Canadians across the country have been asked to work from home as much as possible to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. For many, working from home for a day or two at a time can be a welcome break from going into the office — but when you’re asked to work from home indefinitely, it can be tough to concentrate and stay motivated. Here are a few tips that might help you keep things as close to “business as usual” as possible until you get back to the office:
Set up your workspace in a way that will help you focus and do your job most effectively. While some people might have a dedicated home office space, others might have to get a little more creative when it comes to choosing a workspace. No matter where you’ve chosen to get set up, take some time to tidy up your workspace and add your own finishing touches, like “desk plants,” an extension cord to plug in all of your technology, and even a Bluetooth speaker to play the radio in the background if that’s what you’re used to.
Keep your routine as close to normal as possible. Wake up at the same time every day, get dressed and ready as if you were going into the and start and end your workday around the same time each day. Depending on who else is at home on a daily basis, it might be tough to keep your normal 9-to-5 schedule, and you may want to shift your “office hours” around a little to avoid distractions if possible.
Take breaks at your regular break times and get away from your work. Make yourself something to eat, watch an episode of your favourite TV show, do a quick at-home workout or yoga video, or get outside for some fresh air (just make sure you maintain a safe distance from others). Whatever you choose to do, you’ll feel most refreshed if you can get your mind off of your work for a little while, which should help you stay productive for the rest of the day
Hold meetings using video conferencing instead of phone calls whenever possible. This can help you feel more connected to your colleagues and give you some much-needed human contact to help lift your spirits. It’s also a good excuse to get up and get dressed in the morning instead of staying in your pajamas.
If you have kids who are also stuck at home right now, it can be especially challenging to balance work and family life without being able to physically go to work. Consider these tips for working from home while your kids are there, too:
Pre-pack meals and snacks similar to what you would normally send to school, and make sure your kids know where to find them when they’re hungry.
Set boundaries and make sure your kids understand when you will be taking an important call or working on something urgent.
Consider creating a daily schedule of activities for your kids that don’t require your help or supervision (depending on their age), and choose the most engaging activities for times when you will be taking important calls or working on urgent assignments.
Last but not least, don’t be too hard on yourself if your kids get more screen time than usual right now — letting them sit and watch a movie or two can be a great way to keep them occupied, and it requires very little time and effort on your end.
Working from home can be a challenge if you’re not used to it and distractions or the urge to go off and do something else are everywhere, so try your best to make things as “office-like” as possible and you should be just fine. Also, keep in mind that if you are no longer driving to work, you should update your insurance policy as it may save you a little bit of money. Give Absolute Insurance Brokers a call or email us and we’d be glad to review your policy with you!
