How To Work From Home Effectively
With the change in working practices, we have seen recently many staff and business owners will be working from home for the foreseeable future. With that in mind, we thought we would put together some of our top tips on how to work from home effectively.
One main thing to remember from working from home is that you need to think of the change as a positive one. Take the time to set up a space that will help you be productive and put you in the right mindset. Have you always wanted those picture frames with inspirational quotes hanging from your walls? Now is the perfect time to get them added!
Ask For IT Help!
The first task to complete if you want to work from home effectively is to make sure you have all the equipment and technology you need in order to carry out your job. Don’t be afraid to ask the IT department how to set up your computer so it connects to the company network remotely. They are there to help, and no question is a silly one! This is really important if your job involves managing a remote workforce . You certainly don’t want to be the one who keeps dropping out of the Zoom meeting if you are the host.
Choose A Spot In Your House For Work
During the first lockdown, many of us were tempted to sit on our sofas and watch TV at the same time as working. However, it was soon clear that this wasn’t the most productive method. Don’t even get us started on the kitchen… hello mindless snacking!
There are a few basic things you should consider when choosing your office location within your home:
- Ensure the area you choose is well-lit (ideally near a window so you don’t feel trapped inside).
- Have a designated workspace, don’t just work from the kitchen table. This will help to get you into the work mindspace.
- If you are unable to create your own space, invest in some good quality noise-cancelling headphones.
- The first place you choose may not be correct. If you find one area doesn’t work for you, try another. You won’t know until you go through the process of trial and error.
Set A Routine For Your Children
If you are struggling with balancing the act of educating your children and working at the same time, you need to be organised. Stock up on books and puzzles that will keep them entertained for a few hours. This will give you the chance to crack on with some work.
To work from home effectively a routine is also really important – both for you as a working parent, and for your children so they know when they can disturb you. For example, allocate a few hours in the morning where they have to do some school work. It is all about trying to keep a sense of normality within daily life. Having a daily routine really helps with this.
Safeguard Your Non-Work Hours
The biggest struggle with working from home is knowing when to switch off. When you are working from home the line between work and home can easily become blurred. Therefore you need to take the time to guard your non-work hours. This means come 5 o’clock it is family time. Your laptop should be switched off, and no emails or calls should be answered. It is important to have that divide otherwise your mental health will be impacted.
We hope this blog has been useful to give you some tips on how to work from home effectively. We would love to hear any tips and tricks you have which help too – please email them to info@ventureoffices.co.uk
