So, you’ve been told that you need to work from home. If you’ve never worked from home before you might jump at the idea. After all, what could possibly go wrong?
Unfortunately, working from home isn’t just about sitting around in your pajamas and watching Netflix until it’s time to start working. It isn’t about unlimited coffee breaks.
That said, there are plenty of advantages to working from home, as long as you pay attention to a few important points. Here’s how you can make working from home a success.
Check Your Security
Before we get onto the psychology of working from home, there are some practicalities that need to be dealt with first.
If your company uses a managed IT services company such as Prosum (http://www.prosum.com/managed-it-services/) find out how you can get access to their support. Check with your company to find out if they need to carry out any checks on your home network to make sure it is suitable.
As your home network is not going to be as secure as it was in the office, you will need to download a Virtual Private Network. This will give you an extra layer of protection and help you prevent cyberattacks.
Create A Routine
The great thing about working from home is that you can do what you want when you want. But you still need to get the work done.
The problem is that when you get distracted or start to procrastinate it can be hard to find the motivation to get started.
Create a schedule and be strict with yourself. Have an exact start time that you will begin your day. Schedule in coffee breaks and lunch breaks as you might do if you were in your regular workplace. Then, when it comes to taking breaks, leave your desk, and do something different.
Have A Workspace
If you don’t have a specific workspace in your home, it will cause all of your days to blur into one. Create a workplace and go to it at the start of your day. Then, leave when it is time to clock off. This will help to separate your work life from your home life.
Exercise Daily
Without the need to travel into work, you’ll be doing much less moving around. Exercise is important for both your mental and physical health. Exercise before you start working each day, or, alternatively, use your break to go for a walk.
Communicate Often
Use every opportunity to keep in touch with the rest of your team. Working on your own at home can be quite isolating. Spending too much time on your own without human contact can cause stress and depression. This, in turn, will affect your motivation and ultimately your productivity.
If there are opportunities for video meetings and phone calls, take them. You’ll find that speaking with each other is productive from a work perspective as it will boost your productivity.