Here Are Our Top 10 Tips for Working from Home

Working from home may be a dream come true for many, but it still is not without challenges. Some might feel a bit lonely while others struggle to balance household chores along with their work timings. But, during this time it’s much safer to stay indoors and live your lives to some degree of normality. So, you just need to accept your new working environment and be as productive as you can to keep the world turning. Here are 10 tips for working from home

Make a routine and stick to it

Before you sit in front of your computer to begin your work for the day, get into the routine of taking a shower, getting dressed or maybe even take a short walk to get your mind active. This will help you be more productive and also remain healthy.

Designate your working area

Working from your bedroom is not a good idea because you will subconsciously associate as a place of work and forget that it is a place for sleeping. This might ruin your sleeping patterns. It would be beneficial to designate a specific area towork from home. You can choose to invest in a comfortable chair if you wish. Set some ground rules with your family or the people around you if you are the only person working from home.

Take breaks and set your intentions

When working from home, try brushing up on your time management skills. Identify what needs to be done on that day and how you intend to get it done.  Working from home gives you more flow and allows you to think even deeper than you normally do. But, these thinking sessions can end up taking a lot more time. Plan your time realistically so that you can take out time to recharge. Block some time in your calendar for breaks too.

Communicate and interact more

It doesn’t matter if you are an extrovert or an introvert because in times like these, it’s important to connect with colleagues. At the office, we spend most of our time withcolleagues that help us stay in sync. But, with the proximity gone, it’s necessary to keep the lines of communication open. This can easily be done via video calls, digital chats, and even digital whiteboards or collaboration programs.  For those in startups or businesses that involve projects, and vendor management, you can consider using good vendor management apps. This is best achieved by business automation tools online.

Don’t neglect self-care

Avoid neglecting your health whether you are at the office or home. While this may be obvious for some, it still is quite a challenge for most people. Working from home can make you tend to neglect your own health. Remember that it is important to stay in good health for you to be more productive, so prioritize self-care.

Choose a certain area to be your workplace

It is easy for employers to allow staff with laptops and smartphones to work from home. The reality, however, is that while you may be ready to work from home,your home may not be a suitable working environment. What, you can do, is designate a space and set it up with the best table and chair combination to provide you with a good working atmosphere. Let your family know that this is your working space for now so that they don’t disturb you while you work.

Plan your days differently

Plan your day and work schedule differently from what it normally was. Try to include cooking into your daily routine if there is no one to cook for you. But, since cooking your meals can betime-consuming, getting food delivered is not a bad idea. Combine your 8-hours office work time with some inspirational breaks. A short walk around the block can help you recharge and refresh yourself.

Get access to broadband and other tools

Having an extra mouse and double displays along with robust internet access can benefit your work over time. Your laptop and smartphone which are your home working foundation should feature a good fixed and mobile broadband connection and related devices. With this setup, your family can also benefit from the available internet connection.

Consider embracing video option instead of relying on audio-only for your daily conference calls. You can get back the lost personal interactions from face-to-face meeting with video conferencing. Now, to ensure that your days run smoothly, business automation tools are your best option.

Now is the time to get your expenses in order

For most business owners limited by staff, it can be a nightmare getting expenses in order. The best way to get back on track is chuck out the paper work and go digital and online. Good expense management apps give you such facilities and EXTAM is one of them.

Develop your digital skills by experimenting

In the weeks to follow you will soon become more aware of your shortcoming in regards to digital skills. But, this time can also be spent to work on these shortcomings. You can now experiment with new digital tools like project management appsto help yourself get reorganized so that you are well prepared when things return to normal.