For many of us, this ability to work from home is a dream come true. Being in the comforts of our residential space, working at our own pace, while not having to worry about a suit and tie, or wearing a pair of high heels. You can take your lunch break at your own leisure, without having to worry about being rushed by the clock. In a terse amount of words, working from home is good and comfortable! So comfortable that maybe you can relax a little longer, and get a little too comfortable on the job? After all, you are at home, right?
During these times of going through our quarantine rituals, while being secluded from the rest of the world, we may get the temptations of being a little too complacent, during our work time. Maybe sleeping in a little longer? Or, perhaps, we are delaying, or putting off, that pile of work that is sitting on our desk or table? Then again, are we even checking our e-mails regularly? Lastly, when the boss or client’s number is showing up on your phone, are you answering it, promptly?
Let’s be honest with ourselves. During this current time of fear, frustration, and anxiety, it is tempting to use such as an excuse to not be as productive if the situation was normal. We can use the current, international public health epidemic, as an excuse to slack off on our responsibilities, while we are staying home. Or, it can serve as an opportunity for us to propel ourselves into greater heights. Appreciating life and the fact that we are, alive! Honoring our lives, by giving our very best to our work platforms. That’s one of the auspicious things in being able to work from home, during these current times. Now, we have the opportunity to assess our work ethic-strength and weaknesses within it. Furthermore, in elevating ourselves to greater heights, we are doing our part to keep stability within our communities. Our gift to society, in being able to get through these difficult times.
So, here are a few tips to make sure that you are staying just as professional at home, as you would at your office work space!
Keep A Similar Starting Work Time!
Keep your schedule similar, as if you were going to the office. Try to wake up the same time, as if you were leaving your house to go into work. Shower, freshen up, and eat breakfast. The only thing is that you don’t have to get super dressed up.
Choose A Comfortable, Yet Productive Work Area
While it feels good to be at home and work, find a space that won’t tempt you into slumber. Working in bed simply makes you want to go back to sleep. Its just so relaxing when laying in bed, that you are tempted to put your laptop and other office utensils away. Going into a beautiful slumber. Get comfortable for work; just not in bed.
Take A Nap
This is a luxury that you normally don’t get at the office. So, treat yourself to this while working from home. Perhaps an hour, or two, will do. This will allow you to be more productive, and to actually enjoy, doing the work. Just think of it as training your body to remove bad work habits, that you acquired in office spacing. Such includes spending too many night overworking at the office.
Music’s Comfort
Working from home means that you call the shots to your work environment! Maybe at the office, you had to be careful of the kind of music you played. Or it had to be on a certain volume. Well, you are home, now. Which means that you don’t have to operate on any musical boundaries, right? Your call. Your rules! Play whatever makes you comfortable, in getting the work done!
Lunch Break Is A Love Break
During this time, make yourself a nice lunch. I mean a really nice lunch. Not the typical peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or the bolognie sandwich, with chips. Really prepare yourself, something special. A Mediterranean salad, with pasta? Perhaps accompanied with ice tea and lemonade? Restore your energy for your inside work day.
Decorate Your Work Space
Whatever area you have selected as your work space in your home, make sure it is beautiful. Make it vibrant. Decorate it with things, that remind it of you. For one, it makes work fun! It elevates the work energy, and gets you to see that there is a greater richness to the work experience. Be creative and make your newly selected work space, workable for you!
Turn Off the Television
Unless you can resist it, the television will be a distraction. It will take you off of your work. And 30 minute work, can turn into 6 hours worth of work. Television, and other digital devices, take us away from our goals. If you want to watch television, its best to save it for a lunch break.
Daily To Do List
Keep that same daily goal list at home, as you would at your job. Because you are not at the office, it will require more diligence. Make sure to keep at it on a day to day basis, while you are working from home.
Respond Quickly To Emails, Answer Phone Calls
Pretty much straight to the point, right? Keep that same discipline at home.
Check On Family, Colleagues, and Friends
This is also a perfect time to check up on office mates amd even family members, during their work times. Talk about some of your work struggles. And listen as you hear words of encouragement and support. Check in!
Working from home, during this time, has its advantages. At the same time, it can slow you down; making you complacent from your work duties. Don’t use the current health scare as an excuse to slack off. Stay focused and stay determined. Just remember that there are those, who have lost their jobs during this time. Appreciate having one, by giving all you have. Re-assess your ambitions, and make some changes, if need be. Enjoy this new rhythm of working from home. Embrace it! Also, explore other career ambitions, that you may have wanted to pursue. Work you magic, and watch them bloom! Enjoy work’s comforts in your own room.
