How to improve the Work From Home experience

• Create "your" workspace. If you can find a room in your home or even just a private space that you can call "your office," do it! This is important to help you (1) get organized, and (2) separate your work life from your home life. This allows you to "leave work" at the end of the day and set boundaries for others to know when you are working.
• Add personal touches. You are going to spend a lot of time in your office space, so make it cozy and make it something that supports both your creativity and your productivity. 
• Set daily goals or write task lists. Setting goals is always a best practice, but especially so when you do not have work colleagues around you to suggest a meeting, or to start a discussion on or to check on your progress with a project. 

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• Take breaks, and stand up. Walk away from your desk and office during the day. It is easy to go through your workday without any breaks because you are alone and don't have others to talk to or go out with. 
• Try to maintain the working hours. Because you are at home, it is easy to go back to the office after dinner and work to finish this or that. You are responsible for your work-life balance. 
• Communicate, communicate, communicate. Working remote means you will not run into a colleague in the office kitchen or hallway and have that casual "chat" that will help you learn about something you didn't even know was going on or uncovered details about something you were trying to get an update on.
• Use your video camera. If you have the technology to join a meeting with video, I strongly recommend this as a best practice. With audio-only, it is very easy to feel disconnected and even confused, especially in meetings with multiple attendees. It is also tempting to multitask, and you will lose the connection and the active participation that should be taking place.

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Ask questions, and don't assume. Because all communication is now happening virtually and not face-to-face, you will often miss immediate reactions. Also, your words, tone, and message may be read by others in different ways—ways you did not intend. Learning to ask clarifying questions is a must. If you are confused, ask for clarification soon and as often as needed.

This article appeared first in https://er.educause.edu/

By Ana Borray

Now it’s time to hear from you.

Any new advice for improving the WFH experience?