Right now, many people have found themselves working from home. If you’ve always worked remotely, this may not be a big deal for you. But if you’re new to a “home office,” you may have found working at home somewhat of a struggle. For example, it can be hard to get started or end the day when you’re in your home space. And you may feel isolated if you’re used to interacting with coworkers.
Seven ways to make the most of working from home
The good news is, you’re not alone in your worries—and there are steps you can take to make the most of your time at home. Just follow these tips:
- Establish a routine. If you were going into the office, you’d wake up to your alarm, have coffee, get ready, and start your commute. After work, you’d commute home and start dinner. Working from home requires different routines, but you should still establish them. This way, you can help yourself wake up and get your mind ready for work, then help yourself unwind and get back to your personal life at the end of the workday.
- Take breaks and use sick time. Working from home is still working, and you should treat it just like you would in the office. Take your regular breaks, and don’t cheat yourself by shortening them. If you don’t feel well and need a day off—take it. Or if you’d like time off to spend with your family—take that, too.
- Get the equipment you need. Be sure you have, at minimum, a computer, and a mouse. Depending on your job, you may also need a phone, printer, desktop monitor (as opposed to a tiny laptop screen), and more. Check with your boss to see what equipment your company provides to do your job well at home.
- Speak up during meetings. If you’re on a phone or video conference call, be sure to contribute at least one thing during a meeting. It can be easy to lose track of each other when you don’t have face-to-face contact with your coworkers, so be sure to speak up and make yourself heard.
- Ask for catch-up calls with your boss. The same goes for communication with your boss. Request time once a week or every other week to catch up. Ask for feedback on your performance, or more information about projects you’re working on. Simply touching base with the person in charge of your reviews can make you feel confident that you’re on track, despite working remotely.
- Take advantage of this unique opportunity. Working from home has its perks. During your 10-minute break, you can throw in a load of laundry or get something cooking in the crockpot for dinner. During your lunch break, you can work up a sweat using a fitness app or go outside for a walk. Have fun with your remote work situation and do things you wouldn’t normally do in the office.
- Be overly positive. Fellow employees can’t see your facial expressions over email, which you’ll be using plenty to communicate. Keeping this in mind, you can never be too positive. Re-read your messages before you send them to be sure you’re not coming across angry or negative.
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