Due to the need for social distancing, many businesses have started embracing a remote work strategy. As a result, many of us who are used to doing our work while sitting at our desks are now forced to do our work in the comfort of our homes. Although some may not have a problem adjusting to the change, others may find it difficult to stay concentrated with the various distractions that surround them. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to boost your productivity while working from home.
Working from Home Tips and Tricks
If you’ve recently started working from home, then you’ve likely noticed that there are some unique challenges that come with remote work. It’s not uncommon for those who are new to telecommuting to find it difficult to stay motivated throughout the day. In addition, telecommuting requires technology, and if that technology isn’t working, neither are you. The biggest problem, however, is that despite the new work environment, expectations for your work remain the same.
While challenges like these can have an impact on your overall productivity, they don’t have to. There are a number of steps you can follow to keep yourself focused on the task at hand, as well as avoid IT issues that can lead to downtime. If you’re worried about your productivity, here are a few useful tips and tricks you should keep in mind.
Install Enterprise-Level Antivirus Software
Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you’re in any less danger of succumbing to a computer virus. All remote employees should have enterprise-level antivirus software installed on their computers. It would also help to have 24/7 network monitoring to ensure remote workers have proactive protection against cyber threats that could damage files or slow down devices.
Find a Space to Do Your Work
Whether it’s your home office, the sofa, or your bed, you need to find a place where you can successfully perform your job. Where you work in your home doesn’t necessarily matter. The most important factor is that you find a space where you feel like you won’t be interrupted or distracted.
There are a number of steps you can follow to keep yourself focused on the task at hand, as well as avoiding IT issues that can lead to downtime.
Set Your Schedule
Working sporadically throughout the workweek can encourage procrastination. Setting a fixed schedule during normal work hours will help keep you on task. Additionally, it will help you and your coworkers stay on the same page, so if they ever need your assistance, or vice versa, they’ll know when you’re available.
Set Boundaries
If you live with a roommate, family, or significant other, it can be hard to concentrate when they’re trying to interact with you or if they’re constantly walking in and out of your room. To ensure they don’t distract you from your job, you’ll need to set boundaries. Tell whoever you’re living with that you’ll be working certain hours and that you should only be disturbed if there’s an emergency. You may even want to put a sign on the door as a reminder.
Stay in Touch with Coworkers
When you work remotely, it’s easy to miss out on important internal communications. You need to keep in touch with your coworkers as much as possible to stay up to date. One way to do this is through virtual meetings. One of the benefits of remote meetings is they give you an opportunity to interact with your coworkers in a meaningful way. As a bonus, it can also help to mitigate any feelings of isolation from your team.
Protect Your Equipment
Since your company’s IT team can’t drive over to your home to address physical problems with your device, it’s more important than ever to keep your equipment protected. Here are a few protective steps you can take:
- If you need to take your laptop somewhere, carry it in a protective carrying case.
- Avoid eating or drinking anything around your computer.
- Clean the keyboard properly with compressed air.
Stay Productive with Stability Networks
At Stability Networks, we understand the difficulties of working remotely. That’s why we offer comprehensive Managed I.T. Services specifically designed to maintain and enhance business productivity. We can even customize our solutions to meet the needs of your team.
If you’d like to learn how we can help your business, contact us today to set up a meeting.
