It doesn’t matter whether you are a freelancing Mompreneur working from home, or whether you are a veteran Small Business Owner getting to grips with a staff team working from home during the coronavirus pandemic, there are aspects to working from home that can help you be more productive.
The world has changed significantly in recent months and our work practices have had to adapt at breakneck speed.
For the health and well being of our employees, we have instigated working from home as a go-to method of working. For some, this has meant a re-evaluation of the office as a workplace.
For many, working from home has had very little impact on levels of productivity, and for some, productivity levels have even increased.
Working from home can often seem like a blessing before rapidly turning into a curse. There may be WiFi downtime due to shoddy ISPs, procrastination can be ever-alluring, and not being able to mix with our colleagues physically can see us missing the office banter and camaraderie of friends.
If you are working from home a little more often than usual, take a look at this essential guide to help your business continue to thrive.
Procrastination
The number one reason working from home policies tend to fray at the edges is the procrastination aspect of being in your pad and working from the sofa with the TV on. You cannot work from home if this is your MO. You need to set up a space dedicated to your work and free from distractions.
- A home office is ideal. If this isn’t feasible, the dining room table is the second-best option.
- Keep the kids away from your area and shut the door if you can.
- Have your coffee machine in your office, so you don’t have to venture to the kitchen and meet procrastination temptation along the way.
Working from home doesn’t mean getting up late and staying in your pyjamas all day. You won’t get any work done.
Instead, get up as if you were heading into the office, have a shower and get dressed. You don’t need to be wearing your power suit but consider how you want to be viewed on your virtual meetings and dress accordingly.
Social media is there to try and tempt you away from your work. Don’t succumb. You wouldn’t spend hours scrolling through Facebook when sat at your office desk, so don’t do it now. Draw up a list every day of tasks that need to be completed, ticking them off as you go. This way, you can see how productive you are being while working from home.
WiFi
If you have many Zoom meetings scheduled each day, it’s vital that you choose an Internet service provider that can cope with your heavy usage.
Check out the latest Internet deals if your download speed is sluggish and opt for a greater data allowance and a provider with fast speeds. This will help you to cope with the rigors of working from home.
It is difficult not to get frustrated when your Skype calls are impacted by buffering and fuzzy images. Make this a thing of the past by going for a more comprehensive Internet package.
Social Distancing
Working from home is the ultimate in social distancing. You actually run the risk of feeling isolated, which can have a damaging effect on your mental health.
To combat this, you need to stay in contact with people virtually if not physically. This can be a challenge as we are social creatures, and we miss the hugs and handshakes of greetings. Network by logging onto webinars and meetings.
Set up a virtual social with your employees every Friday to chat about other things rather than just work. This is a great opportunity to get to know your staff as people rather than just your workforce. Get to know about their hobbies, their likes, their dislikes and their family.
Fresh Air
If you can head outdoors, take some breaks throughout the day and go for a walk. This can stop you feeling claustrophobic inside. Getting outside brings you closer to nature and can help you feel less anxious about what is going on in the world. Your business is only one aspect of you as a person.
Yes, you love your little money-making venture, but you also need to take time out for yourself to ensure that you are as healthy and alert as possible.
The natural sunlight will help release endorphins, making you feel more refreshed and content. Blood pressure will lower, and your body clock will regulate, helping your sleep well.
This can enhance your productivity and give you the drive needed to help your business to thrive.
Pin Image Credit: Pexels – CC0 License
Business Functions
When you work outside of the office, you presume that you cannot complete your business functions to the high standards that you are used to.
You assume that the office is some sort of magical environment that empowers you to perform marketing activities better or to prepare more impressive presentations to external clients. This is not the case.
With your dedicated home office space, you can complete your business tasks to ensure that your venture continues to trade, make money and be a market leader.
With more business being conducted online, including meetings and initial contacts, it’s more important than ever that you hone your online presence.
This means your website needs to be relevant and updated.
Your social media channels such as your Facebook page and your Twitter feed also need to be regularly updated with meaningful and shareable content.
With people spending more time online and being savvier about where they spend their money, you need to ensure that they share your posts to extend your customer base.
Working from home isn’t a second-best option for you and your workforce. You need to keep your business vision alive and set yourself goals to help your business go from strength to strength even during a pandemic.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels – CC0 License
Are you working from home for the first time or is this your regular workspace? If it’s new, how have you adapted to the change? We’d love to hear from you. Would you like to leave us a comment below?
