5 ways to get the most out of working from home during the #21DayLockdown

If you’re finding it difficult to be productive working from home during the lockdown, we’ve rounded up some tips to help you get through it

For many of us, working from home sounds like a dream — well in theory. In light of the global pandemic facing an increasing number of countries, members of the South African workforce now find themselves a part of the millions of people who need to work from home. If you’re at a loss for how to get the most out of working from home amidst the #21DayLockdown, we’ve rounded up 5 tips to help you get through it.

 

1. Stick to Your Routine

These may be uncertain times for employees and employers alike and it could prove particularly difficult to be as productive working from home as you usually are from behind your desk. The key to creating a more ‘familiar’ working environment is to stick to your routine as much as you possibly can. Wake up around the same time, take as many breaks as you normally would at the office and try not to work beyond your normal workday.

 

2. Separate Business from Pleasure (or Peace)

For many of us home is where we find peace, comfort and, most importantly, where we come to unwind after a long day at the office. Working from home suddenly blurs these lines and we find stressful work situations seeping into the ‘zen’ areas of our life. For some people, having a study or even a work desk eliminates this problem. For the rest of us, combatting this issue is as simple as designating areas of the house where we can work, and determining what is simply off-limits to the blue light emitted from our electronic devices. This could be as simple as saying you’re happy to work in the kitchen and living area, but your bedroom is an absolute no-no. Putting this into practice helps to maintain spaces that are essential to your wellbeing, and it encourages you to log off.

 

3. Set Boundaries

It’s imperative for you to remember that working from home does not equate to being available to answer calls and emails 24/7. Your boss or fellow employees might not realise this, which makes it important to set boundaries as this issue arises. For instance, receiving an email after hours that requires you to complete a work task, warrants a reply at the start of the following working day which might sound something like: “Thank you for this, in future please try to get it to me within working hours so I can get it back to you ASAP.” In this way, you make others aware that you are sticking to regular work hours while highlighting the fact that doing things efficiently is still your priority.

 

4. Pitch Your Big Idea

One upside of the disruptive nature of the Coronavirus outbreak is that now, more than ever, people are looking to find new and innovative ways to improve and maintain their businesses. This could be a prime opportunity to pitch an idea you’ve been sitting on for months to an employer who is likely to be more receptive than when it is business as usual.

 

5. Give Your Side Hustle Some TLC

The benefit of working remotely is being in the driver’s seat when it comes to managing your time. Take this opportunity to tend to the things that interest you beyond your 9-5 and, who knows, you could be turning your side hustle into your dream job in no time!