7 MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN STARTING TO WORK FROM HOME

It’s been a year since COVID-19 has us social distancing and working from home. A new reality that we had to accept whether we like it or not. Working from home sounds like a good idea but it turns out it is much more complicated than you could imagine. Whether you are working from home for a large company or you are self-employed, you have to be productive.

Multiple breaks

That's it, you are at home. If you have never worked from home, you are not used to having all this freedom on your own. Be careful, because your productivity can drop if you are not working as hard as you should be. Just because you are at home, it doesn't mean you can have a coffee/tea break or take a nap several times a day. All these breaks are your productivity killers. Avoid them.

Overworking

Problems with numerous breaks a day may lead you to schedule problems. You can find yourself in a situation where your day starts at 9 am and finishes at 9 pm. Be productive and keep an eye on the time! Don't work more than you would during a typical day in the office. When you are done, have time for yourself, enjoy your personal life. Forget about emails, it can wait until tomorrow.

Procrastinating

Procrastinating is one of the most common mistakes when we start working from home. Forget about your mobile phone and social media. You will lose a lot of time by constant checking social media. You will not even realise how fast time passes. Stay focused to avoid all the deadlines that are coming.

No dress code

Working from home doesn't mean strict business attire but it also doesn't mean that you can spend all day wearing a pyjama, even if no one sees you. It may also cause you problems if someone calls you for a video chat. You should look professional. Make it a habit to get up at the same time every day, to take a shower and to get dressed for your day as if you are going to the office.

No workspace

It is very important to have a dedicated and quiet workspace. Even if you are at home, now it is your home office and you should work. It can be very tempting to take the laptop and work on the sofa with the TV on, but it is not productive. Find at home a place that can become your proper home office. It will allow you to separate the distractions and focus on your work.

Isolation

Working in the office you have conversations with your colleagues, you take your car or public transport to get there, you leave the house. But now, it is not the same. Working from home you may realize you haven't left the house in a week. Go for a walk during your break, get some fresh air, do some exercises. It will help you to be more productive.

No weekend

When your home becomes your office, you can find yourself in a situation where you work all the time. But it is not right. The weekend still exists.

Working from home is not a piece of cake. There are some advantages and disadvantages. But it is still possible if you stop making these mistakes.

What other mistakes are possible while working from home?