Signature Market Cares: 7 Tips When Working From Home

Working from home is definitely a luxury that only certain companies tend to offer its employees. However, with the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO), most companies are expected to make use of this luxury. This offers employees a much safer approach to continue serving for their company though efficiency is sometimes questioned understandably so. There are distractions all around, less accountability and less communication as opposed to being in our office.

But this does not mean it is impossible. Here are 7 tips to help you make the most of your time working from home!

1. Maintain regular working hours. ⏰

This is the key to ensuring productivity when working from home. It is tempting to give yourself extreme flexibility as to when you start work, when you take a break and when you end work. However, this can be quite unethical. Instead, learn to work around your own productivity and give yourself a set of consistent working hours. This allows you to be accountable to your boss in addition to also getting work done more efficiently.

2. Plan your workflow. 📝

This is quite an obvious one. Keep a planner and start listing out your tasks for the day. Although some of us may assume that we have everything in check, it is easy to let it slip out too. Before you start working, ensure that you are well-aware of your priorities for the day. Give each task a designated time frame to be worked on and aim to complete it between that time. Plan your tasks around the time where you feel most productive throughout the day.

3. Break up your day. 🍌

Similarly, it is also easy to work continuously once you have got your grind on. Avoid wearing yourself out and take breaks from your at-home work space. Snack on some fruits, play with your pet or simply have a chat with your grandparents. The great thing about working from home is that you are accessible to such amazing and wholesome ways to reset and regain your energy. Be sure to include these break times in your planner as well.

4. Separate your work space and personal space. ☀️

Choosing your work space plays just as big a role as ensuring productivity in completing your work. While choosing a comfortable space is definitely essential, you would also want to make sure that this will not tempt you to take more than frequent breaks. Setting your work space in your bed for example, is bound to result in accidental breaks every now and then. Instead, choose somewhere far from your personal space so you will not get distracted.

5. Dress up as you would for the office. ☕

Although it is incredibly tempting to be working from home in your sleepwear or lounge wear, it tends to actually cause you to mentally associate comfort with breaks. As such, you are more likely to feel sleepy and unmotivated. Go around your day as though you are actually heading to the office. This would include setting your alarm, making coffee and dressing up. By doing this, you will see yourself being more productive than ever.

6. Create your own work space. 💻

Once you have chosen your designated work space at home and dressed up accordingly, personalize your work space too. Although working from your bed or couch can be extremely tempting due to its comfort, you are less likely to feel motivated or productive. Try working from a consistent room, desk or chair to tell your brain that it is work time and not break time. Fill your desk with the essentials such as stationary and your planner and you are good to go.

7. Always stay connected with your colleagues. 🥰

Working in the office offers great opportunities to socialize with your colleagues. Though this can sometimes act as a form of distraction, it actually gives your mind the break it needs because you often forget to do so when in the office. However, working from home should not limit you from doing so. Give your colleagues a call or even have a video chat with them. Remember to keep up on a personal level as well as on a professional level.