Working from home is the new normal, but how did companies get here? For sure, it was not an easy transition from working in the office to designating a workplace at home. This new setup is not without its challenges, so it’s important to understand how many companies were able to transition successfully from renting an office space to asking their employees to work in the comforts of their homes, distractions included, of course.
Establish a Workplace
You cannot work at home in peace if you do not have a workplace, to begin with. While working at the kitchen table is fine for a few hours, it should not be a permanent setup. Employees who successfully transitioned at home are those who found a way to have a small home office, even one that is set up in the corner of the garage, basement, attic, or kitchen.
What exactly should this workplace have? Probably the safest place to be is in your garage. If you can enclose a corner into your home office, it will make for a great private space. At the very least, consider changing the garage door to ensure the safety of your home office. There are a lot of great security systems for the garage, so check out what’s best for you.
Purchase the Right Equipment
How can you work if you do not have the right equipment? Make sure you have a stable internet connection, a well-equipped laptop, and other hardware you need for the tasks you do. Companies that transitioned successfully into a work-from-home setup are those that invested in the right equipment. They provided these to their employees.
Create a Morning Routine
Just because you are working from home doesn’t mean that you should forget about your routine. Your morning routine should still mimic your regular morning routine when you are working in the office. If you used to walk in the morning, then still do that. Now more than ever, when your office and home lives have converged, you need a sense of normalcy in your everyday life.
Set Expectations with Your Boss
When you are working from home, it’s important to understand what tasks you have to finish in a day or week. What milestones must you achieve? You cannot walk to your manager’s table and clarify things. It should be clear to you what you have to do. Also, you have to set boundaries. Some managers tend to call after official working hours, thinking that you have nothing better to do anyway since you are at home. Successful work-from-companies must learn these limits.
Schedule Break Times
It’s easy to forget about taking a break when you are working at home because you get to do things your way. However, two things happen when you don’t set break times. First, you will not accomplish anything because you keep on taking breaks. And two, you will forget to take breaks because you work too much. Both of these are not good for your well-being. Employers should set ground rules in terms of allowing work-from-home employees to take their well-deserved break time.
Stay Connected
The common misconception about working from home is that co-workers can no longer build a rapport. This is wrong. In true fashion, workmates must make an extra effort in building up the team when they are away from each other. They must stay connected through project management tools, messenger apps, and many more. Take every opportunity to reach out to your colleagues and clients. It’s crucial to maintain these relationships, whether it be just a chat or a longer videoconference session.
Talk to Loved Ones
Companies that transitioned to working from home fully understand the importance of eliminating distractions at home. This is why they advise their employees to make sure their families understand that they can’t just drop by for coffee or chat when it’s work hours. Put up a sign on your door that says you are working. Make it a rule for them never to distract you when you’re working. As for the kids, do a reward system with them. Reward them when they let you work. That will do wonders in eliminating distractions at home.
There are, of course, foolproof ways to make sure you can work productively at home. Although not all companies were successful in the transition, those that are made one thing clear: rules must still be followed. Whether it is following a certain schedule or sticking to break times, what made the transition successful is the adherence to policies and rules.
