How to organize work from home: 9 simple steps
alexander savina
Ability to work from home - in pajamas, according to a convenient schedule, without having to go to the office in a crowded transport twice a day - it seems to many people the ultimate dream. In practice, everything is not so rosy and work on the couch, alas, does not suit everyone: if you are surrounded by other people you have more motivation and you are more productive than alone, you may want to choose a traditional office. But even if you are sure that this is your option, the pitfalls cannot be avoided - we tell you how to get around them.
Set a clear schedule
Work from home does not always mean a smaller amount of work compared to the office - even though you do not spend time on the road. Most likely, you will have to set your own schedule in order to meet deadlines. The good news is that you don’t have to stick to the standard “nine to five” scheme: if you are more productive in the evening, nothing prevents you from starting at two or, for example, breaking the day into several blocks when you need to go somewhere. The main thing is to stick to the intended plan, and then it will be easier to get down to business.
Fight distractions
Fighting procrastination at home is more difficult than in the office: no one will see that you are actually watching a video on YouTube instead of a report. Nevertheless, there are working methods here: if you feel that some kind of occupation prevents you from being productive (for example, you put a movie or a series in the background, but you get distracted by the plot), then it’s time to give it up. Try to turn off social network notifications at least for a short period of time - surely it will go faster. In order to make sure that you have enough time to do everything, try to keep a to-do list.
Do not forget to communicate with colleagues and superiors
If you are not a freelancer working independently of others, but part of a team, you need to be aware of the company's affairs and understand how things are going with common projects. For those who work from home, it can be difficult: some of the questions to colleagues are quicker and more familiar to discuss out loud, and you can simply forget to tell you about some important announcements. In such a situation, the duty to monitor the situation partly falls on you: talk to your colleagues and bosses more often and find out how you are going in order not to fall out of the process.
Think over food
Another important point to think about if you decide to work from home is food. Anyone who has stayed at least once for a whole working day in his own apartment knows how likely it is to spend it with tea and cookies, or to constantly break away from business, to once again look into the refrigerator. Remember that at home you decide what kind of food you have on your plate - this also applies to basic meals and snacks.
To limit the number of approaches to the refrigerator, you can try to set an alarm or set reminders on your smartphone that it’s time to take a break (for lunch or a snack). This is better than eating right at the computer: you can eat more than you would like at work, and it’s harder to pay attention to the taste of food.
Another problem is to make time for lunch and cooking (do it right in the middle of the working day? And when to wash the dishes?). There is a way out: you can, for example, prepare lunches for the week ahead on weekends, or you can go out for lunch next to the house - just because you are not in the office does not mean that you cannot afford a break.
Avoid Isolation
Potential loneliness dares many people from working at home: the option when you can only talk to your own cat all day long is not for everyone. Even if it is comfortable for you to work alone, complete isolation is still to be avoided - otherwise there is a chance to cease to leave the apartment unnoticed. Do not forget to communicate with people outside of instant messengers and periodically go for walks to warm up and get some fresh air. For a change, you can try coworking or work in a cafe.
Organize your workspace
In order to quickly tune in to the working mode, experts advise to allocate a special zone. Just sitting on the couch with a laptop and a dog is not enough, but a separate surface is enough - the main thing is for you to feel that a new phase of the day begins when you rise from the table. “By defining a clear space, I draw the line between work and home. When I’m in my office, I don’t think about home. When I’m in the home zone, I don’t think about business,” says Virginia Ginsburg, owner of Swell Strategies business consulting and coaching.
For the same reason, those who work from home are often advised to change from their pajamas to working clothes. This, of course, does not mean that you must sit in a jacket at your computer - you can choose any one in which you will be comfortable.
Get familiar with household chores
Many people think that working from home will help them to do twice as much - to carry out work tasks, and at the same time to do business. But, most likely, everything will be the other way around: if you are trying to resolve a serious issue, household chores will only be distracting - at least because you cannot concentrate on one thing. Although, of course, you can try to find a balance - for example, think about a project while loading a washing machine, or take breaks for mechanical tasks. The main thing to remember is that during working hours, work must remain in priority - and that it’s impossible to do everything at once.
Ask everyone to leave you alone
If you’re not alone at home, the number of distractions only increases - remember the story of Professor Robert Kelly, who was interviewed by the BBC on the air, when his children unexpectedly ran into the office. In order not to find yourself in the same situation, try to draw clearer boundaries: yes, in fact you are at home, but this does not mean that relatives and neighbors can contact you on any non-urgent matter or that you can always stop for half an hour on the phone. Working hours are working hours, no matter where you are.
Do not work day and night
This item is particularly difficult given to those who, even leaving the office, can not stop checking work mail. Some experts believe that getting rid of workaholism for those who work at home is more difficult than defeating the lack of motivation. If this is your case, build clear boundaries - otherwise you may not notice how you sit at the table from ten in the morning until late at night. You can come up with a special ritual that will help you understand that the work is over, for example, to make a circle around the yard - to walk the dog or just walk.