Tips to ace work from home

With continuous extension of lock down and very less signs of companies allowing employees to work from office, work from home is becoming / has become the new norm.

As a professional working from home since last 8 years and been successful in delivering and meeting my targets very well, here are a few tips I want to share to be more productive and focused.

1. Opt a place at your home for your work: This place may be your extra bedroom or a hall or any room where you are not disturbed from your family members or pets while doing work. Ensure you have enough light and air flow.
2. Design the schedule: Use a planner to carry out the work. List down the work to be done, webinars or conference calls to be attended. Plan and prioritize as you do the work while at office.
3. Take multiple breaks: Stretch regularly and take breaks in between to refresh. Take breaks for every hour to avoid boredom. Do your breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner as usual and on time. Keep alarm for the same. At the same time, avoid too many breaks as it might distract your work.
4. Exercise at regular intervals: Sitting at desk continuously at work without stretching or desk exercises will be causing discomfort and add to health issues. Taking time to exercise will increase flexibility, helps to be focused and avoids burn out. Practice simple desk exercise - Eye Exercises, stretching exercises, neck exercises and etc.
5. Technology: Invest in good technology – Phone, ear phones, webcam, internet connection and software related to Video calls for better clarity and utmost productivity. Use only professional communication tools. Test these on a daily purpose to ensure continuity of work.
6. Furniture: Get furniture which are comfortable to carry out work without any hassle. Ensure the accessories can be placed on the furniture you use. Ensure you can carry work with the furniture very comfortably.
7. Avoid long hours of working: Ensure you set a time for work and avoid working long hours. Working long hours might hamper your productivity and high chances of you burning out.
8. Usage of social media: Avoid using social media while working. Keep timings to check in social media. Advised is after lunch time or before closing the work for the day. Social media might distract your work unless someone’s job is digital marketer or job related to social media.
9. Usage of personal e-mail: Avoid using personal e-mails for transmission of any office related documents or matters. This would be a security breach of your company policy. Avoid checking your personal mails during your office work hours. Set a time for the same.
10. Managing Expectation of others: Manage the expectations of others while work from home. Declare your work from home hours to your family members, friends, colleagues and reporting manager. This would allow you to focus on work, higher productivity and also others planning their schedules accordingly. Spend and give enough time to each of them.
11. Connect with your fellow colleagues: Connect with your fellow colleagues over a voice or a video call to check about any status of work or to discuss work related matters and based on necessity.
12. Security Risks: Ensure you understand the policy of your company on work from home. Take higher measures of security while transferring data or sending documents or storing information on your personal laptop or desktop. Ensure others do not have access to your laptop or desktop using for office related to work.