6 ways to work effectively when working from home during the coronavirus outbreak
The coronavirus, or the COVID-19, outbreak is currently the single largest challenge faced by the entire planet. The tremendous rate of infection of this disease means it has leapfrogged from China and reached nearly every country. So, in a hitherto uncharted territory of a serious pandemic, more and more companies are implementing work-from-home policies.
So how can you stay confined in your home yet ensure that your official responsibilities do not suffer? Here’s a closer look at this unique situation as we bring you 6 ways to work effectively from home during the coronavirus outbreak.
1. Health & Hygiene first!
It’s all about hygiene as the COVID-19 health bulletins remind us. It may be work from home time but adhere to personal hygiene just as you would at the office. There may be times you would have to step out or there could be visitors or vendors dropping in. So, continue with the prescribed routine of washing hands with soap, periodically, and adopt best practices on hygiene.
Have a regimen of taking breaks to walk within your home, stretching, yoga, meditation or just spending quality time with the family. Stay hydrated and stick to nutritious home cooked food.
2. Get into the official skin and ‘zone’
First the hard truth - it’s difficult to consider your home as your office. But to work effectively from home, the workplace environment has to be replicated appropriately.
Working from home need not be about jumping out of bed and dashing to your laptop in your pyjamas. Do the exact same routine as you would each morning, get dressed and go to your work area and start work at about the same time.
Condition yourself to your new workplace and try and simulate most everything that’s at your workplace. From finding the right place to sit to arranging things the way they are at your office desk can help to psyche you to settle down to business. Try not to make your living room, balcony or entertainment room your office space to keep distractions at bay. A study room in the house is ideal, but in its absence, a desk in a corner with the required gadgets is all you need!
3. Stick to your official schedule
The temptation to take it easy within the comfortable walls of your home can distract and deter from working as you would at your office desk. Also, it’s possible you’d find yourself working into lunchtime or late into the night. Just as a distracted environment can reduce actual time spent working, sitting full time and missing out on the usual breaks and catching up on family time can hurt in the long run.
The bottom line here is that you just happen to be working from home but stick to the schedule you follow at work.
4. Leverage technology for communication
Our office lives have technology - high tech hardware, the latest software and cutting edge communication platforms - at the centre of things.
Though the expensive and state of the art hardware and software cannot be set up at home, most of your work needs can be met by the ubiquitous internet and modern day communication tools that can be at hand everywhere.
Deploying modern day communication systems like video calling software, collaborative work, data sharing and management can effectively bring the same impact to a home office as a regular workplace.
To ensure you do not miss out on the office vibes and team camaraderie, leverage the various communication channels to keep in touch. Catch-up with your boss or take stock with your team just like you would in the office.
5. Distraction management
At home, you are not going to find the business-like environs of your office or the serious atmosphere that conditions you to be the typical worker. At home, you are surrounded by familiar everyday objects that you associate with your leisure time. Distractions like your TV, couch or even a bookshelf could unsettle your work schedule.
Above all else, your family is around – your partner, children and even pets. To stick to a work routine initially would take some discipline but, with time and effort, you will be able to strike a balance.
6. Customise, adapt but have realistic expectations
Even if you cannot replicate your office at home, what you could do is to simulate the work environment and condition yourself to your usual official schedule as much as is possible.
Ensure the whole team, peer groups and even clients take a realistic view of what can be achieved even with the best of efforts. Customise the workflow, adapt to the new conditions and communicate expectations. The last thing you need, in the midst of a pandemic, is everyone to rue overall performances and outcomes and feel demotivated.
Clearly, no one has the answers as to how long the coronavirus outbreak is going to last and normality restored. With some firm cultural changes and smart discipline, you may well be surprised that replicating the office could result in work actually getting done more than satisfactorily. It’s best to steel oneself and be prepared for the long haul and get to terms with working at home as effectively as one can.
Get In Touch
Are you a small business owner looking to create a work-at-home protocol for your employees? Infinity HR is here to help. Contact us through our secure website or call Iolanda Hazell on 0400 489 743 today.
Disclaimer
The information provided on our blog is designed to provide helpful information, and does not constitute legal advice, and not intended to be a substitute for legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. You should seek legal advice in relation to any particular matter you or your organisation may have.