Now that remote work is a widely-accepted company practice due to the global health crisis, you need to prove to everyone that you can be as productive, if not more, working at home compared to being at the office.
The privilege of working remotely should never be taken for granted. Sure you get to save up on a lot of daily expenses such as your lunch money or cash that would have gone to a three-piece suit or work trousers for sale. But more than that, it gives you certain benefits that could set you up well in life if you do things right.
10 Habits to Build for Work-from-Home Success
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Prepare yourself for work.
Always start your workday by taking a bath and fixing yourself before doing anything else. Doing so somehow conditions your mind that you have plans laid out for the rest of the day.
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Treat it as if you’re physically at the office.
Just because you’re working in the comfort of your home doesn’t give you an excuse to dilly-dally around. Treat it as you would when you’re at the office. Stick to your schedule as much as you can.
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Organize your daily and weekly tasks.
Before you get cracking on your tasks, line them up and see which ones need to be prioritized. Set your daily and weekly schedule according to your priorities.
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Minimize the distractions.
Your home may be a comfortable place to work in but it also provides a lot of unnecessary distractions. Log off your social media accounts. Turn off your TV, Netflix can wait. Get rid of anything that can take away your focus.
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Make room for a little distraction.
This is not to contradict the statement above but allow a few distractions in your day. Sometimes these things help your brain to refresh and reboot which gives you more focus when you get back to your tasks.
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Hold yourself accountable to someone.
The best and worst thing about working from home is not having a snoopy boss always looking over your shoulders. Make sure you make yourself accountable to your superior and a few colleagues. Authorize people to check on you now and then to make sure you’re on track and are getting things done.
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Don’t hesitate to take breaks.
Breaks are specifically designed to improve workplace productivity so don’t second-guess going on one. The great thing about working at home is you can take breaks as frequently as needed. Just make sure you can still meet your deadlines regardless of how many breaks you take.
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Observe proper online meeting etiquette.
Working at home will require online meetings and conference calls. If you have scheduled meetings with your supervisor or your teammates, be professional. Show up on time and be fully prepared for it.
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Follow health and safety guidelines even if you’re at home.
Do everything you can to keep your family and home COVID-free. Wash your hands frequently. Sanitize your workstation and other high-touch surfaces. Wear a mask if necessary. Observe the proper COVID-19 safety protocols set by the World Health Organization.
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Stop at the end of the day.
When your shift is done, stop. Work will never end. As much as your presence is needed at work, your presence is also required at home — physically, mentally, and emotionally. Learn to have a good work-life balance. Managing it can be a bit tricky especially since you’re at home but it can be done.
At the end of the day, remote work is still work and not a vacation or a day off. You are still expected to produce results only this time your advantage is you’re working in an environment that you can control.
