HOW TO SURVIVE - Work From Home

Off to work? In the current scenario it means rolling out of the bed, sauntering towards your laptop and firing it up.

If you don't live under a rock then you must be aware that due to the spreading of the novel virus, major cities look like ghost towns with empty streets, offices, stores. Lockdown and quarantine is the standard response to avoid catching or transmitting the virus.
This results in demand for home based workforce getting the job done while being connected through computer networks.

Working from home can be highly productive for both employers and employees and with video chats, conference calls, VPN networks and wireless internet, we can constantly stay connected as though we are working from office.

As of now it is realistic to assume that shifting to the "Home Office" is the new normal for many of us for a while especially as coronavirus has reached its pandemic status. Home based work comes with its own distractions in the form of other people who live with you, pets (if any), household chores,etc. Also the lack of proper office space, constant supervision, prioritized schedule, it is easy to get distracted and get very little done.

Also for some people it's difficult to work or perform efficiently without supervision. It may lead to feelings of isolation. Loneliness can make people feel less motivated and less productive. And for some the situation can be exact opposite as when you live in your office, it's easy to overwork.
But doing too much at home can be as problematic as doing too little. A balance needs to be maintained otherwise the work life may bleed into your home life, physically and mentally.

Well remote working is not all sunshine and daisies, So here are a few ideas or practices to make the most of  this situation. Let's grab a snack & dive-in:

- Create a Workplace
If you want to stay on track and get things done, you need to have a place of work so instead of lying on your bed with a laptop, try to create a proper space for yourself to be more productive. Whether it's a separate room, a fully stocked desk, or a clean part of your kitchen table for your laptop with a comfortable chair - these can relay a message to your brain that you need to work productively and avoid distractions. It is important to be comfortable, as if you are not comfortable you are likely to find excuses to get up and go somewhere else.

- When you're working, Act like it
Dressing for work helps to set the right mental note plus it avoids the awkwardness of being dialed into a virtual meeting while you're still in your pyjamas. So, take a shower and get dressed, treat it like a job. It also involves giving yourself some time to have coffee/breakfast before checking in rather than waking up at 7:59 to check in at 8 a.m.

- Need for Routine
Some people are night owls and work better late, similarly some are morning people who like to get things done early. It doesn't matter what you prefer, what matters is that you have a routine and you follow it to get your work done. As it is said - Humans are a creature of Habit and Routine helps us both mentally and physically in achieving our goals. One just needs to make sure that your daily routine shouldn't affect your communication between your teammates.

- Manage your Time
It is easy to procrastinate while you are working from home, effective time management will help in prioritizing key tasks and a to do list can help in aloting time required to perform each task and once completed the pleasure of crossing tasks off your list can help you stay motivated. To keep your brain on work mode, you need to avoid doing non work tasks during your work time. For Eg: Schedule a separate time to do laundry or to cook instead of tackling it while you're finishing a presentation.

- Set Boundaries
Your family, friends and colleagues need to know that just because you are working remotely, it doesn't mean that you are free all the time. Your schedule for WFH will include your office work as well as your personal life as you can't ignore the other commitments in your life like taking care of your child, having some "Me Time", etc. It's important for your friends and family to know your schedule and respect it so that you're not disturbed during your work hours (by family & friends) and during your family time (by colleagues).

- Keep Spirits up
These are stressful times with negative headlines, worrying about sick and elderly loved ones, these can put answering the work mails in the back burner. To avoid the negative feelings from overpowering us, we need to communicate with colleagues, friends, family members. One needs to find ways to motivate themselves to work positively and productively.
"It's easy to be sad and depressed these days, so if you are a manager or a team leader, your job is to lighten things up & be a cheerleader for your team to keep their spirits up".

- Crank up the Communication
Remote working might seem like a solo experience but the key to working from home is clear communication with your boss to know exactly what is expected of you. Communication was effortless while working in the office due to the close proximity to the boss and colleagues but now one might need to go for other sources like Skype, zoom, Google Hangouts, etc. One can have virtual pizza parties, celebrate birthdays, give public praise for projects completed, can have casual conversations. It's a good way to bond - kind of weird but everybody is feeling weird, so it's fun. It adds a little bit of levity to an otherwise difficult environment.

- Minimize Distractions
Distractions can come in various forms, be it housework, interruptions from family and friends or the most common one - Mobile phone. I know staying away from your phone is a very difficult task but you can alot time slots for checking your phone as it's not necessary to check your notifications every minute, or to check who's online, or how many people have commented on a video you shared. These things need to be on a backseat while you're working. For Eg: There is a presentation you need to complete so once you're halfway you can cut yourself some slack and check your phone for ten minutes then get back to work mode.

- Reward Yourself
Think of the time when you were a little child and your parents used to give you treats for good behaviour or for completing a task. You can do the same, do not let yourself work to the bone & reward yourself by taking a break from screens, meetings & work. You can take a 15 min. walk, catch up with a friend on the phone, make yourself a coffee, take a short nap. These short breaks will improve your productivity level & help you perform better & faster.

Remote working may cause irritation but in the grand scheme of things it may be beneficial too, as it allows you to be close to your family, give them time which you weren't able to do before i.e have meals with them 3 times a day, playing with your kids during breaks, etc.

Some days all of the above may go out of the window so it's time for a cheesy mantra - Be Kind to Yourself.
You're not simply working from home, you're working from home in the middle of a global health crises, so don't be hard on yourself and just try to get through the day as best as you can.

PS - Sending you a Virtual Hug 😉