In Australian cities like Melbourne, Perth etc., as a part of the social distancing practices due to the Covid-19 pandemic, more and more companies are urging, if not requiring, employees to work from home. However, there is no need to feel lonely, if you follow the right rules for collaborative telework. Understanding the basics of motivation and collaboration can help you to be a more productive employee. Sticking to the Working-at-Home Action Plan discussed below will give you the freedom to be the best possible employee and enjoy that freedom over time.
1. Enjoy Your Normal Routine:
There is a reason why you are at home working instead of in the office, and you must be aware of what that reason is. You are not working to be different than everyone else or to prove something to your team; you are working because we all are under a common umbrella. You are home to avoid contracting the virus and to continue working to help your company. To embrace that common agenda, you must be able to enjoy what you are doing. This means that you must enjoy your work and the way you do it. Once you can embrace that, you will be in the best position to progress your career and enjoy the time you have at home.
2. Make Sure You Get Quality Ergonomic Home-Office Furniture:
Sitting for long periods of time has been associated with several health concerns such as pain and discomfort in the lower limbs and raised blood pressure. This can lead to a negative impact on your productivity, with most professionals experiencing frequent neck, back, eye, and wrist pain. Melbourne renowned Prodigy office furniture unveiled that 64% of working-at-home staff were prescribed ergonomic chairs and desks by their physios due to frequent complaints of wrist and neck strains.
It is vital to make sure you have the perfect ergonomic environment in your home office to be able to stay productive all day long and in good health. Luckily, there is a wide array of ergonomic products available on the market today to meet your specific needs. The right desk and chair set will help you to sit comfortably, while maintaining the ideal body posture which will reduce strain on your muscles thus providing you with the energy and strength to focus and work through your tasks.
3. Communication Is the Key:
There is an old saying that goes, “You can quickly become irrelevant if you don’t communicate on a regular basis.” As a part of the team, you are expected to share your experiences with your colleagues and to report about the work you are doing. This can be beneficial for everyone involved as it will let the team members understand the progress of the project and reduce the amount of unnecessary questioning. This also gives you an opportunity to unwind and to focus on your daily responsibilities that do not directly relate to your job.
When you communicate with your team, you are encouraging groupthink and setting up an energy flow that will help you and your team to work faster and easier. Not only that, but you will gain respect from your colleagues if you show a willingness to invest in the team’s goals and to share your thoughts and experiences with them. Try to initiate meetings with your team members at least once a week. Start by checking email and returning calls if necessary. From there, you can do anything that helps you to be productive, designing a graphic, making notes, planning a meeting, editing documents, etc.
4. Physical Exercise Is Vital:
There is a psychological phenomenon associated with tiredness and laziness, which is called “decision fatigue.” It is described as the state in which making any more decisions becomes close to impossible. Physical exercise has proven to be a very efficient cure for “decision fatigue,” and it is highly recommended if you want to be productive at home. Remember, just getting up and moving around can be a chore, so set goals for yourself that require you to move more during the day. Going for a walk, wearing all the clothes you need to physically work towards a goal, or even doing official exercise at home. All the effort you put into this will help you to be more efficient and productive in your work and to be more productive, simply because you will have more stamina. Check out some great tips here.
5. Set Reasonable Goals:
Having a daily goal can be the key to success when it comes to working at home, but you will have to be realistic. Setting goals that are too hard to achieve is demotivating and can decrease your efficiency. On the other hand, having no goals and just assuming that you will find time to work is very risky as it can bring chaos into your schedule and make it difficult to stay on track. As a part of the team, you are expected to work on the project that is assigned to you by your supervisor. As the social distancing practice affects everyone, the amount of work your team has to do increases. That means that you will either have to work longer hours or to work faster in order to keep up with the schedule and all the other responsibilities you have in your daily work routine.
6. Devote Your Time Wisely:
Working at home can be very efficient and useful to you if you are a multi-tasker. If you have learned how to differentiate between your work tasks and your home life, you have an asset. You know how much time you can afford to spend working on your projects, overseeing your emails, and communicating with your colleagues on social networks and during phone calls. These activities can be very distracting during work, and you will only become more efficient if you learn to take care of business and dedicate your time to the most valuable tasks.
7. Take A Break:
Everybody gets exhausted from time to time and staying focused at home on your job is not any easier. You will have to take at least a few breaks during the day to rest and relax. Simple breaks are enough if you are working towards a big goal and you have a lot of enthusiasm for your work. However, you should never abuse your breaks. Try to keep these short and sweet and to avoid doing anything that taxes you mentally. Do not worry if you yourself will not like how you are getting your tasks done, as long as your clients are satisfied.
Conclusion:
There is a lot to be said about your career and your workplace, but the most important is that you will learn how to live more efficiently, how to be a better person, and how to enjoy your life. When you feel like you are in a good place in your life and are meeting your goals, you will gain the confidence that will motivate you to move faster. That is the key to success.
The main point to keep in mind is that you cannot take anything for granted. When you are at home, you do not have to worry about your appearance, your daily schedule, and the amount of work you must dedicate to your tasks. The meaning of home is to take care of business and to enjoy the benefits of time freedom. It is all about the freedom to be the best you can be and to compete with yourself to go further, faster, and in a better way.