connection is a must for most desk jobs in today’s times. You can also keep an internet back-up for your workstation via your mobile phone’s hotspot. Keep the devices’ batteries powered, and call and internet connection recharged. Ensure the devices are updated, necessary Apps are downloaded, and the system is secure.

2) Set-up A Desk:

Your desk is a kind of personal space in an office environment. Similarly, set-up a dedicated ‘work desk’ in your home. If you have a spare room, great. If not, move things a bit and create a space for you which is lit well, has proper ventilation and offers minimal distractions. Also, note that the positioning of your chair and the laptop’s height on the table needs to be ergonomically right.

3) Engage in a Routine:

Working from home, will help you to cut out the time taken to travel to work and come back home from. For some, this might mean spending more time in the bed in the morning or utilizing that time to complete household chores. You need to manage the saved travel time efficiently and get into an office-like routine while your WFH. Flexible working hours shouldn’t mean taking long afternoon naps and derailing your schedule. Engage in a routine to establish a work-life balance.

4) Clock-in, Clock-out:

Just as your office might have a clock-in and clock-out system, work towards emulating that while you Work From Home. This will ensure that you are not late to start and you put a hard stop at the end of the day and not let work spill over to your family time.

5) Dress Appropriately:

The way your dress can influence your thinking. No matter how much you feel like working in your comfortable pyjamas, make it a point to dress appropriately during work hours while working from home. You must be ready to jump into a quick video call with your boss or colleagues.

6) Clear Expectations:

Get to know what is expected of you by getting on a call with your manager, boss, or team leader. Reach out proactively so that there are no communication gaps. Follow the same while working on tasks that require the involvement of your teammates or other colleagues.

7) Psychological Segues:

Some people rely on certain activities to switch on their work mode. For some, it can be drinking a hot cup of coffee and for some, it might be glancing at the top news of the day. Continue doing what works for you to get you in work mode.

8) Move Around:

Sitting in one position for long hours can be harmful to your health. Leave your chair to stretch your muscles, walk a bit, maybe get some fresh air by standing near a window. Give your eyes a break by looking away from laptops and mobile screens from time-to-time.

9) Casual Conversations:

Working from home should stop you from having casual conversations with your office buddy. You can still take a small break to discuss that latest episode of the streaming show you’ve been binge-watching. Instead of doing it face-to-face, you can do it on chat or call.

Along with Social Distancing, also practise Social Media Distancing to avoid getting distracted while you are working from home. Do not drown yourself in WhatsApp forwards and Retweets while you are working.

Also, read: Coronavirus Helpline Number, India

11) Tune In:

If music is something that tunes you in, then make a playlist and put your headphones on. It can prove beneficial to cut off distractions for some people. Refrain from doing so if you feel that it is not working out for you.

12) Separate Relaxing Area:

Avoid relaxing in your work chair and near your work desk. Also, avoid sitting on your bed and treating it like a work desk. Separate work and rest areas can help your mind to switch on and off accordingly.

13) Wear Comfortable Headset:

If your job requires you to be on call for a major part of the day, consider wearing a comfortable headset or relying on snug earphones instead of holding your phone while talking.

14) Ace In-house Coordination:

There might be a situation where multiple people in a household might be working from home. For example, you, your spouse, and your sibling might be working from the same home. Coordinate with fellow members regarding internet bandwidth, conference calls, etc.

15) Keep Your Family Informed:

The WFH situation might be new for your family members. They will have to adjust their daily schedule accordingly, especially children and elders. Keep your family members informed if you have an important conference call and you need your space for it.

16) Balance Household Work:

You will also need to balance office work with household work. Clear communication with family members on this front will ensure a positive environment in your home.

17) Eat Right:

Working from home can mean you have access to the snacks at home. Try to avoid unhealthy snacking and have your lunch on time.

18) Stay Hydrated:

If you have a habit of keeping a bottle of water on your desk, continue with it and stay hydrated. Not making short trips to the office water cooler should not lead to a dip in your daily water consumption.

Also, read: Ways To Remain Healthy During Social Distancing

19) Cater to Children:

Discuss your schedule with your spouse and carve out a time to cater to your children’s needs. For example, if both parents are working from home, they can schedule breaks at different times so that the children – especially an infant – will have at least one parent to engage with for a while. Other family members can also extend their support in managing children.

20) Follow Cybersecurity Guidelines:

Adhere to the cybersecurity norms stated by your employer. Some of the common guidelines include using different laptops for work and leisure, ensuring the internet connection is secure and relying only on trusted applications. Beware of phishing emails.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here are some commonly asked questions about WFH while Social Distancing.

What are the major benefits of working from home during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic?

By working from home, people are adhering to Social Distancing which is a major precautionary measure against the ongoing novel Coronavirus pandemic. Other benefits of working from home include better work-life balance, no travelling to work, and flexible schedule.

What are the major challenges related to remote working during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic?

Communication and collaboration can become a barrier depending upon the kind of work performed by people. Getting distracted, loneliness, and facing technological issues can be viewed as other challenges of remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some people might also face challenges related to staying motivated and not being able to switch off from work.

Is Remote Working or Work From Home a new concept?

Remote Working or WFH is not a new concept. It has been around for years. Some companies have been offering it as a part of the employee benefit. However, it can be viewed as a relatively new concept on a large scale because a lot of the employees all over the globe are experiencing remote working for a longer period for the first time because of Social Distancing during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change. Refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.

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