With another lockdown announced for most of QLD you will probably find yourself working from home again.
While many of us will be used to working from home by now, it is still quite a significant change to how most people operate. To help, we have put together some tips for strata residents to get the most out of their remote working period.
Get Dressed
It might seem like a simple tip, but it’s a crucial one. It will be tempting to stay in your pyjamas all day, which will generally lead to a slower start and less productive day overall.
You don’t need to dress as formally as you might for work, but the simple act of changing clothes serves as a signal that it’s time to wake up and get things done.
Getting dressed also applies to other appearance-based tasks: Take a shower, brush your hair, even put on makeup if that’s what you’d usually do. You don’t need to go as all out as you would for the office if you don’t want to, but waking up and taking care of your appearance can go a long way toward helping you feel like you’re taking care of yourself.
Location
One of the big challenges when it comes to working remotely is keeping your work and home lives separate.
Make sure you have a dedicated home office location. Find an area with good natural lighting if at all possible.
Entering your workspace will help you turn “on” at the beginning of the day and get down to work. On the flipside, leaving your workspace will also help you turn “off” at the end of the day and fully disengage.
This will ensure you’re ready to work in the morning and can leave it behind at the end of the day.
Working Hours and Breaks
Keep a clock nearby and set boundaries. You still need to take regular breaks, eat lunch and stretch.
Just as you designate and separate your physical workspace, you should be clear about when you’re working and when you’re not.
You’ll get your best work done and be most ready to transition back to the office if you stick with your regular hours. Plus, if your role is collaborative, being on the same schedule as your co-workers makes everything much easier.
If you live with other people, this separation is even more critical. Communicate with the people you live with to establish boundaries so you can cut down on distractions during the workday—and then disconnect and give the people you care about your full attention.
Having a separate time and space to work will allow you to be more present in your home life.
Develop a Morning Routine
Another enjoyable perk of working from home is not having to get up, rush out of the house, and commute to an office.
However, working from home doesn’t mean you get to skip your morning routine altogether. Since you’ll likely be cooped up indoors, take a brief walk around the block to take in the fresh air.
Get up early, take a shower, make your coffee and breakfast, and prepare your lunch, just like you have to leave the house.
Remember to Eat
Remember to eat properly. This takes planning if you’re not going to find yourself dipping into the biscuit tin.
Usually we don’t do much planning when it comes to our meals at the office. We have canteens or we’re near to some shops but working from home can disrupt the most considerately stocked larder.
Comfort
Make sure your workplace is comfortable and fit for purpose.
You may need to invest in a second monitor, an office chair, laptop stand or wireless mouse to achieve it.
Distractions
Distraction is one of the big challenges facing people who work from home—especially people who aren’t used to it.
Right now, one of the biggest distractions is the news. And if you’re working remotely because of the new coronavirus, checking in on COVID-19 updates is going to be at the front of your mind. It’s good to stay informed, of course, but it’s also easy to scroll yourself into an anxious mess.
Set timers for any breaks you take. You don’t want to get too immersed and forget that you’re at work altogether. If you’re someone who’s susceptible to getting distracted every time you get a news alert, turn your notifications off during the workday, too. The news will still be there after 5 PM.
Remember to Work!
Working from home isn’t an opportunity for friends to come round. You don’t have the time to run errands during the day that you wouldn’t be able to do normally.
Some experts suggest working in short bursts in order to maintain your sanity, this means regular breaks but it requires working too.
Video Meetings
Schedule lots of face-to-face meetings using video services. These will give you social contact, ensure you’re kept in the loop, and encourage you to put on work attire.
Keep in contact with your managers, and ask them to keep in contact with you. Make sure there are lines of communication open to all your colleagues.
Internet/Software
Boost your home’s wireless internet. Even if you have decent broadband service, you may need to make sure the signal to your office/working space Is strong. Use wi-fi boosters if you need to.
If you need access to your company’s intranet, figure out how to access it securely. External connections in without security precautions could mean that hackers go unnoticed too.
Use a VPN whenever you’re connected to a network that you don’t control. That includes Wi-Fi at co-working spaces, cafes, libraries, and airports. Some organisations have their own VPNs that off-site employees need for accessing certain servers or websites that store information meant only for internal use.
If there are software packages on your work terminal then you’ll need to see if you can access them at home or if you will need to find some way to do without them.
Children/Family
If you are home all day, every day, then your family might interrupt you without knowing better.
If you have children then you will need to realise that you cannot both parent and work at the same time.
Working from home is not a cheap alternative to getting a babysitter, you simply won’t manage to get any work done.
It’s best to set some clear boundaries with your family while you work. It’s not being mean if it results in better performance at work.
Set and stick to specific work hours and communicate those hours clearly with your family and friends.
Autor: Sam Aubrey
