Work From Home: Stay productive with these tips while you #WFH
Even if you have been living under the proverbial rock, there is little chance that you have not heard of the global pandemic – COVID-19 mostly referred to as the Coronavirus. With daily reports of thousands of cases across the globe, several measures are initiated to counter the crisis – one of them being issuing work from home to most employees across organisations.
Modern organisations & startups are mostly familiar with the concept of #WFH. But it is relatively new to the more traditional companies who are still getting acquainted with its tricks and trade.
Regardless of which type of organisation you work with, being positive & productive is the key deliverable for any employee – especially during a situation that is marred with negative news and uncertainties.
So without further ado, here are some tips to keep you focused & hungry for performance while you work from home:
1. Prepare a task sheet
This is going to be the most crucial element of work from home effectiveness. If #WFH protocol has not yet been kicked in in your organisation, you must lay down the framework of all the jobs you need to get done in at least the two coming weeks.
Started remote work already? Be advised to have a chat with your supervisor on the first day of the week and list down every job that you need to prioritise over the week.
This will help you keep tabs of all the work that needs to get done and how you should be going about coordinating with your colleagues to ensure smooth execution.
2. Lay down the communication protocol
Once you have your to-do list, lay down the framework of how you are going to be communicating with your supervisor and other colleagues.
For efficient communication and team collaborations, it is best to go with solutions like Microsoft Teams or Zoom Technologies. More importantly, understand who you need to reach out to for which type of work and how.
And also how you are going to document the communication. Not very different from your regular in-office contact, only more structured & organised.
3. Collaborate & Coordinate
Collaborate with your #WorkFam [work family, for non-millennials]. Use cloud platforms like Google documents, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, etc. to work & coordinate with your team in real-time. Saves both your time & disk space.
4. Take time for personal tasks
For the next few weeks, your home is your workplace. No doubt there will be personal jobs that beg your attention during work hours. And it is okay to take breaks to tend to them.
You have your days work charted out, you know which task needs your priority so you can attend to them first. You also have the flexibility to own your working hours so long as the work gets done.
Take a break, help your partner with the household chores, let them enjoy a break too if they are also working from home, play a game with your kids. Let the work & the ongoing negative news not stress you. Stay fresh and stay focussed.
5. Stay connected
The camaraderie between work colleagues is one of the more essential factors that boost productivity in organisations and ensures seamless workflow even during adverse situations.
Do not let remote working take away your work friends. Make an unofficial WhatsApp office group (if you already do not have one). Catch up on all the gossip, share pictures, crack jokes. Just because you cannot go to the office, the fun should not stop.
6. Get Organised
Get everything you’ll need – laptop, phone, head phones, chargers, coffee mug, etc in place. Identify a spot with easy access to power sockets to avoid hunting for one when you really need it. Needless to say, pick the least noisy corner of your house to work.
If you’re married with kids, distribute household responsibilities between you and your spouse. Divide time slots and take ownership of tasks like answering the doorbell or the home phone.
These are some of the measures our team at Jacobsons is undertaking to remain positive & productive. I am sure they will work for you too. And last, but not the least. Stay home, stay safe. Let us fight the Coronavirus together by respecting and maintaining social distancing.
P.S. While the Jacobsons team is working from home, our commitment & dedication towards our clients and prospects still stands. Our team remains accessible over phones & email. For inquiries, reach out to us on info@jacobsonsdirect.com.