Hacks for creating a productive Work-from-home environment

Photo: Polina Zimmerman for Pexels

WFH as we call it the quirkiest abbreviation for a few months, is certainly not the most favourable state of work discipline. It takes great efforts to create a promising routine that is both productive and fulfilling. In the distress of ongoing pandemic, most companies are compelled to implement WFH policies in their organisations. We are delighted to share our best tips to create a productive and supportive work-from-home environment.

As for us being operational from our virtual set-ups for some time now, we admit to ride our rollercoaster growth curve every single day by signing up for the chaotic conversations, misinterpreted texts and emotional content. While social distancing is keeping us charged, we, on the other hand, our embracing the virtual connecting. Scroll on for our tips on how to design comforting workspace, limiting distractions and making the experience worthwhile.

WORK-STATION

How we miss our dedicated work stations at the office who knew we could probably replicate the atmosphere of our office by taking care of the things mentioned below. Look for a space that pushes you to work despite the distractions and discontent around us. An ideal infrastructure of a home workspace must include a desk and a work chair that supports your posture movements while you spin your day on the chair the entire day. A dining table, Breakfast station or foldable bed tables are great substitutes to complete your infra necessities. While you choose a work station, try to ensure that the room has ample natural light, quiet and away from most household distractions. Make this space your very own walk-in, walk-out office corner MADE at HOME!

WORKING HOURS It is incredibly important to manage your work madness with designated work hours. It not only makes you more productive but also helps you structure your entire day. It is an efficient way to develop a routine and retain your sanity while churning through the deadlines. Another essential thing to take into consideration while you are at WFH is to look beyond the lines and enlist all the things that you would have missed otherwise in a 9-5 office hour state. It is good to indulge in things you like to feel elated throughout the day. A happy mind is an ideal state of mind for work! Make the most of this time scroll and incorporate all the things you wish too.

LIMIT DISTRACTIONS

It is difficult to completely eliminate the distractions from your workspace at home in the presence of family, pets and daily chores. But the intensity of chaos should be checked and minimised as much as possible. There are a few obvious distractions that need to be monitored and settle before you head for a productive day at work.

• Social Media Scrolling: It is highly recommended to cut the scroll time and limit the engagement as work/business allows or casual surfing scheduled in breaks or post your working hours. We tend to waste and stress our eyeballs while swiping through social media apps affecting our time schedules and breaking the consistency.

• Screen tabs: We definitely take advantage of having no colleague staring into our screens by opening entertaining extensions like Youtube and Netflix besides our work tabs. A stressed mind craves for a quick shift stroll on the laptop and this surely is not the most committed way to work.

• Noise-cancellation: No matter how cooperative your family and pets be, we do get bothered by noises generating outside our premises. Minimise the impact either by putting on noise cancellation earplugs or putting on some white noise to gain focus.

The possibilities of daily distractions are infinite and we cannot stress enough the need to get rid of those for leading a focused day at work.

CASUAL CLOTHING (PJ’s) : With changing work environments, our daily work attire has seen a rather humorous shift. While we tend to minimise our efforts on designing the work wardrobe we should consider a comfort clothing concept than staying the day in jammies. Give yourself a psychological boost of getting to work with having a simple OOTD routine with athleisure, activewear or comfort denim.

CONVERSATION STARTERS It indeed is a draining and lonely experience of working from home. Therefore, we suggest keeping a check with your friends, colleagues and family over a word on call. It is a great time to expand your network and initiate other conversations which you might not have done otherwise. Talk more and lend your ears to others for them to share a word about their work and experiences. And there you feel resourceful or responsible?

STRESS CHECK

It is important to take a break from work so you can actually stay engaged at work. After spending a few hours in front of the computer screens it is normal to encounter fatigue, feel stressful and less productive. Now is the time to make a shift either with your mindset or work setup. Try changing your work-setup with a more comfortable spot in your home, or maybe cook and eat something, lie down in rest mode to get rid of all the tensioned muscles and strain. The last thing you would ever want is to feel uninspired due to temporary breakdowns.