Tina
loves her job and enjoys working. The only hitch is the distance that she has
to cover to her work place and the time that it consumes to reach office. She
is looking for options to work remotely and commute to office on a need
basis. As for Jayanth, he is looking for
an alternative to working from an office as it freaks him off.
These are a few cases to which Work from home
or remote work comes as an alternate option. Work from home is becoming the new
mantra in business world offering various options to their employees. It is
breaking the old style of confining oneself to an office for a fixed duration
of work. It comes as a boon for people
who cannot afford a full time office environment or want an alternative style
of working.
Today’s
world has shrunk geographical lines with advanced communication technology; it
has become easy to work on various options as per one’s needs and flexibility. There
are speculations by certain companies to offer this option to their on roll
employees. The fear of lower work
productivity and lack of monitoring grips them. Some feel, this might give
their employees time to laze around and not concentrate enough. The integrity
of the employee working remotely is also a concern.
Work
from home is a serious business and very challenging. While one gets to work
from the cosiness of their homes, boredom sets in a little sooner than expected
especially, if you have worked full time out of an office and are new to this
concept.
Though
this model allows one to work out of their comfort zone and flexi timings
(depends on the nature of work) it is an effort in itself to get this going. It can be both stressfull (if not handled
well) and an enjoyable experience (if you get it right).
As
it is said, there is a workaround for every problem or a situation a few
changes in the way you function will get you rocking.
Let us go through ten
simple rules that you can follow to make the work from home more professional
and efficient.
10 simple workarounds to enhance
the work from home experience
1.
Breath and organise your work: No
matter how the day looks like, start your works with a few deep breaths. This
relaxes your nerves. Make a checklist of the tasks to be completed for the day.
Set a deadline. You are all set to face what the day unfolds.
2.
Exercise: Setting a daily exercise
routine can be taxing. Take one baby step at a time. Start with 15 minutes of
stretching or walking or take a jog. Once the routine sets in, you can work on
the kind of workout that suits you best. Enrol yourself in local gym if
required. Give yourself the time to stretch. Awake yourself from the tiredness.
3.
Complete important tasks: It s a
common tendency to complete household chores in between work as you have the
travel time in your hands. This in the long run gets into a habit and diverts
your attention. It is a good practice to complete the necessary important
household task before you sit down to work. Do not keep unfinished important
task to be addressed in between your work schedule.
4.
Dress for the day: Working from home
does not come with a compliment of working in one’s pyjamas. Get out of the bed
and get ready to dress for the day. A well dressed “you” builds in the
confidence, cheers you up and refreshes you from inside out. In addition, find
a well lit and ventilated place to work. Set your working table with the
necessary accessories. Keep your laptop charged to avoid shutdown on sudden
power outage.
5.
Keep a schedule: This can be the
most challenging task to do. One can easily overdo the schedule or overlap the
work time and the family/leisure time. One may also lose the sense of time
while working from home. It is always a good practice to work on a regular
schedule. It is alright to tweak it a little if required but, make sure you do
not over do it and blow it up completely. This sets in the required pattern and helps
you concentrate on your other tasks.
6. Connect with your employer: Working from home requires more rapport
building as you do not meet your employer on a daily basis. At times working in
isolation can draw you into a shell. Connect with your employer and the team
(if there is one) on a regular basis. Get involved with the team. Use
communication tools to share work, lighter moment and experiences. Get to know
your colleagues better.
7.
Dedicated focus: Make sure you have
a proper internet connection at home. Use technology to understand work more
clearly. Make use of goggle hangouts, Web ex, Skype for video conferencing Pay
out most attention to the work at hand and give it your complete focus. Work
without distraction is less erroneous increasing the productivity of work.
8. Maintain
transparency: Be transparent about your work schedule and the tasks you can
accomplish for the day. This makes it easy for your employer to allot task and
anticipate the desired outcome. Keep
your employer informed in case of unforeseen situations or unavoidable
circumstances. This will build confidence and help you work better.
9.
Take breaks: Working from home can
get lonely at times. It is good to take intermediate small breaks to refresh
your mind. Read out of the internet to update and educate you. This adds value
to your work. Grab that sip of coffee!
Look outside the window.
10.
Walk the talk: One of the most faced
challenges in work from home is the integrity of the person. It is very
important to gain the trust of your employer for you to work in peace. The only
way is through your work and how you handle and manage your time and work. Keep
up your values. Be honest and walk the talk. Let the integrity in you not
rumble.
Companies are always on the hunt for new talents and experienced people who can add value to their business. Look for companies that work on the work from home or remote work business model. There are also websites offering work from home on a freelance or commission basis (if that is what you want to do). Discuss your payment terms if you want to work as a freelancer or a consultant Discuss the terms and conditions of work and payment. Choose the ones that suit you best and that fits into your time schedule. Try various permutation and combinations and set your best foot forward. All the best
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All Rights reserved Lavanya M Rao
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