When I was starting to work from home, I was wondering what is the employee experience from other people who are working from home. I did some research at first, and then with my experience working from home over the years I have to say, you have to be prepared for everything that follows.
What is Work from Home E
A lot of people today, including myself are enjoying the privilege of working from home. Working from home is considered a great advantage, plus if you have flexible working hours, you have made a really great working arrangement for yourself.
You can use the time spent telecommuting more productive, you can even do your laundry at lunchtime, do your conference calls while parked at the supermarket’s parking, and live an independent and self-disciplined lifestyle. It is extraordinary, it is exhausting, but it’s worth it.
However, all these advantages sometimes can become obstacles, since it can be difficult to draw crystal clear lines between work and home. To make the best out of this situation is to set some guidelines, and prioritize tasks, so you can have the best use of your time, in your professional and private life.
Here are a few pieces of advice that helped me in managing my day effectively by getting the most out of it while working from home. All these tempting freedoms sometimes can turn out to be the hardest ones to conquer. There is no alarm clock, so try your best to figure out when to start working. There is no specific lunchtime, so don’t forget that you need to eat. There are no bosses watching over your shoulder, but do your job as they are.
1. A designated place for work
Working from home gives you the freedom to work from wherever you want to. While lounging on the sofa, sipping your fruit cocktail on the back porch, or even on one of the kitchen tables, you can do your work very successfully.
Even so, it is very important to have one designated place for working from home. Whether it has a door that separates you from the rest of the house and all that is going on in there, or some table in one of the corners in your house. A place that you are associating with work, will help in putting you in work mood, especially when you really need to be focused, and concentrated, and all those happy places are not working for you.
2. Don’t forget that you need to eat
When you are working in a regular office, you have a certain time for lunch. Also, there are your colleagues who will remind you of the lunchtime. With that being said, when you are working from home, you can easily get into work, and since there are no colleagues that will distract you, by the time you think of it, you will be dying hungry, and you will eat whatever first comes in front of you, instead of well prepared balanced meal.
3. Make yourself stop
When working from a typical office you know when your workday ends, and your colleagues have already left the building. But when working from home, for most of the people including myself, stopping with work is the hardest part.
If you think that you can’t overwork from home you are wrong. There aren’t clear lines if you have underworked or overworked since you are the first one to arrive in your “office” and the last to leave.
Choose a normal job, with normal working hours, enjoy that you don’t have to commute to work, do your tasks, take a few breaks, eat lunch and finish at a specific time. After that specific time you are no longer working from home, you are at home spending the rest of the day with your family.
4. No distractions and No team
Working from home, and especially if you live alone, means that there are no distractions, no noise, you are completely on your own. At first, when I started working from home, I felt blessed, I did my work with top-notch efficiency.
After a while, you start missing people around you, people who are doing similar tasks, who share the same mindset. Just people with whom you can joke around and relieve the pressure of your chest. Being present is a not same by using the different communicating platforms with your teammates.
When there aren’t bosses to look over your shoulder, it is not very easy to stay focused. You have to be very disciplined, otherwise, you’ll just procrastinate. And although you have all these distractions working in a regular office, it is easy to do your job, since everybody around you is set to complete the same goal.
5. Accomplishments
When you are having a bad day at work in an office, you come home in your safe haven and still have a sensation of accomplishment. After all, you did your tasks, attended the meetings etc.
When you are working from home, one of the disadvantages is that when you are having a bad day, and although you did your tasks, it still feels like you didn’t do anything. The worst part is that when the day is finally over you are still in the same spot.
6. Be Adaptable
Sometimes when working from home, you have to be available after hours during some busy periods. So to be effective you have to prioritize some tasks and wisely schedule your calls with your clients and teammates. Also, securing your internet connection is your responsibility, so if you have some problems with it, you have to make sure that you have a Plan B, like a coffee shop that is nearby.
Why There is a Need for WFH Ex?
The simple answer to this question is the generation of Millennials. Millennials are even bigger workforce than the generation of Baby Boomers, with the difference that the Millennials are the digital generation, the generation who value the gained experience over the things, the generation who is not sharing the mindset of “get a job for a lifetime and leave with a pension”.
For Millennials, it is no longer enough to have good salaries, great benefits, or some other perks. They want a reason to fit in the company and a culture that can help them thrive.
Pros and cons for Working from Home Employees
Pros
- There is no commuting, no traffic, and you can use your precious time for different things;
- Eating lunch at home means spending less money, and you can prepare your food however you prefer;
- You can have a coffee break in every office, but it’s better if you live near a beach, you can do your coffee break there while enjoying the sun;
- No office will give you the comfort that is in your home. You can work, dressed in your pajamas, and on any surface that suits you at the moment;
- You get to go in your own bathroom and don’t have to wait in line.
Cons
- There aren’t human interactions;
- When it’s hard you don’t have anyone to cheer you up;
- Working from 9-5 from home it’s tough, it’s better if you have a flexible schedule.
The Importance of Staying Healthy for WFH Employees
When it comes to your health, working from home can be a challenge. Working in unsuitable ergonomically surroundings, an abundance of unhealthy snacks in the kitchen etc., can present serious challenges in maintaining your health. Here are my tips in maintaining a healthy and fit life while working from home.
- Use your bed only for sleeping. If you do your work on the bed, during off-hours, your mind will make associations that you are still working and will be occupied with professional duties and you won’t be able to relax;
- Invest in suitable ergonomics, that will keep you in proper alignment throughout your working day;
- Remind yourself to get up every hour to stretch or take a walk in your neighborhood so you can get some fresh air;
- Set a work schedule and try to stick to that schedule. Your mental health will improve as well as well as the quality of your work;
- Schedule a workout as you do your tasks. Before work, after work or during your lunch. I prefer doing my workout before starting my workday;
- Start your workday showered and dressed as you are going into the office. By showing respect to you and your body, you will boost your productivity and you will feel even more competent;
- Avoid working on the weekends. Use your free time to relax from the work obligations;
- Keep healthy fruits and vegetables in your kitchen. Try to keep the unhealthy snacks and candies out of your sight.