5 Tips On Working From Home

As a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many individuals are working from home. You've stocked up on food, water and, of course, toilet paper. But now, your employer is expecting you to get some work done as the company's production has decreased.

Whether you are the manager attempting to rally your team or an individual striving to contribute your share, working from home comes with it's own set of adjustments. And for those working from home for the first time, you may not be prepared for optimum productivity attending your first conference call in your pajamas.

As someone who has done his fair share of working from home, I'm sharing five tips on how to have a successful day in the confines of the world's shortest commute. Welcome home, and welcome to work! But let's move on to my list before you turn on the TV.

1. You MUST have a work station. It is optimal to have a desk. But for those without, your kitchen table or countertop will do just fine. The key to having a productive work station is it must be clean of distractions. It doesn't matter if it's your daily mail or a magazine, it all has to go. Give yourself a dedicated area in your home to work just like you have in your office. And, most important, make sure it's clean. A dirty work station is a distraction. Clean your work area and wash your hands!
2. You MUST set-up boundaries for anyone living in your home. Whether you live with a significant other, kids or a roommate, you must establish your working quarters as a barrier to the rest of the household. If there is someone not respecting your workspace, they will periodically cease your productivity. While it may be impossible to manage your day without any interruptions, it is your responsibility to establish these barricades. If you don't, your work time will not be respected.
3. You MUST book your calendar with set times for all of your daily activities. It doesn't matter that you are no longer going into an office, you NEED a routine. Set your same alarm to shower and report to your work station early for the start of your day. Use the minutes gained from your lack of commute to strategically plan your calendar. And then stick to each event. Don't forget to schedule time for lunch. Open ended events are the biggest downfall when working at home. Nothing derails your day more than starting and stopping your work flow. Don't fall into this trap as you stick a rigid schedule.
4. You Must not adjust your business hours. Your personal network will attempt to alter your work day. And if you let them do it, you will set the precedent that it is acceptable to do so. Do NOT fall into this trap of ending your day early or starting late. The only way for you to work a full day from home is to work the entire day.
5. Alter your home routine when needed! No matter how great your at home set-up is, working from home can cause anyone to become restless. Simply moving from your desk to your patio is often all that is necessary to spark your energy for the afternoon. Other times, you may need to work at a local coffee shop to push your progress. Regardless of how you shake things up, recognize the monotony or working from home requires creativity to keep your mind sharp and your progress moving forward. If you are dedicated to your success and cognizant of your environment, you may find working from home to be more efficient than your days where went into the office.

If you'd like to use the time saved from your commute to expand your professional career, click on the image above to purchase one of my books on sales or leadership. As always, I encourage readers to reach out direct whether you are in the office or working from home. I look forward to hearing from you!