Like most employees across the country, you may be working from home for the first time. Transitioning to a home-based office can feel overwhelming. To help make the transition easier, we pulled together information from the most credible resources. In their article How To Succeed At Working From Home, Forbes sites several pro tips for working at home. A few examples are listed below, along with suggestions for how you can apply them when working at home due to the Coronavirus pandemic:
- Get organized. This transition to working at home has happened suddenly, and you may feel lost and unprepared at first. Taking the time to get yourself set up for success will be time well spent. If you are using video conferencing software or other remote telework tools for the first time, familiarize yourself with them. Make sure your contact information for co-workers is up-to-date. Set up the supplies you use often and keep them within reach. Determine how you will protect patient privacy and any client personal health information you have in documents.
- Create a separate workspace. Not everyone has a spare room to dedicate to work, but designating a space in your home that is only for your work—even a kitchen table or a corner of a living room or bedroom—will help set a boundary between work and leisure. Make your workspace as comfortable as possible; for example, if you sit for a long period of time, find a comfortable chair. Put your work away at the end of your workday, and secure any private information.
- Plan your day. As much as possible, set a workday routine. Get dressed and ready for work as if you were going to the office. Outline what you hope to accomplish each day. Plan when you will take breaks and when you will end your workday, and communicate this plan with your manager and the people you live with. Traditional working hours may be difficult for many, as schools are closed and working parents are juggling priorities.
- Avoid home distractions. Distractions at home might be different than those in the office, but the same strategies you use to manage office distractions can work at home. As in the office, take short breaks throughout the day. Use these breaks to check news headlines, throw in a load of laundry or take care of a quick task. If you are distracted easily, set timers for the start and end of your breaks to help keep you on task.
- Stay connected via email, chat, text and video conferencing. Communicating with co-workers can be one of the biggest challenges with working remotely. Communicate frequently with your co-workers, especially with your manager and your direct reports. Some managers may want to consider morning conference calls to kick off each day and touch base with the team. This is a new situation for you and your co-workers, and there will be bumps along the way. Reach out for help when you need it.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Exercise, sleep and a healthy diet are key to your physical health and strong immune system and your mental well-being. Can you go for a jog or walk around the block? Do an in-home workout? Social interaction is also important to help you feel less lonely. You may not be able to see them in person but talk with your co-workers. Set aside some time to catch up; for example, schedule some time to chat over lunch.
If you would like additional resources to help you transition to a successful home-based office, check out these articles:
How to Work From Home: 20 Tips From People Who Do It Successfully
