COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has resulted in many people to work from home. How do I remain productive at home? Remote working has been on the rise for years with many companies, some as a benefit given to employees for a work-life balance. Today, millions of people around the world have newly started working from home (WFH) because of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Some companies do not advocate WFH as they believe people cannot work without supervision, so they adopted a controlling and micro-management culture. However, which is a more productive environment for employees? The home office or the office? This coronavirus season gave us a good opportunity to find out. office The situation may extend for weeks or even longer. Nonetheless, it is a great opportunity for a lifestyle change. There will be no rushing to leave home and skipping breakfast so that you will not miss the train. A joint reported by surveyed more than 3,500 remote tech workers, has found that the top benefits of WFH are a flexible schedule, the ability to work from anywhere, and not having a commute. Buffer and Angellist On the other end of the scale, the challenges of team collaboration and communication becomes apparent when team members are dispersed in isolation. They also feel constantly attached to work while distracted by things at home. WFH is awesome. To some, it may seem newfound freedom, but along with it comes responsibility as well. To transit into this new way of working, here are some helping hand tips: Daily Routine . It is important to cultivate strict routines or working hours but also be kind to yourself. Wake up at the usual time and do the usual routine. For me, I use the time usually spent on commuting to read or stretch my legs. Be disciplined , do not wear pajamas. The dressing can influence moods and attitudes, so dress in proper indoor attire. Dress properly . WFH allows flexibility in work time, but start and end work timing should be as routine as possible. Enforce a hard stop at the end of the day, and plan for personal errands after that. Setting a target end time will dictate expectations and increase productivity. Set work hours . I personally feel that moving and stretching my body energizes the brain. The truth is, endorphins are produced when exercising, which increases happiness and interest levels. Create a good routine with short exercise breaks Communication . This can be done remotely (whether standing or sitting), just maintain the essence of keeping it short, and keeping team members accountable to one another in respective tasks. Have a daily standup meeting with your team . WFH can be lonely, so I do plan virtual coffee breaks with co-workers (with a real fragrant cup of coffee). Keep talking to people so I do not feel isolated. Have more social interactions . WFH means I cannot walk by a colleague to say something. If the matter is urgent, I usually do redundancy in communication. For example, after an email is sent, I would also send a text message to the recipient, or leave a ping on Slack. Over-communicate . Text messages usually look more formal and serious on its own. Keep messages positive, sometimes I would like to lighten the mood by adding a smiley. It makes a world of difference saying DONE or done :-) Use emoji Distractions it is a big distraction. The radio or YouTube music might be better if you are the type who works well with some background music. Relaxing jazz creates an unwinding mood, whereas video game soundtracks keep the energy level high. Keep the television turned off; . We are guilty of this one from time to time, and social media can be one giant time-drainer if I am not careful. Stay off Social media all . You should not work in the bedroom (the bed is so comfy! And it gives you backache), and also not in the kitchen (I have full access to all the snacks! And it upsets your diet). Separate space to work from space to rest . If temptations are too distracting, go to a WiFi-enabled cafe like Starbucks. A new environment is also a great stimulant for creativity and attention. Leave Home Time Management . Whether you work in the office or from home, it is essential to schedule for the day and keep track of daily tasks. Keep a daily checklist . There are many freewares to improve productivity: Video conference: Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, Cisco Webex Tasks and project management: , , Team communication: Whatsapp online, Slack, Workplace by Facebook Shared documents: Dropbox, Box, GoogleDrive Use online tools Air Table NovaTools Trello . Although taking breaks might seem counterproductive, research has shown that taking short breaks can actually increase productivity and creativity levels. Go get some fresh air , listen to the birds, enjoy the breeze, take time to smell the flowers, connect with nature in a short walk or cycle. Schedule frequent short breaks outdoors . WFH can be invasive to personal life. Without scheduled work hours, work can creep into home life and personal errands can creep into work hours. Do not mix household chores into work hours. Avoid work creep WorkSpace Logistics . Apart from having a high-speed internet connection and a reliable router, get a comfortable chair and reserve a quiet space to be able to do focused work. I have converted the guest room to a home office with ergonomic chairs, extended monitor screens, full suite of stationery and a printer. Most importantly, it is well lit and ventilated. Prepare a conducive workspace . It is a good habit to mute your microphone during conference calls (unless you’re speaking) to minimize the amount of audio feedback and random sounds that interrupt the conversation. Other hacks include: lower video resolution when the network traffic is heavy, use collaboration tool to share screen but get audio through the phone. Use a comfortable headset or earpiece for calls For Parents . Due to school closure, children may also be around at home. Plan and schedule some activities to occupy them while you work. Have staggered lunchtime to spend with children; for instance, a husband can have a lunch break at 11 am-12 pm, wife breaks at 12 pm-1 pm, so 2 hours are spent with children. For all we know, working with children around us might become the new norm from this season on. Keep children in your plans . I am fortunate to have my mum to watch over the little ones in the day, along with a domestic helper to do the chores, so my wife and I can focus on work. Get family support Let’s Celebrate! WFH is great for work-life balance; it increases ownership and performance. It trains people to be focused and disciplined. I look forward to seeing the productive benefits of trust and empowerment. Everyone’s situation is different in home environment, personality and habits. My advice is to ignore any tips that clashes with your personal beliefs. Tailor the most effective way of working for you and keep practicing until it becomes part of a lifestyle or culture. “ ” It takes 21 days to form a habit Once a new way of working has been established all over the world, it might be hard to go back to the old ways.

Cisco

Dropbox

Facebook

Google

Routine

Slack

Starbucks

Target

Transit

Trello

YouTube

Connect with me on Linkedin

Read My Stories

Too Long; Didn't Read

Developers: Build Less. Deliver More. [Learn how]	

New To Working From Home due to COVID-19? Here's How To Prepare

New To Working From Home due to COVID-19? Here's How To Prepare

Too Long; Didn't Read

People Mentioned

Companies Mentioned

James N

About Author

TOPICS

THIS ARTICLE WAS FEATURED IN...

New To Working From Home due to COVID-19? Here's How To Prepare

Too Long; Didn't Read

People Mentioned

Companies Mentioned

James N

About Author

TOPICS

THIS ARTICLE WAS FEATURED IN...

RELATED STORIES