Working from home is not everyone’s cup of tea. Many look forward to a change of scene and in-person interactions with colleagues. For many, our physical work environment is an integral part of our identity; without it, we are not quite ourselves.
And then there’s the other camp – those of us who think that working from home is the ultimate way to achieve that elusive work-life balance.
But, if we wish to thrive in this new-world working environment, we must be aware of the pitfalls, plan to avoid them, and set ourselves up for success.
Let’s explore some of the criteria for success.
Establish a Routine
Whether we like to admit it or not, we love routine. Following a routine is a great way to track accountability and bolster productivity. In an office setting, the energy of your work colleagues and the momentum set by your team serves this purpose, but when it’s just you, your pet and your house plants, you must generate this discipline on your own.
Rewrite the Day
Without having to build a commute into your day, you can structure your workday a little differently. That time you would have usually spent battling traffic or riding the train can now be used as you wish – exercise, tend to household duties, prep the evening meal, or make a head start on clearing your inbox. Do whatever it takes to set yourself up for a productive day.
Gone are the days of cramming all your life admin into the limited hours before and after work. If hanging out a load of washing in the sunshine is your idea of a well-spent break, then go for it!
Create an Inspiring Work Space
Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you must lose your professional edge! Setting up a well-defined workspace or home office is crucial to maintaining your professionalism.
If possible, set up your workspace in an area separate from your main living room; this is especially important if you have children or a busy household! Having a clearly defined space will help protect your home’s sanctuary and mean that you are less likely to be distracted from your work.
Equally, however, don’t cram yourself into a space that is void of natural light or ventilation just to get some privacy. Your physical environment must be of a standard that promotes wellbeing.
And of course, invest in quality office equipment – chair, desk, keyboard, mouse etc. If you need to, build on this as your budget allows, but certainly, make it a priority. Your body will thank you for it!
If the mood takes you, fill your space with plants, photos, oil burners etc. Anything that will help to create your ideal workspace. The more you enjoy being in your space, the better!
Break it Up
Without the lure of lunch with a colleague or a quick coffee in the break room, it can be easy to work through instead of stopping to rest and recharge. It is critical that you take a break from the screen and clear your mind. Step outside, breathe in some fresh air, stretch those limbs, and of course, nourish yourself with some healthy food and plenty of water at regular intervals.
Create a Plan
Creating a structured plan for the week will give each day a defined purpose and, just like a daily routine, will help to support productivity and accountability.
Working through your plan and checking things off as you go will help bring a specific focus and energy to your work. What’s more, sharing this plan with your team will enforce that you are still a key player that they can depend on.
Eliminate Distractions.
To be fair, distractions are plenty in a traditional office setting; it’s managing them that requires discipline when you work from home! Without the standard rules in play or the presence of a governing body, it can be very easy to scroll your way down a Social Media rabbit hole or lean into an extended phone call with a friend.
Mute all non-work-related notifications and build personal phone time into your daily routine; this will help keep your mind on the job and satisfy your social urges.
Stay Social
Possibly the biggest downside of working from home is the distinct lack of social contact. If you thrive on personal interaction, working from home in a full-time capacity is likely not a great fit.
Advances in technology like Zoom, Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts and Slack Messaging have revolutionised the home office by offering real-time interactions that help keep the wheels of commerce turning and teams connected.
Scheduling a daily catch up with your colleagues is a great way to align your team and energise relationships. Furthermore, why not build a couple of social meetings into the schedule; this will give you a chance to catch up on each other’s lives without eating into your precious work time.
Strive for Balance
Working from home doesn’t mean that you should always be working. Be sure to have a clearly defined start and finish to your day. If you are a workaholic, this will require a lot of self-control.
Just as your work requires your full attention, so does your family. This working from home thing could wear pretty thin if you keep disappearing off to your desk to finish off one last thing!
If you need to pack in some extra hours, try to build them in at either end of the day, before the household wakes or after they’ve gone to bed; whatever suits you best.
Establish Some Ground Rules
This is a goodie and should almost be at the top of the list. However, leaving it to the end will hopefully mean that it resonates as it should.
Just as working from home doesn’t mean that you should always be working, working from home doesn’t mean that you are always home! What do we mean by that? We mean that your space and your time deserve respect.
It’s only natural that some household responsibilities will fall on your shoulders because of your being there. However, it is essential to establish some boundaries.
Whether you share a home with your family or with flatmates, you must establish some fair and equitable boundaries that everyone observes. Your working from home doesn’t give those you live with a licence to leave their breakfast dishes in the sink, the dog unfed or their beds unmade.
Like everybody else, you have a day to carry on with, and while your working from home delivers many advantages to the household’s day to day life, it doesn’t mean that your work should suffer because of it.
Whether you are well and truly ensconced in a work-from-home routine or considering making the switch to a home office, you must ensure solid foundations. There is much to be gained from this arrangement. More so if you set yourself up for success.