What do Google, Microsoft, Twitter. Hitachi, Apple, Amazon. Chevron, Salesforce, Spotify, have in common? Well, other than being giants in their industries, they have all implemented work-from-home strategies during the crisis that is Covid-19 or the coronavirus outbreak. It is also a realistic idea that remote work or work-from-home solutions will be adopted on a more permanent basis for some companies, especially when we consider the technology available to us.Â
If you will be working from home during this time, it can be difficult to know exactly how to make it successful. You might be working from home for the first time in your career, which can be tricky to manage in an environment that is not very conducive to productivity. But, there are ways in which you can still deliver results and stay on-task, without going stir-crazy while sitting in your home office. Below we give some top tips for working from home due to Covid-19.Â
Keep Communicating
One of the major downfalls that many companies face while working from home is that communication often falls to the wayside. This is despite the fact that we have ample applications and software programs which allow us to communicate remotely.Â
You can use applications such as Google Hangouts, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Skype to ensure you and your teams maintain regular contact throughout the working day. You will need to be sure to set up guidelines for this communication, such as having a ten-minute conference call with the team each morning to catch up on work. Also ensure that everyone knows when to stop communicating – working hours should remain the same regardless of where you are working from.Â
Stick To Your Routine
Working from home might sound like the perfect time to ditch your rigid working day routine and lounge around in your pajamas all day (and who of us has not done this?) but you should ideally continue your daily routine as per usual. If you wake up and go to gym, you can still do this by altering your gym routine to better suit a home environment.Â
Some might have a work routine of starting the day early and finishing up all administrative work, and you should continue this instead of sleeping in. Working from home does not need to disrupt your routine and can, in fact, help you to strengthen it. By maintaining your working day routine, you will be able to maintain your productivity levels and still deliver high-quality work. Remember to take a break from the screen, however, to avoid fatigue.Â
Set Up A Workstation
Having a comfortable place to sit and work while working from home will help to ensure that you feel as though you are still in the office, ready to work and meet deadlines. Your workstation should be in a comfortable area of your home where you will not be disturbed too much. Keep this space professional and you will be able to easily slip into “work mode†from the comfort of your own home.Â
If you do not have your own computer or laptop, speak to your superiors about this and ask if your office can provide one. Not having access to a laptop, computer, or internet will make it extremely difficult for you to work properly and productively. You could try to replicate your office environment to help you feel more inclined to work as hard as you do in the office.Â
Maintain Your Schedule
Many project managers are panicking because they are not sure whether or not work can continue as normal while people are not physically in the office, but this could not be further from the truth. If you set up and maintain a strict schedule when working from home, you will be able to plan your work faster and more efficiently.Â
You should try to maintain your original schedule when working from home, but if this is not possible, create one that allows you the same productivity levels. You can print out your schedule and keep it on your desk or pin it to your wall so it is always easy to see and follow. Be sure to update your project manager about any changes to your schedule, such as having to fetch or look after children and pets.Â
Stay Social
Working from home can feel very isolating, especially for those who might be used to working in a bustling office filled with friendly co-workers. In order to not feel isolated and become depressed, set up a group chat where you can check in with your coworkers, share jokes, and make sure nobody is feeling too isolated. However, make sure that not too much time is being spent sending funny jokes and messages.Â
If you are working from home but still want to be sure that your business is performing as it should, contact NetMechanic today to find out what we can do for you.Â
