Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, businesses are having to adapt their working practises and encourage their employees to work remotely at home. Sometimes the grass is always greener until you find yourself longing to be back in your patch, in this case, the office. 

Soon the novelty can wear off, and home working can become difficult. Remote working can take some getting used to, as it comes with its own, unique challenges. If you’re struggling with the change, the first thing to remember is you’re not alone. There are lots of people feeling the same as you, the adjustment to home working can take time, and many struggle to stay productive away from an office environment.

But, before you panic, read our tips and practises on how to work from home effectively. 

Establish a designated workspace

The most significant adjustment with working from home is that your home life and your working life are suddenly forced together, causing them both to compete for your attention. Up until now, these two sides to your life have remained relatively separate, and now they are suddenly under the same roof. Keep them separate. To help you stay in a productive mindset, try creating a home office. By having a designated workspace, it allows you to walk away from your work life at the end of your day.

Limit your distractions and interruptions

Setting up a home office is only half the battle. Another problem while working from home is all the tempting distractions around your house; limiting these distractions is vital when you are trying to stay on task. 

Your mobile phone could become your biggest weakness. Many people find it easier to leave their device in another room or to use the ‘Do Not Disturb’ modes that they offer. These modes can still allow phones calls through in the case of an emergency; however, general text and app notifications are muted, allowing you to work from home in peace. 

Additionally, you can speak to your employer about employee monitoring software. These software packages allow an employer to disable certain websites from their employees’ work devices. By blacklisting specific sites such as Netflix and other social media platforms; when you are in your home office, there is less temptation, helping you to recognise your new working environment.

Structure your day

In order to maintain a sense of normality to your working life, scheduling your day can really help. By allocating your time to particular tasks or clients, you should also find that you become more accountable. 

Many people find that by giving themselves strict, but manageable deadlines, they are more dedicated and productive in getting the job completed. With only half an hour to go on a particular project, the vast majority find they are more inclined to ‘get their head down’ and get the job finished, than scrolling endlessly through social media. 

Give yourself a break 

It is essential, however, to schedule yourself a break, in order to work from home comfortably. Similar to designating a workspace, if you allow your working hours to get out of hand you could start to suffer from burn-out, and end up losing your work-life balance. Instead, by allowing yourself a breather, you will find that you are more productive when you go back to a task with a clearer mind. 

Get dressed for work

It is very tempting to stay in your pyjamas or throw on a hoodie since your now working from home, but not making an effort to get up and dressed can have a considerable impact on your motivation. From research projects, the way we feel about ourselves and how we perform at work is affected by the clothes we wear. 

Your clothes have a psychological effect. By replicating your regular work routine: having some breakfast, having a shower, and then getting dressed before you get started can really help put you into a working mindset. 

Be kind to yourself

Working from home is difficult in normal circumstances, let alone during a global pandemic. Before Covid-19, when someone is considering a job role working remotely, there are a lot of factors to consider. The clincher, in most cases, is the flexibility of your working hours around your home-life. However, due to the unprecedented way of the world, making the transition to working from home is more to take on.

With the added stress of the coronavirus pandemic, on top of your adjustment to remote working, it is ok if your productivity is slightly effected. Rather than beating yourself up for a drop in your motivation, a little self-compassion can go a long way in helping you feel your best. 

Self-compassion can be anything from eating healthily and getting a good nights sleep, to taking a moment to switch off your device and go on a walk. In giving yourself a little time to take in everything that is going on, it is possible to manage all the changes rather than feeling overwhelmed by them. In doing so, when you return back to your home office, it is possible to tackle each task with clarity and calm. 

As an employer, if you feel your employee’s productivity and, more importantly, their welfare could benefit from employee monitoring software, Global EMEA can help. We provide dedicated asset management services to our clients, offering the sourcing and maintenance of their IT infrastructure. If you would like your business to benefit from Global EMEA, send us an enquiry form on our website, or contact one of our specialists on +44 (0) 345 340 3105.