There has been a sweet-bitter change in our lives called Work From Home (WFH). Those who have been fortunate enough to dodge all the bad things so far in this COVID-19 situation have found themselves adjusting to this new working environment. It seems both strange as well as familiar at the same time. There were times when we used to get work-from-home assignments like it was asking for a leave. Now that we have plenty of it, we can see the real struggle. The client with changing requirements, colleagues in noise team meetings, and your child who needs guidance through homeschooling assignments have no boundaries whatsoever. These are the few things that can be totally disorienting and really tiresome.
This seeming problem with a little training and practice can be transformed into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. An opportunity to re-evaluate your priorities and sit back and think of the things you have accomplished. Based on that, you can orient your efforts in new directions and invest in relationships like never before. In the subsequent part of this article, we will explore the opportunities offered when working from home. Keeping our well-being as well as productivity in mind.
Working from home: Pros and Cons
For most people, work from home is a new concept because of the Covid situation. Others are more seasoned when it comes to remote9 working. You like it or not, work from home is here to stay, and it will play a huge role in our lives. Not just your life, it also impacts the lives of people who rely on you.
Working from home is a saver for spending crazy hours traveling in the metro to work. You get that much-needed quality time with your partner and kids to take your relationship to another level. You are better connected and positive, and you can work productively without compromising on your household responsibilities.
Although, it has its flip side. Some challenges can potentially act as an impediment to working smoothly. As a manager, it becomes difficult to manage a team remotely, and there is always some apprehension if your employees are actually able to work. Meanwhile, some employees feel lost or isolated. This switch has also impacted the existing team dynamics and mental health. Therefore, it is indispensable to make a safe environment where employees can contact other co-workers and cultivate a sense of belonging.
Creating a work healthy environment at home
It is important to creating a healthy working environment at home. It could be unlike your actual workplace, but ensure that it is free of all the distractions and should motivate you. Also, it is not just the physical environment. You also have to take care of your physical and mental well-being. Ensure that it should be in such a way that you enjoy working and spending time there. However, it is essential to have clear boundaries with your family members or others (with whom you may be sharing the place) while you are working.
Have a work-only zone
It is essential to choose an ambient work-exclusive zone at your place. Contrary to popular belief, your home can be a lot more distracting than working from your office since no colleagues or bosses can motivate you to work constantly. You have more things to distract you in the comfort of your room than the range of things you could do in your office.
Working from a clutter-free space in your home can be a lot more beneficial. It could be any space, your home office, a desk, or a separate apartment building lobby. Make sure the space you are using is not the same, probably where you have your play station attached or the couch you use to binge-watch sitcoms. Rather, choose a spot where you are productive and keep that space a bit separate so that you can unplug from work when you are done.
Always have a schedule
We have established that working from home can be really stressful and has its own challenges. It can seriously impact your physical and mental well-being. Therefore it is good to have a routine in place to not lapse into some luring unhealthy behavior.
Flexibility, which is a major selling point of working remotely. That, too, has its offside. The flexibility to work from home can sometimes be the reason for your stress. It sometimes feels like you need to be available and be online all the time. This can be even more distressing if you are working on a different schedule than your team. Therefore, having a schedule will take you a long way. It will let your colleagues know exactly when they can and can not reach you and gives you the space to plan things outside work. If the work still comes up outside your scheduled working hours, it could be a clear indication for you to review your work time and tweak it accordingly.
Get ready the same way you do when you’re going to the office
Another plus side of working from remote locations is that you do not have to think about your commute to work and nor you have to rush the same way you do when you work in the office, instead of dedicating the time that you used to in traveling, get ready for the day like you normally would. That way, you will prepare yourself mentally for work and be productive. Otherwise, when you aren’t on your work desk, you are less tempted to take it easy by doing everything but the work you are required to.
Eat proper lunch and never forget to take a walk
Personally, for me, the kitchen is the biggest impediment that keeps me from working for long hours. I tend to feel hungry all the time and end up being in the kitchen in no time. So, take those 30 minutes, have proper lunch the same you do at work. This way, you will nourish yourself and recharge for the rest of your afternoon.
Try taking a short walk to maybe in the nearest park and take a little Vitamin D dosage that nature has to offer. No matter wherever you go, you will eventually energized and ready to tackle the rest of your to-do list when you return to your desk.
Stay Connected
There is nothing more important than proper communication between team members when working remotely. It enables you to stay in touch, informed, and entertained. There are multiple online tools in place that can connect you with anyone. You can use messenger technology like Whatsapp, video conferencing like Zoom, and other workflow management systems. Use these tools to keep everyone informed with real-time updates. Most importantly, it helps you withhold the three most important pillars of a good corporate culture- Transparency, Openness, and Trust.
Make sure you do not limit the communication to just the serious stuff. It is important to give people the scope to communicate outside work. You can have a WhatsApp group for casual discussion or ‘Water cooler chat and even have spaces virtual spaces where people can share memes and jokes.
Be Proactive
We more often than not take the small things around us (in normal circumstances) for granted. The biggest example being communication. We don’t realize how valuable it is to have your team members and colleagues physically present in front of you. Just remember, whenever working from home, it is imperative to be proactive in having all communication channels wide open. You help people in your team feel warmth, bring them closer, and ensure that no one is left isolated.
If you are a leader, you must communicate as much as you can, with utmost transparency to encourage accountability and engagement. Also, a seemingly small gesture takes you a long way. That could be checking on your team first thing in the morning, which can create a tremendous difference on the ground.
Focus on Daily Huddles
Since everyone is working from far off and there are higher chances of people being on different pages, daily huddles are important. Scheduling daily huddles, maybe the first thing in the morning, allows you and your team to synchronize the work and set priority. It enables you and other team members to focus on things with synergy and get it done. Ensure that huddle meeting happen consistently, especially in uncertain times, and it is imperative to have a process in place that helps keep people focussed and on the same page.
You may use this time in creative ways. It can also be leveraged to build connections with people in and outside your team. Small things like ensuring everyone is in good shape and has a sound personal life. When a team feels connected, they are likelier to collaborate better.
Utilising the Video calls
There is nothing better than meeting your team in person as far as productivity is concerned. Know that video calls are the best alternative, providing a platform to see face-to-face virtually. If you are used to seeing people daily, there are chances you will feel isolated. Even experts suggest staying in contact with colleagues throughout the day by using video chat. It is essential that you explicitly mention video chat in your meeting invites, so that team members are not taken by surprise or are unprepared.
Staying Focussed
You can use the Pomodoro technique to focus on something and without getting distracted. The technique typically uses a timer to keep track of time and break the time into several intervals (traditionally 25 minutes in length). Each of the intervals, separated by brief breaks (of typically 3-5 minutes).
It improves productivity by ruling out the scope of distractions and helping the practitioners focus better. Most of the users break down the total time into intervals, followed by a break. These sessions rotate regularly, and after some time, the user can take a more extended break (usually 30 minutes).
Building a structure
Crafting the steps is a significant part of the process, especially when working from home. You have to ensure that the steps you are adding help you accomplish the desired set result. Often, even remarkable hard work does not fetch the right result if the steps followed were not crafted with utmost care. It is like setting the route of the ship before it starts to sail. Even if all the care in the world was taken to follow the route and navigate the sea, if the checklist itself is “off,” the final task results will also be off.
Securely working from home
If your job role entails working with the organization’s data and system, ensure that you take all the best measures and comply with standard security protocols. Ensure that you are using the secured password-protected wifi network when working. Also, ensure that you have a strong password in place and use Virtual Private Network (VPN).
When creating a back-up, do not transfer sensitive data to removable storage devices like pen-drive or external hard disk. These devices can potentially transfer viruses and malware. Also, there is a constant threat of losing data.
Lock your computer when it is unattended, even if you will have a glass of water in the water cooler. You can put your device settings on automatic sleep if it is not used for a specific time. Although your partner and family members are not going to have ill intentions, they still, for the sake of your integrity, should not be allowed to view confidential data. Some random stroke on the keyboard by your child or a pet can cause serious problems.