Working from home sounds great on paper–no idling through traffic, no communal microwave mishaps and you can wear whatever you want on your bottom half. But it’s not without its challenges.
In response to COVID-19 forcing human contact restrictions, an estimated 56% of Americans currently work from home–up from 43% in 2016. Zoom Conference Calls, setting up webcams and restricted communication already feel like the new norm–and many analysts agree that once the COVID dust has settled, working from home may be one of the aspects of this volatile year that sticks with us.
To maintain a healthy working life, employees must pivot their habits to accommodate the challenges that come with working from home. Engagement, communication and productivity can all take a hit through remote work–but there are ways to remedy this. Here’s how.
To bridge the long-distance gap, establish a daily standup with your team through video conferences. A daily standup is a brief meeting at the beginning of the day to review your objectives with your team. Supervisors can clearly communicate their expectations and goals for the day, and employees can express their questions and concerns. This is also a great time to connect with your coworkers and socialize.
It’s important to keep your work and home separate when working from home, as contradictory as that sounds. Set up a dedicated workspace so you aren’t digging for documents under your bed or analyzing spreadsheets in front of the TV.
When the line between your office and home gets blurred, time management can become fickle or even nonexistent. As the work parameters you’re used to in the office go out the window, it’s important to keep your work routine as regimented as possible. Limit social media distractions, set a schedule and keep to it and designate your spaces for work and home life.
Working from home can be an amazing, productive experience–but there are common pitfalls to watch out for. The most important thing is to be aware of these pitfalls and address them before they take root. Communicate with your coworkers, designate a workspace and manage your time, and you’ll be a work-from-home wizard!
