More and more frequently people started working from home.  With the social distancing required during the Coronavirus outbreak, employers were finding it necessary to ask more of their employees to telecommute. 

Working from home offers its own challenges, including staying organized and maintaining productivity.  Here are some ideas.

Scheduling

To be fair to both your employer and to your family, it is critical that you establish a firm schedule.  This should include start and stop times.  During work hours you should make every effort to only deal with employment related tasks.  After the work day is over, you should not interrupt family activities to finish a project.

Part of staying organized includes prioritizing tasks.  A written list is a good guideline.  Sometimes you can end your day by writing out the next day’s projects.  Just leave enough wiggle room for emergencies and unexpected phone and email messages.

If you turn off social media notifications and silence your personal phone, you will be less distracted and able to avoid distractions as much as possible.

Rules

Spouses, children, roommates, etc. all need to understand the rules of when you can and cannot be interrupted.  This also includes you.  It is very tempting to just throw in a load of laundry or to prep for dinner, but you should actually give your job the attention it deserves. 

This includes a designated work space.  Work comfortably but as professionally as possible.  The bed is not a desk.  Good posture will also help you concentrate on the task at hand.  Keep your area tidy.  Find a way to organize any paper files you need. 

Keep your workspace separate from your living area.  Physically leaving the area at the end of your workday will help separate work and family time.  Another separation technique is to dress differently during your work hours and your relaxation hours.  This doesn’t need to be a three-piece suit, but certainly something better than sweatpants.

Connections

Keep in contact with coworkers.  Regular video conferences can help maintain a connection with the rest of your professional world.  If that is not possible, check in by phone to see if they are having any difficulties you have already solved.  Just like you would share work tips or shortcuts if you were sitting at the next desk or cubicle, you should maintain a continuing dialog with your colleagues.

Single Tasking

Keeping focus on the task at hand can be difficult.  You may want to consider headphones to reduce the impulse to avoid your day’s priorities.  Make sure your computer’s toolbar is organized including bookmarks for frequently used sites. 

Maintaining productivity and motivation on your own can be a struggle for some employees.  However, with a little organization and dedication it can become a good routine.  If you continue to be good at your job, your manager will notice and that can only help your career.

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- The Capex Team