Working from home can be a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, you have more flexibility and comfort.
On the other hand, you may face more distractions, isolation, and stress.
According to Sky News, there has been a “‘Rise in staff working from home’ as cost of living bites”.
So how can you make the most of your remote work experience without losing your mind? Well, here are some our top tips to help you stay sane, productive and motivated while working from home.
1. Set up a dedicated workspace
One of the challenges of working from home is creating a clear boundary between your work and personal life. Having a dedicated workspace can help you do that. It doesn’t have to be a separate room or a fancy desk. It can be a corner of your living room, a kitchen table, or even a closet. The important thing is that it’s comfortable, quiet, and free from distractions. You can also personalise it with some plants, pictures, or motivational quotes.
2. Establish a regular routine
Another way to separate your work and personal life is to establish a regular routine. This means having a set time to start and end your workday, as well as taking breaks and lunch. Having a routine can help you stay focused, organised, and disciplined. It can also help you avoid overworking or underworking. To create a routine that works for you, consider your natural rhythms, your priorities, and your preferences.
3. Communicate effectively with your team
Working from home can make communication more challenging, especially if you’re working across different time zones or platforms. To overcome this hurdle, you need to communicate effectively with your team. This means setting clear expectations, goals, and deadlines for each project. It also means choosing the right medium for each situation.
For example, if you need to have a quick chat or brainstorm, you can use instant messaging or video calls. If you need to share detailed information or feedback, you can use email or documents.
4. Use the right tools and technology
To work from home successfully, you need to have the right tools and technology. This includes a reliable internet connection, a comfortable headset, and a secure VPN. You also need to use software that can help you collaborate with your team, manage your tasks, and track your time. Some of the tools that can help you work from home effectively are:
- Asana: A project management tool that helps you organise your work, assign tasks, and monitor progress.
- Zoom: A video conferencing tool that lets you have face-to-face meetings with your team or clients.
- Microsoft Teams: A video conferencing tool that lets you have face to face meetings and messaging platform.
- RescueTime: A time-tracking tool that helps you measure your productivity and optimise your schedule.
- Loom: A screen-recording tool that lets you create and share videos with your team or clients.
- OutSec Speak: An iOS and iPadOS app that allows you to record your dictation and have it professionally transcribed.
5. Take care of your mental health
Working from home can take a toll on your mental health if you’re not careful. You may feel lonely, anxious, or depressed. You may also experience burnout or fatigue. To prevent these issues, you need to take care of your mental health. This means:
- Staying connected with your colleagues, friends, and family. You can use social media, phone calls, or video chats to keep in touch and support each other.
- Taking breaks and doing something fun or relaxing. You can read a book, watch a show, play a game, or meditate.
- Getting enough sleep and exercise. You can follow a sleep schedule, avoid caffeine or alcohol before bed, and do some physical activity every day.
- Seeking professional help if needed. You can talk to a therapist, counsellor, or coach if you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed.
Working from home can be challenging but rewarding if you follow these tips and resources. You can enjoy the benefits of remote work while maintaining your sanity, productivity, and motivation.
So make sure you take breaks. Get some fresh air. Go for a walk up and down the garden. Take the dog out for an extra 15-20 minute walk. Whatever you do, get away from the screen for a little while.
6. Always get dressed
Get fully ready for the day and pretend you’re actually going to work. Otherwise, you might find yourself back in bed.
It will be tempting to roll out of bed and pop over to your laptop in your “jim jams” or maybe even not get out of bed in the first place! Stop! It’s a trap!
It is going to be a lot harder to get your brain into gear if you are still prepared for bedtime! Get up, take a shower, brush your teeth, get dressed—whatever your morning routine entails when you actually do go into the office.
If you do not get ready for the day, then your day never really starts. You will find yourself just checking in on the work front and flopping out on the sofa in front of Netflix!
7. Prepare Healthy Snacks
Prepare healthy snack pots; carrots, celery etc. Do not reach for the chocolate bars or packets of crisps however tempted you may be! You will thank me. BBC Good Food have some great ideas on how to eat well and stay healthy when working from home with their “Top 10 tips for working from home”.
8. You Know Yourself
Socrates said it so well ‘Know Thyself’
Now is perhaps an opportunity to work out who you are at the same time as working from home. When have you had the time before? More importantly, when were you allowed the peace to consider this. Choose, perhaps, to add an extra hour to the end of your day and take the time to consider this.
As a starter check out this link, you may be surprised by what you find!
Home Alone with Others?
Set ground rules with the people in your space. Communicate your expectations, schedules, and needs clearly. Respect each other’s boundaries, privacy, and work hours. If anyone else is going to be at home when you’re working, they just have to be clear that when you’re in your ‘office’. It’s easy to get distracted by the many things that have to be done around the house during the day.
Pop a note on your door “Do Not Disturb” but get the message across as otherwise you will find your child wants you to check their essay or your dog wags its tail for another walk. Start as you wish to go on. A routine should be established and stuck to. Quite simply remember ‘you are at work’ even if you are ‘at home’.
Further Reading:
BBC: How to Work From Home, The Right Way!
CBS: Tips for Working from Home
About OutSec
OutSec is the UK’s leading online transcription company whose business has grown substantially since 2002. We are one of the most successful transcription companies in the United Kingdom.
OutSec provides secure outsourced transcription services to the medical, legal, property and surveying, universities, media and interviews, advisory boards, conferences & seminars, inventories, financial, corporate, HR, recruitment and Executive Search sectors.
Why is Dictation More Efficient than Typing?
Well, the simple fact is that we can all speak considerably faster than we can physically type:
“The average person types between 38 and 40 words per minute”.
A “good rate of speech ranges between 140 -160 words per minute.”
In other words, dictation is up to four times faster than we can type. Therefore, simply dictating a document is more cost-efficient, giving you more time to dedicate your efforts elsewhere in your business.
Therefore why not add OutSec as a business continuity option for your business? Accounts are free, you pay on a per-minute basis (rounded to the nearest minute) on a pay-as-you-go basis, with no contracts or minimum spend. What do you have to lose? Why not open an account today!
Picture Attribution:
Image by wayhomestudio on Freepik
