With the outbreak of COVID-19, many employees have been getting a crash course in working from home for more than three weeks (as of 4/6/20). While the noise level is lower than in an open-concept office, you are no longer bothered by “spontaneous” questions from colleagues, and the A/C or heater can be set exactly how you like it, there are other distractions lurking. Suddenly the mountain of laundry is a nuisance, the windows haven’t been cleaned for a long time, and it could be time to dust again. Instead of colleagues, now your partner has “just a quick” question for you, cluelessly bursts into the room when you’re on a conference call, and the school- and daycare-exempt children want to be permanently entertained. It is not so easy to concentrate on the daily workload. We know how you feel, so we’ve put together 7 tips to help you significantly improve your productivity when working from home.
You spend most of your day in your workspace, making it all the more important to set it up properly. Sure, not everyone has a dedicated study in their home, but at the very least, you should try to create a work corner dedicated only to professional matters. It is important to strictly separate work and private life so that you can work more productively during the day and better “turn-off” work in the evening. Also, even if you are sitting comfortably in bed or on the couch, you should pay attention to your sitting position – your back will thank you.
Admittedly, the idea of working at home in pajamas has always been somewhat tempting. But no one daydreaming about working in their pajamas could have imagined that COVID-19 would have us all working from home for more than three weeks. Instead of having a relaxing time working in our pajamas, we’re actually battling our own laziness. 👔 Our tip for this: Dress every day as if you were going to the office as usual. This way you can maintain your daily work routine and motivate yourself to switch into “work mode” more easily. (Still, there’s nothing wrong with a comfy pair of sweatpants on Friday.)
Take a look at your work infrastructure: How many devices do you need? Is a laptop enough for you? If you need space for a phone, an extra keyboard, a monitor, and a mouse, do you have a desk that’s big enough? Those who print a lot should also find space for a printer nearby. The better your workspace is organized, the more productive you will be. 🎧 For those with noisy neighbors, noise-canceling headphones can be a lifesaver.
It’s important to maintain a good work–life balance, even when working from home. Whether you have core working hours or flexible working hours – even when you are at home – the body needs a healthy balance of work and leisure. Tip: Make a note of your start time in the morning and take short breaks. (Even if you can’t catch up on the latest gossip at the office water cooler.) This is the only way to maintain high productivity when working from home over several weeks or months.
Communication is more important than ever nowadays, so you should always let your colleagues know when you are available in the morning, when you are on a break, and when you’re done with work for the day. This allows you and your colleagues to work together effectively and not wonder why employees aren’t responding or why orders are delayed. ☝🏻 Trust is good, just like transparency.
Show each other (via video chat) your home office – this way, you not only get to know each other better personally, but also give your team/colleagues an idea of your work setup and who or what should be taken into consideration. Maybe your colleagues will even have some practical ideas and tips on how you can optimize your workspace and increase your productivity.
Clever programs and smart software can help you collaborate with your colleagues when working from home. We’re not only talking about COYO’s Social Intranet and the employee app COYO Engage, but also about list apps like Wunderlist (or To Do), or project management tools like Asana. These digital tools make it much easier to manage your tasks, set and meet deadlines, and set priorities. 🚀#Productivityboost