How to make the transition to working from home
For many traditional office-workers, working from home has now become the new normal. For some it’s an easy transition to make, while for others, it can be a struggle. If you find yourself struggling to adapt to this new way of working and living, here are some tips that can help.
1. Set up a dedicated workspace
Firstly, it’s a good idea to find an area where you can focus on your work without disruption. You don’t necessarily need a fully equipped home office or spare room. The dining table or a quiet area away from other family members or share mates may be all you need. The key is to ensure that others in the home know that when you are working, noise and distraction are kept to a minimum.
2. The correct equipment
A laptop and reliable internet connection may provide you with have everything you need to work from home, however additional elements can make it even more comfortable. For example, a separate laptop dock, cordless mouse and keyboard may provide you with greater flexibility.
3. Maintain your normal work routine
It may be tempting to stay in bed until one minute before 9:00am when you no longer have to travel to work, however it’s probably not the best way to start the working day. A sensible approach is to maintain your normal working hours allowing time for breakfast before you start up your PC or laptop.
4. Take regular breaks
In our normal working environment, we’re accustomed to interacting with our colleagues and sharing conversations that aren’t necessarily work related. However, when we work from home, we lose this face-to-face contact and this can be one of the most unsettling aspects of working in isolation. For this reason, it’s important to take regular breaks and get some fresh air outside. Also, take some time to connect with colleagues via telephone, videoconference or email.
5. Get a good night’s sleep
How you spend your time before going to bed can affect your quality of sleep. To ensure you enjoy a good night’s sleep limit your caffeine intake, avoid alcohol and minimise your screen time at least one hour before bedtime.
While working from home offers increased flexibility it isn’t always smooth sailing. It’s important to keep the lines of communication open between you and your workmates and to reach out for support or guidance if needed. Remember, we are all in this together and eventually things will go back to normal.
Source: Capstone
