Working from the comfort of your home, without having to go to an office, and setting up your work hours can have its perks, but it’s not as perfect as it may sound. Like everything else, it has its pros and cons.
You won’t have the chance of getting to know any co-workers on a more personal level. Sure, you might get together from time to time, on some work-related meeting, but it’s not the same. There won’t be any office after work parties either. Nevertheless, over 50% of people who work remotely wish to increase their work hours further.
Here are five tips to help you keep your spirits high when working from home.
Create an Efficient Task-Management System
When working remotely, it’s crucial to find a way to manage tasks efficiently. Your co-workers are not right next to you, so communication and task completion must be handled in another way. You will need to find an efficient way to communicate and collaborate with your coworkers while you’re in different locations.
1. Identify the Time of Day You Are Most Productive
Having the option to set your work hours sounds great, but it must be done properly. Are you most productive in the morning or afternoon? Or maybe you like to work late at night in peace and quiet. It’s good to have a work schedule set and try to stick to it. You also have to make sure the work hours you choose are suitable for other members of the office or the project team. You may have to play around with it to find the best schedule for all.
2. Celebrate Success with Team Members
While you can’t get together with your coworkers for a regular after work party, you need to find a way to share and celebrate success. Social networks can provide the best solution in this case.
3. Set-Up Physical Meetings with Coworkers
Occasionally, it’s good to sit face to face with other colleagues. Occasional get-togethers will increase trust and future cooperation among coworkers. If your virtual office members come from different places on the globe, it can be a bit more challenging, but with the right amount of effort, anything can be done.
4. Don’t Isolate Yourself
When working from the comfort of your own home, it’s easy to get carried away and isolate yourself from the people around you. This should be avoided as it can lead to bad mental health, such as depression. If you feel yourself starting to grow depressed from isolation, or if you are already suffering and know the decision to work from home might trigger this, make sure you talk to a counsellor about how you feel if you need to.
The best way to avoid isolation is to take breaks from the job and get out of the house regularly. You can take your family out to lunch, or meet a friend for a cup of coffee at your favourite coffee shop. Human interaction is necessary and will help you boost your work performance as well.
