How to work from home effectively

How to work from home effectively

During these unprecedented times business owners need to remain focused on providing the services their customers and clients have come to expect while protecting themselves and the public from current health concerns. One way to accomplish this is to work from home.

The experience of working from home is very different from working in a traditional office setting, but by setting guidelines and sticking to them, you can make working from home a success.

Follow these great tips from LifeCare:

Establish Your Workspace

Don’t have a home office? You can still successfully work from home by creating a similar environment by setting up a temporary workspace. Some suggestions to make a comfortable and effective space include:

• A work surface at a comfortable height to write and use your computer and keyboard.
• A comfortable chair; avoid using the bed or a sofa.
• An appropriate background in case you need to use a webcam or participate in a video chat.
• A location that is out of the main traffic areas to limit audio and visual “noise.”
• Storage and organizational materials.
• Basic office supplies that you most commonly use or need (such as pens, pencils, stapler, tape, etc.).

Stick to Your Routines 

To the extent possible, maintaining your regular routine will help you get – and keep — yourself in the right mindset for working. Consider the following tips:

• Get up at your regular time. Use the extra time you typically would have spent commuting to plan for your day, enjoy a cup of coffee or accomplish other tasks.
• Prep the same way you would for your usual work environment. Dress in clothing you would normally wear for work and stick to your usual routines. Not only will this help you get into a work mindset, you’ll be ready in the event you need to participate via video chat or conferencing.
• Maintain a regular meal schedule and eat healthy foods – avoid the temptation to snack on unhealthy treats at home. You’ll feel better and fueling yourself with healthy foods will improve your focus.

Leverage Technology 

Make certain your home technology will allow you to work effectively. Here is a strategy that can help:

• Make sure you have what you need. Talk to your IT Department or local electronics store to determine the equipment and software required to support effective telework. If you frequently collaborate, ensure your team members know what tools will be used such as video conferencing, instant messaging, etc.

Maintain Boundaries 

Some suggestions to maintain healthy boundaries between your work and life include:

• Keep focused. Distractions like household chores, kids, and other interruptions may prevent you from accomplishing as much as you want or need to. Having a defined workspace can help.
• Take brief but regular breaks. When working from home, it’s easy to get immersed in your work and forget to take regular breaks, which can lead to stress. Consider taking a short, brisk walk at lunchtime or stretching at your desk to relieve tension.
• Establish start and end times to your workday to avoid burnout.

Set Family Expectations 

Especially when you have not previously worked from home, your family may not understand that you are working. It’s important to stay focused and minimize distractions. Here are some strategies that may help:

• Explain to your children what it means to work at home and that your attention needs to be on your work.
• Communicate your work schedule to family and friends and ask them to respect that time as dedicated to work.
• Set rules/expectations for behavior during work hours – especially related to interruptions.
• Ahead of time, plan activities to keep children busy.
• Plan for care arrangements if your child cannot go to school or childcare. Similarly, plan for senior care options.

Concerns or Questions? Contact a Florida Business Law Attorney

During this unparalleled time, our offices are here to answer any concerns you may have on how the current world environment might affect your business and how you can protect yourself and your company.

Florida business law attorney Matthew Fornaro assists businesses and entrepreneurs throughout Broward County, Parkland, and Coral Springs in all business law matters, including but not limited to, business formation, business litigation, tax law matters, employment law, and matters related to compliance. For more information or if you have questions related to business law matters, call 954-324-3651 or contact us online.