If you’re one of the many people who have had to literally take their work home because of the pandemic, know that it’s not unusual to struggle with such a significant paradigm shift. While working from home is not a new thing for many people, it can still be quite a challenging change for the uninitiated, which is why you shouldn’t feel bad if you’re feeling unproductive and uninspired. This situation can be remedied with a few, strategic changes to your home and work habits.
Get into the swing of things.
Myriad distractions are undoubtedly the bane of working from home. Keeping them at bay will not only ensure that you get work done, but that you do it well, too.
- Anticipate the most common distractions you will likely encounter when working from home, so you can handle them accordingly.
- Make use of anti-distraction apps to help you avoid getting trapped in the rabbit hole of social media and other distracting websites.
- In the same vein, you also need apps and tools that help increase focus and drive up your output in leaps and bounds.
- And don’t forget to take breaks, too, as these are very important in keeping your productivity up.
- Take advantage of some remote working tips and tricks.
Gear up for success.
No work from home endeavor can be successful without the right tools. Just as you would outfit a professional workspace, you have to set yourself up in your home office, too.
- Invest in a high-quality computer, complete with at least one large monitor.
- Make sure your printer is multi-functional and wireless so you can take advantage of printing from anywhere in your home using your mobile device.
- Use an ergonomic chair to reduce wear and tear on your body.
- Use overhead and task lighting to minimize eye fatigue.
Take it to the next level.
Being away from the watchful eyes of managers and co-workers is undoubtedly one of the biggest perks of working from home. It opens up opportunities to take your career to the next level and expand your skillset.
- Explore ways to increase your client base and income—and do it successfully, while you’re at it—by leveraging Upwork resources and other such tools.
- It’s also a great way to make use of your newfound flexibility and spare time.
- You can even learn new skills in your own time to spruce up your resume or maybe even put you on the path to potential career growth or—dare we say it—change.
Suffice it to say, adjusting to this new way of working can be a pain, but with the right resources, tools, and mindset, it won’t be long before you get accustomed to what is now being touted as the ‘new normal.’ Who knows? You might even find it to be the refreshing change that you didn’t know you needed.
