With the latest updates on the Coronavirus pandemic, more Britons are working from home as well as experiencing the difficulty of getting to work. During these tough times, more people need help learning to work from home – while working from home might come naturally to some people, others don’t take to working from home as easily.
If you are just starting to work from home or you see it’s coming in your future, we are here to help you make the transition smooth and successful. Continue reading this article for top tips and information to work from home successfully.
Check Your Internet Connection
Before you start working from home, you need to know you have the proper setup. Part of the proper setup is your internet connection. If your internet connection is too slow, it can harm your productivity.
Check with your provider and see if you have the fastest internet available. If you don’t have the fastest internet available, it’s usually pretty easy to upgrade and get the best. You might need different equipment, and if you don’t understand how it all works, you might look at some of our services like our remote IT support to see how we can help you get set up in no time.
Besides your main internet connection, you need a backup as well. If your service provider is down for the day, you could lose the whole day because you can’t get connected. Many people use their mobile phone hotspot if they get stuck, so that is one option to consider.
Choose Your Software
Since you won’t physically be in the office, you need to figure out how you’re going to stay connected. You will need software for communication, project planning, tracking your activity, and more. Figuring out which software is going to work best for you will make remote working much easier.
There are services like Toggl for time tracking, Slack for team communication, and Asana for project planning and task management. You’ll find there are many other options as well if those don’t fit what you need or want.
Keep Your Information and Work Secure
Cybersecurity is a major concern for people working at home. When you work in the office, you’re all on the same network. You all have the same security protocols and in-house works to keep you on track.
When you’re working from home, you’re the only one that can make sure you’re working safely and keeping your information and systems secure. You can keep your work secure by using antivirus, malware protection, and always staying up to date with all updates on your computer.
When you’re creating your accounts, always make your passwords secure. Use upper case and lower case, numbers and don’t use birthdays or pet names as passwords.
Get Dressed
If you’re tempted to stay in your PJs all day — fight that urge! Getting dressed lets your mind know it is time to be awake and to get to work. Getting dressed only takes a few minutes, and it makes a big difference in your day.
You don’t have to get dressed up like you’re going into the office, but having day time clothes on is a must for working from home.
Have a Dedicated Work Space
Having a dedicated workspace allows your brain to understand it is time to work. Setting up a desk that is specifically meant for working means you’ll have fewer temptations to blow off work when you’re there. You know this is where you work and when it is time to focus on what needs to get done.
Stay Away from TV and Streaming Services
It’s easy to get pulled into watching tv and streaming services for a few minutes. While you might have the best intentions and believe you can stop yourself from going further, that’s not usually the case. TV and streaming services can be major time drains and keep you from getting important tasks done throughout the day.
Take Regular Breaks
You might think you’re stronger than people that take scheduled breaks throughout the day. You don’t need breaks, and you’re going to keep working until the job is done.
What you might not know is that taking regular breaks helps you be more productive. You’ll be able to focus more and concentrate on what you need to get done. While you might be working less, you’ll actually get more done.
When you don’t take regular breaks, you’ll feel more stressed. When you feel stressed, it will negatively affect your quality of work.
Set Work Hours
You might say that you’ll work when it works for you. While this sounds good, it usually doesn’t work out well. When you don’t have work hours, people are prone to believe that you’re available all of the time. You’ll likely feel like you don’t have any time off from work since no work hours means no off-hours.
Get to Work – At Home
Now you know more about how to get to work from home and how to be successful working from home. As more people opt to work at home with the recent COVID-19 outbreak, fewer people will commute, and more people will have to learn how to work at home amidst distractions and other challenges.
When you’re working from home, you might need help with technical issues that would otherwise have been an issue for in-house tech support. If you find yourself in a situation where you need IT support, we would be glad to help you.
Contact us for all your IT needs and let us help you keep working safely and successfully from home.