7 tips to be productive while working from home

The coronavirus pandemic has quarantined the world and companies across the globe are issuing advisories to their employees asking them to work from home (WFH). However, the transition from and office environment to that of staying focused at home could be difficult. There are so many things that demand attention at home that productivity suffers. A lot of WFH people will become familiar with this dad's situation soon!

But while working from home could be difficult, it's not really that difficult. I have been an independent consultant working from home for over 1.5 years now and I've found my balance. There is enough distraction for me - being a single mom to a toddler and a supremely clingy fur baby :D - but I have learnt some tricks to make the most of my day. Here they are and I hope they help some of you!

1. Set a routine: I know I know, it sounds cliched. And really, who can set a routine in the always on work scenario that most of us operate on? But putting aside work hours is really really going to help you in actually getting some work done. When you are at home the temptation to maybe Netflix a bit, play games, or just take a snooze could be too great. And if you have kids, it's very difficult to explain to them that you are working and not to be disturbed. Setting aside that time creates boundaries for everyone - yes including yourself - and gets things done. A routine also helps you let your team mates know what are the best times to call you without disruptions.
2. Get dressed every morning: Even though you don't have to go to office every day, don't change your morning routine. Get ready like nothing has changed and you will be leaving for work in a bit. This helps put you in the frame of mind to work - something that lolling around in pajamas is not going to help with.
3. Decide on a workplace: Not all of us have the luxury of a home office. I actually work from my dining table! But that's become my work spot. And so everything I need to work - my laptop, chargers, notepads, pens, etc. is in that area. If you can convert a room or a balcony to a temporary home office that would be great too. So when you get ready, you can move to this "office" and get working. During my work hours i.e. 10-5 on the days my boy goes to school, and 8-12 and 4-8 on the days when he stays home - my office (the dining table) is out of bounds. Mamma is in her hypothetical office and no one can breach the walls :D.
4. Get a working setup: Ensure you have a high speed Internet connection and power backup. Maybe get a WiFi dongle in case of a network disruption. Make sure you have everything you need to work in the vicinity of your temporary workplace. Getting up to go hunt for something in the middle of a virtual meeting may not pan out well :D
5. Make sure you are comfortable and minimize distractions: While you may not have an exactly ergonomic space to work from, prolonged work in a bad posture can lead to back issues. So find out a comfortable seating - maybe invest in an ergonomic cushion. During your work hours don't have the TV on in the background! Tune out from the usual noise of a household. Maybe play music or white noise if that works for you.
6. Communicate often: It's easy to feel lost and out of loop in a WFH scenario. The grapevine has sort of died down and so has the office info that traveled along it. It's difficult to keep track of what's happening in your team, let alone the organization! While companies are creating remote work policies and communication plans, its important to be proactive about staying in touch. Do daily status update calls, call co-workers informally, use online collaboration tools or even whatsapp groups.
7. Take regular breaks: Another extreme of a WFH scenario is that we often forget to take breaks. There are no team mates coming and asking for a tea break or lunch and in the interest of finishing something we keep pushing the break. Take 10 minutes off just to stretch every 30-40 minutes. Regular breaks will keep you fresh, and counterintuitively, get the work done faster.

These are some of the things that have worked for me. How are you dealing with your WFH scenario? Have any tips to share? Drop in a comment :D.