Keeping Productive when Working From Home
Amy Simpson | March 23, 2020
With so many workers moving to a home office to help curb the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be easy to lose focus. To help you stay at the top of your game, we’ve compiled some tips for being productive when working at home.
- Stick with your routines—Obviously, some routines will change. But try to keep a sense of normalcy by getting up at the same time (or close to it), eating your meals at their regular times and doing any other routine activities (like exercising or reading) at a time similar to that of your at-work life.
- Define your space—If you already have a home office, this is easy! If not, claim your area of the kitchen table or couch and set it up with the essentials you need to do your job (pens, notepads, chargers, etc.) or even a family photo or scent diffuser. When you’re in this space, do work; when you’re “off the clock,” try to hang out in a different area of the home.
- Make an “in-office” schedule—The flexibility that comes with working from home can be dangerous. To keep from working 24/7 or not at all, define your working hours. They may be the same as your in-office hours or they may be early morning and late evenings—whatever works best for your family and responsibilities. Just keep them consistent and let others know what to expect.
- Set priorities—Working from home is not the same as working in the office. And, these days, the world around us isn’t the same either. With many of us juggling spouses and children also spending their days at home, it can be frustrating to see hours or days go by without accomplishing your regular tasks. To help with this, prioritize your tasks so you know where to focus your efforts and where you can push something off to another day.
- Stay connected—Even the most introverted among us is probably starting to feel a little bit isolated by now. To head off depression and anxiety, look for ways to simulate in-person contact—a phone call, a virtual meeting or just a text to a friend. Make an effort to reach out and you won’t feel so alone. Schedule virtual “happy hours” or “coffee breaks” with coworkers or request employees check in at a certain time so everyone can stay connected.
As you navigate this new normal, know that The James Allen Companies is still here—ready and able to help with your talent needs. Plus, we love connecting with our clients. Just pick up the phone and give us a call if you need to hear a friendly voice!