The COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic has forced many people to work home. If you’re new to working remotely, these tips from pcmag.com can help you stay productive and maintain balance.
1. Maintain Regular Hours
Recommended Videos
Set a schedule and stick to it. Having clear guidelines for when to work and when to call it a day helps many remote workers maintain work-life balance.
2. Create a Morning Routine
Deciding you’ll sit down at your desk and start work at a certain time is one thing. Creating a routine that guides you into the chair is another. What in your morning routine indicates you’re about to start work? It might be making a cup of coffee. It might be returning home after a jog. It might be getting dressed.
3. Set Ground Rules With the People in Your Space
Set ground rules with other people in your home or who share your space for when you work. You may have children who are at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they need to be clear about the rules about what they can and cannot do during that time.
4. Schedule Breaks
Know your company’s policy on break times and take them. Make sure to give yourself adequate time during the day to walk away from the computer screen and phone. Don’t short-change yourself during breaks, especially your lunch hour.
5. Leave Home
You don’t have to eat out, but try to leave your home or work space regularly. The same advice applies to people who work in traditional office settings, too. Leave the building at least once a day. Your body needs to move. Plus the fresh air and natural light will do you good.
6. Overcommunicate
Working remotely requires you to overcommunicate. Tell everyone who needs to know about your schedule and availability often. When you finish a project or important task, say so.
7. Don’t Hesitate to Ask for What You Need
If you’re employed by a company or organization that supports your work-from-home setup, request the equipment you need as soon as you start working from home, or within a day or two when you realize you need something new.