It’s no secret that many of us are working from home as a result of these unprecedented times. Now whether you prefer this way of working or not – the reality is it might be like this way for a while and perhaps become a regular part of some organizations routines when things do eventually return to ‘normal’. Other than the obvious, a strong wifi connection – what else can you do to make your work from home routine work for you?
Ergonomic Workspace
A functional and dedicated workspace is key for productivity at home. If you can, try to allocate an area of your home only for work use. Working at a desk or table with a functional chair is crucial; the worst thing we can do is work from our beds or couch. It’s important to position yourself correctly with arms and back in with a proper 90-degree posture at your desk, with elbows aligned to the chair. You want to ensure you’re not overarching your back and leaning into your workspace. To help facilitate this try using one or multiple monitors, and refrain from utilizing your laptop directly. Having a separate mouse and keyboard will help keep your back straight and reduce strain on eyes as well. Lastly, make sure your screen is at least a forearms length away from your body, this ensures you are not putting excessive strain on your neck either pulling forward or back.
Keep an Open Line of Communication
Although you are not in person, it doesn’t mean that the communication between your colleagues must suffer in the process. Utilize tools such as Skype, Google Hangouts or Zoom. Video conferencing apps are having a moment, and its obvious why. They allow you to engage with others through the comfort your home whether it be sharing project files, ideas or providing recommendations.
Be available and constructive in your conversations, it’s easy to veer off topic but it’s important to remember everyone is in the same boat so don’t be afraid to have that water cooler chat albeit virtually
Take Breaks, Prioritize Your Health
Working from home we can often forget to take the necessary breaks as we did in a normal office setting. Therefore it’s important to schedule in 10-15 minutes of increments of breaks within your calendar. This forces you to get up from your chair, walk around, stretch and perhaps even get a cup of joe.
There is an incredible amount of autonomy in the current work setting, and even though we stay contact with our team to collaborate, we are still faced with an increased number of decisions that need to be made individually – which can prove to be overwhelming or stressful.
Taking breaks will help avoid the feeling of mental and physical burnout – that can potentially occur. On a larger scale, studies have indicated that employees who take regular breaks and in large part more satisfied with their employer, and the company shows a shorter rate of turnover.
Set Up Work and Social Boundaries
Establishing daily work hours is one of the most important things you can do for yourself in order to maintain a distinct balance between home and work. Obviously if you have children or other responsibilities to take care of this will factor in. Ideally, creating one start time and end time to your workday will be key. This will ensure you don’t develop the habit of checking emails on your phone non-stop or remain at your desk for long hours. If you work with a company in which non-traditional hours are required, speak with your manager on how to set a healthy balance.
Avoid Distractions
The obvious distractions can be smart phones, social media, easy access to a T.V. can prove to be more of a distraction than in your previous work setting. It’s crucial to limit your time and remember it’s very easy getting caught up in the next Buzzfeed quiz, of “Which Kardhasian are you?” thus making boundaries all the more necessary. However, don’t be fooled as distractions aren’t just limited to your device. Another important thing to consider is where you are situated, which means observing where your desk is facing and what exactly within your immediate environment could pose as a possible distraction. This could be facing a desk with a noisy street or having the kitchen a little too close by.
Evaluating all these potential distractors can help you significantly with your productivity. This helps you strike a balance between a healthy work and personal life. Remember to use your time wisely and disengage where needed.
Adjusting to a ‘new normal’ with limited notice won’t necessarily bode well for everybody as each person is different. Therefore, by taking the time to see what works for you can aid with productivity. These tips encourage you to adapt and stick with a routine, without sacrificing your mental and physical health.
Guest blog by Gia Gill. Gia is an experienced marketing communications professional based in Toronto.