How to work from home? If you are one of those employees who have always sat at the office desk and been satisfied with your 9-5 job hours, work from home is going to be your worst nightmare.
Working in a new environment is difficult and can throw you off your routine. When you can no longer seek comfort in your own home, this transition is going to be your worst dream come true.
Many people feel that working from home is easier than having to go to the office each day. Truth be told, working from home is harder than you think. You are under constant pressure with your daily targets. Your bosses constantly check your progress and accuse you of sitting around at home doing nothing. Your day that should have ended at 6:00 p.m. ends at 1:00 a.m., and if your family asks you to help at home, you can’t escape it.
8 Do’s & Don’ts of Work from Home
According to a study conducted by Airtasker, “On average, remote employees worked 1.4 more days every month, or 16.8 more days every year, than those who worked in an office.”
If you are caught in between your family’s bickering and your boss’s scolding, this list of do’s and don’ts when working from home is going to be your ultimate guide.
1. Do- Make a List of All The Things You Need to Do In A Day
It is easy to get distracted when you are working from home. 100 things are going on in the background, and it’s hard to concentrate on your work. In order to prevent yourself from drifting off into doing something else, make a list of all the things to complete in the day. Some people make a worklist and a house chore list and keep ticking them off as the work is completed. You can even make a time table out of that list to make sure everything is accommodated properly.
Also Read: 10 Morning Routines for People Working From Home
2. Don’t- Procrastinate Your Day’s Work
You are used to seeing your house as a place to relax rather than your work station. There could be times when you feel like taking a short break, only to realize that your break lasted 2 hours. Procrastinating your work will only give you added pressure to meet your deadlines. It will also hamper your productivity and the quality of work. Make sure that you work as per scheduled time to avoid procrastination.
3. Do- Make Sure To Eat and Drink Properly
At the office, there’s always lunchtime to remind you to keep yourself nourished. However, there aren’t any definite lunch hours at home, and it becomes a problem, especially if you are living alone. Workaholics get so engrossed in their work that they forget to have their meals. This causes fatigue and also impacts their health. Make sure to have regular meals. Put an alarm or a reminder if you have to. Always keep a bottle of water by your side to keep yourself hydrated.
4. Don’t- Be Glued To The Screen
After you finish your day’s work, what is the next thing you do? If your answers are watching Netflix, browsing the internet, or catching up on social media, you are damaging your brain. Extended screen time also affects your sleep, strains your eyes, gives you headaches, etc. Make sure to take two hours off from the screen to keep your health in check.
5. Do- Move Around Once In A While
Work from home can lead to a sedentary lifestyle that can not only cause weight gain but also heart diseases. Make sure to take short breaks and move around the house once in a while. You can take a short walk to a nearby garden to get some fresh air. There are also a few chair exercises that you can do at home while working.
Also Read: Working from home Outfit Vibes For Every Zodiac Sign
6. Don’t- Do Chores During Work Hours
As we have a responsibility towards our bosses, the same way we have a responsibility towards our house. A well-maintained house brings in positivity and helps you focus on your work too. However, house chores take up a lot of time and drain out your energy. Doing household chores in-between your work tasks can delay the time to complete your projects, and your attention on both the activities will be divided. It is better to allot a specific time to do your household chores so that it doesn’t hamper your productivity.
7. Do- Keep track of Time
It is easy to lose track of time, especially when you are not working by the clock. By the time you finish your work, you realize that it is way past office hours. It is important not only to keep track of time but to time your work as well. This will give you an idea of how much time each task is taking, and you will be able to time yourself better. Make sure that your schedule leaves room to achieve your personal goals as well.
8. Don’t- Pressurize Yourself
Ensure to take only that much workload that you are physically and mentally capable of taking up. You may be an over-achiever and like to stay ahead of your peers, but taking up impossible tasks can affect your health to a great extent. Pressurizing yourself will also affect your mental health and will lead to irritation and frustration all day. Make sure that you get enough sleep so that you feel refreshed for the next day. If your organization is forcing you to take on work that is impossible to complete, make sure that the end reward is worth it.
If you’re one of those employees who has been working from home, you must be longing for your office to reopen so that you can get back to your normal self. Whether you are an executive, manager, professional, or a freelancer, work from home doesn’t have to be a nightmare.
The above tips are some of the best practices for work from home with the intent to keep your mental and physical health in check, along with ensuring productivity and efficiency. If you are the head of an organization, you should know how to maintain security when employees work remotely as cybersecurity could be a threat when your employees are working from home. Make sure to maintain all the required practices for work from home.
