9 Tips For Adjusting To Work From Home Successfully
*Why Working from Home is the Present and the Future*
By
Theodore Henderson
The Wisdom Man
Why is adjusting to working from home so important? Aren’t things going back to the “good old days?” The answer is no and here is why. The current global crisis has changed the world’s landscape. More people are discovering online shopping, online education, and even online work. The idea that home-based businesses are not just some unemployed person’s fantasy and employees who work from home are more productive has also become popular.
Work from Home is the Future
After this pandemic, the future of employment is a blurry combination of work, life, pajamas, and video call. A remote job may not just be a temporary side effect of this global health crisis. While there is an ongoing search for ways to get our children going back to a “normal school life” of some type, this will not be the case for the work world.
Many white-collar workers are likely to be encouraged to work from home, maybe at least for the time being or until next year. To maintain or increase productivity you will need a strategy for adjusting to working from home successfully. The company will give guidelines but you will have to figure it out.
Working from home may also confer some mental health benefits to workers, but the truth is the “job” as we know it might never be the same again. In-person meetings, conferences, and even handshakes might be prohibited and considered too risky. Some think what could be coming is a future wherein results-oriented introverts prevail while those who prefer face-to-face interactions fumble. Somehow I don’t think that will happen. Let’s explore how to set ourselves up for productively working remotely or from home and what the future of work will look like to move forward.
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“Do what you can,
with what you have,
where you are.”
~ Theodore Roosevelt
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Before the pandemic, about 29% of college graduates have been working from home for quite some time. Expect that even if coronavirus restrictions are eased, there would still be companies that would retain the work from the home set-up. This will be true even for college graduates who will need to work remotely like the rest of us.
Many companies would have successfully adapted to telework that they might opt to remain with their current set-up even after this crisis. By that time, executives may have realized that this set-up is an easy way to save money as the economy continues to struggle. For one, they hold the line on overhead costs. They also save money on transportation, rentals, etc.
Despite encountering discomfort at the beginning, employees might have adjusted to the work from home set up and have also appreciated the advantages of working from the comforts of their homes. In some cases, they may be working remotely from a conveniently shared co-working environment.
Of course, not all workers will have the opportunity of working remotely forever. An estimate of at least 60% of jobs in the United States alone cannot be performed at home. Grocery-store clerks, meatpackers, or warehouse workers, for example, obviously cannot work from home.
Adjusting to Working from Home
If you are one of those workers who were given the option of working remotely (includes entrepreneurs and business owners), here are some tips to make the adjusting to working from home easier:
1 Deal with distractions —
Generally, working from home can be more productive, but it can also go in the opposite direction. It is essential to choose a permanent office space and set a specific “work time” schedule. Avoid doing home chores when you are officially working.
2 Create workspace to focus on work —
This is essential if you want to stay on track and easily get things done. It should be a place where you can comfortably work with minimal to no distractions.
3 Manage your time —
The best way to do this is to create a “to-do list.” This helps you stay focused and prevent procrastinating.
4 Create a work-life balance —
Working at home doesn’t mean spending long hours at work. It is important to rest during your days off.
Will Work from Home Become the Norm?
The global pandemic has changed the world, literally. Many businesses have shifted towards a more remote workforce. It appears that this scenario is going on a long-term trend. Will work from home become a norm? What is your strategy for adjusting to working from home successfully?
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More organizations have started to implement flexible working hours as they continue to weigh in on back-to-office strategies. Discussions about a four-day workweek have also surfaced as one of the options. People worldwide are thinking of ways to bring back normalcy even with the virus still very much present.
Big companies like Microsoft, Silicon Valley, Google, and even Facebook are open to flexible working arrangements like working from home and working remotely. Some companies are still open to the idea of 50% of their employees to work in an office set-up. They believe a “hybrid workplace strategy” could allow worksites to open gradually amidst the scare of Covid-19.
Is it the new normal? A shift to more remote working enables companies to reevaluate their expensive office space. Social media giant, Facebook, says it has plans of creating “hubs” across the United States.
A growing number of business leaders are resorting to working from home set-ups and more flexible working arrangements. This new normal may help reduce commute traffic, thus helping with social distancing measures.
As we brace for the new normal you will need strategies and tips to make adjusting to working from home an easier transition. Here are working from home tips that might help you during the transition:
5 Set-up a permanent workspace —
This could be a spacious bedroom that you can convert into a home office. If you have limited rooms in the house, you can choose a corner in your bedroom and put a desk for your computer and other office essentials. The idea is you can work undisturbed.
6 Set and follow real work hours. —
Having your own home office space is not enough. You have to make sure that you set a dedicated work schedule that you can commit to following every day. One of the best things about working from home is you can be flexible. Strictly enforce your work schedule. At the end of the working hours, you should distance yourself from work.
7 Invest in comfortable office furniture. —
Suppose the remote working arrangement is going to be long-term. In that case, you might need to invest in the right quality office furniture if you haven’t already. Consider your work area before purchasing a desk, a comfortable chair, and even bookshelves. Keep in mind that you will be working in this area every single day.
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8 Know your high productivity periods. —
Not everyone has the same “productive period.” For example, there are morning people, and they work more efficiently during the day. There are others that work well in the evenings. Discover your most productive time and try to build your work schedule around it.
9 Create a to-do list and update it every day.
When you’re working from home, it’s easier to wander off work, especially when there is no superior lurking over your shoulder. To keep track of what you need to during your workday, create a to-do list, and stick to it.
Adjusting to working from home may be challenging, but you surely will be willing to make it work.
Conclusion – Adjusting to Working from Home
Organizations with a forward-thinking mindset realize they need to invest in significant long-term remote-working building blocks. They must overhaul their upskilling and retraining methods and adopt an agile approach to strategic workforce planning.
The COVID-19 global pandemic has forced many companies to rework their business models rapidly. While working remotely and teleworking was already expanding prior to the crisis, the epidemic and the massive expansion and adoption of videoconferencing, as well as, streaming worldwide has shown that working remotely, where applicable, is here for good. Thus strategies for adjusting to working from home are critical.
Furthermore, even before this biological crisis, new technologies and new approaches to working were disrupting jobs and the skills employees required to do them. Statistics in the McKinsey Global Institute estimated that 60 percent of occupations had at least 30 percent of fundamental work activities ripe for automation by 2030. This may result in as many as 375 million workers worldwide would have to change occupations or acquire new skills by 2030.
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The dynamics of the global economy show many industries were already experiencing severe skills imbalance. And with the onset of the pandemic, as workers across industries determine how to adapt to rapidly evolving conditions, companies must learn how to synch those workers to new roles and activities.
The possible impact of automation on employment or careers varies by occupation and sector. Activities most vulnerable to automation include the more physical ones in standard environments, such as machine operation and fast food.
Collecting and processing data are two other work categories that are increasingly done better and faster with machines. This will displace large pools of labor, such as mortgage origination, paralegal work, accounting, and many back-office transaction processing functions.
All is not negative to the labor force, however. Even when some tasks are automated, employment in selected occupations may not decline, but instead, workers may be able to perform new tasks.
Finally, automation will have a diminished effect on jobs that involve people management, applying expertise, and social interactions. Unless something has dramatically shifted in nature, machines cannot match human performance with other human beings’ relationships.
For more on adjusting to working from home for both employees and entrepreneurs review the articles below.
Why You Must Create Peak Productivity and Performance
Why Solopreneurs Grapple With Burn Out And How To Identify It
How To Create Your Work From Home Schedule for Daily Productivity
How to Create A Home Office That’s Healthy and Comfortable
About The Author
Theodore Henderson works with business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate professionals on their business skills, marketing, and leadership strategies. He is an Amazon best-selling author, a Certified Career Coach, Business Skills & Leadership Coach, and a Certified Social Media Security Professional Powered by CompTIA.
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