How to Create a Highly Productive Work From Home Life
These are extraordinary times. In the last week, we’ve been bombarded with articles, broadcasts, images of stores with empty shelves, and social media posts expressing dismay over cancelled events, travel plans, and uncertainty around our jobs.
No doubt, Coronavirus should be taken seriously; it has had an enormous impact on public health, our jobs, and our social lives. We must take precautionary guidelines set by the WHO and the CDC to protect each other and contain the spread of COVID-19.
But, with our movement limited, schools closed, events disrupted, vacations cancelled, and many of us working from home, how do we deal with disruptive changes to our daily routines? By setting up our space and schedule to be highly productive.
Stick to a routine.
If you’re working from home now, maintain your schedule as much as possible. Wake up and approach the day the same way you would as if you were going into the office. Shower in the morning and dress comfortably.
Your clothing affects your mindset; dress comfortably, but nicely. Don’t slip into lazy routines with poor or delayed hygiene. Both your work and your overall welfare may suffer. Give yourself some flexibility and a trial and error period to figure out what works for you (and your loved ones).
Create a dedicated workspace.
If you’re not accustomed to telecommuting or don’t have a dedicated home office, create a space for your work. This means not lying in bed with a laptop—try something more deliberate like setting up at your kitchen counter or dining table.
If you live in a small space, a desk like this won’t take up much room and hides clutter when you are done.
Some employers will allow you to expense the extra power cords, headsets, and other supplies that you may need to work from home more efficiently.
Set boundaries for yourself.
Now that you've moved your work life to your home space you may find yourself overwhelmed with social networking and television distractions. Set clear boundaries for yourself. Schedule in social media time just as you would your break time. If you find that you are constantly distracted by your phone, put your phone on Do Not Disturb or take it in another room entirely. You can enjoy all the Netflix and Hulu bingeing after your work is done.
Set boundaries for others.
Communicate with your kids and family about your dedicated work hours and your workspace. It’s not easy with the little ones, but it’s even harder without boundaries. If the kids are home for an extended period, here’s a useful article on how to cope.
Communicate.
We are very lucky. Technology allows us to get our work done and stay connected like never before. Get your colleagues and friends on Skype, WhatsApp, Slack, or Teams. Working from home or being quarantined doesn’t have to feel as isolating as it would without these tools. Just remember that the onus is on you to connect with your boss and managers. Keep them informed on what you’re doing and the progress you’re making even if they’re not actively reaching out to you.
Reclaim the time not spent commuting.
Congratulations, you now have some extra hours in your life! Don’t squander them. Do the things you haven’t had the time to do. Take your dog for a longer walk. Trust me, they REALLY appreciate it. Go for an afternoon walk yourself. Go for a bike ride. Do yoga. Don’t like to exercise? Like to cook? Try a new recipe. The good news is you get to make dinner a little earlier and not right after a stressful commute. Do something for you!
Check items off your TO DO list.
You finally have some extra time to organize your closet, declutter your garage and donate some items to charity. A clutter free home and workspace increases productivity, clarity, and decreases stress.
Overall, this is your chance to perform better than before. It’s a crucial time in our economy and employers are taking notes. If this is a lifestyle you wish to adopt in the future, you want to show that you are capable of producing high value work in extreme conditions.
-Anuja Verma, Founder of Short Supply
Short Supply is a new women’s clothier exclusively dedicated to desk to dinner clothing for petite women. If you’re high on style and never short on time, follow them on Instagram or check out their latest blog post here.