TELEWORKING TIPS TO IMPROVE THE WORK AT HOME STRUGGLE

I'm writing this during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic , however, if you find yourself having to work at home at anytime, and feel you could really use some teleworking tips you'll be able to relate to this. Chances are that if you're reading this post we agree that teleworking sucks. It sounds nice right? Being able to stay home and work in peace, but I've quickly learned it's not everything it's cracked up to be. At least in my opinion.

5 TELEWORKING TIPS TP IMPROVE THE WORK AT HOME STRUGGLE

1 . STICK WITH CLEAR BOUNDARIES

The first and one of the most important teleworking tips is to make sure you still stop at the time you would normally leave the office. You should not have to work longer hours just because you don't have your commute anymore. When 5:00 pm hits (or whatever time you normally get off) it's time to power off and put everything away. Don't make any excuses to continue working. If you're using laptop and can put it somewhere away do it. Out of sight out of mind you know?

2 . BREAK UP YOUR WORK AND REST TIME

For me, teleworking is difficult because there's no change of scenery between work and home. It's all the same. You don't get that feeling of relaxation when you get home after a long day of work. To combat this, use a self care activity to symbolize the transition between work and home. Whether that's workout in, calling a friend, stepping outside for some fresh air, journaling , or art, do something that makes you happy to help your "work brain" off. If possible, I also recommend spending your teleworking time in a part of the house you don't normally spend a lot of time in such as an extra room or office. If that isn't an option , telework wherever you are most comfortable , and remember to put everything away when you're done working.

3 . HAVE A PLAN

One of the most helpful things for me while teleworking is to have a plan about what exactly I want to get done that day. If you have a plan of things you know you can get done, you're less likely to find yourself distracted and wandering around the house. You're also more likely to feel like you've been productive once the work day is over and you've completed all or most of your task I feel will be easier to do at home for telework days. For example , I really don't like making a bunch of phone calls at home and would rather do that at a office. So on my telework days I make sure I can work on things on the computer such as writing reports. That way when I do go into the office I can do all of my engagement tasks. If you do work at home every day, think about when you are most productive. Is it in the morning? Or afternoon? For example, I feel more productive in the morning and would rather do things that require more attention and focus in the morning.

4 . MOVE AROUND

I don't mean to constantly be up and about, but I do think it's helpful to get up from your workspace every now and then. I like to take a walk around the neighbourhood sometime in the afternoon. That's when I usually start to feel more tired and less focused, so getting up to get some air is refreshing. It also gives me something to look forward to in the afternoon and it's a symbol that the work day is almost done with. If you can't get outdoors due tenth weather or where you live, at least remember to stand up every down and then, walk around, and stretch.

5 . SCHEDULE GROUP CALLS WITH COWORKERS

One of the things everyone misses about going into the office is most of the coworkers. You can use apps such as Skype, Zoom, FaceTime , or House Party. Plus , if your coworkers are feeling the same way as you about being forced to telework it's a great time to let off some stream and relate to one another about the struggle. At the same time you can motivate each other to have a productive day.

So there's no magic key to enjoying teleworking and the truth is you may never get used to it or enjoy it (pretty sure I won't). However, if you have to telework, know that there are things you can do to improve your experience. If you have any other tips, please share them in comments because we could all benefit!