Last year, working from home was one of the luxuries that a few reaped the benefits of while others envied them. With the Coronavirus outbreak though, things have turned topsy-turvy in the last few weeks. And due to circumstances beyond our control, a lot of corporates are shutting their offices down and encouraging working from home. With a whopping rise in working from home, even workplaces that would traditionally not be this flexible, are seeking out ways to accommodate this new arrangement.

In response to these developments, there are two insights that have come to light. Firstly, a lot of the things that previously weren't deemed possible to be worked on from home, are now surprisingly and quite efficiently, might I add, possible. Secondly, a mandate like this is a huge change for a lot of people to get acclimatized to. This is leaving people listless and anxious as no one truly knows when things will resume to normal.

However, if you're someone new to the work-from-home arrangement and are currently finding it a little tough to be productive, here are things that you could do to keep yourself from going stir-crazy while staring at your laptop and the walls around you.

Set Things Straight

© getty

The secret to working from home is clear communication with your reporting manager â understanding exactly whatâs expected of you and start delivering it. People are used to spending their days in close proximity to their RM. This usually means that they can easily communicate and clear the doubts or make changes to their work. But thatâs out of the window with working remotely. Have a clear picture of your agenda for the day, before you start working each day, even if it means getting on a call with your RM each morning to get the nitty-gritties sorted.

Work From Homes Are Not Off-Days

© getty

While it may seem like a luxury at first to sit around in your PJs all day, or to lounge and watch one more episode of the series that you're hooked onto on Netflix before you start working, it can lead to reduced productivity. Take a shower in the morning, don't work from your bed, maybe move to the dining table if you don't have an equipped home office. At the same time, create strict boundaries that your family members understand. Let them know that they can't disturb you when you're working. If possible, close the door when you're working - this ends up cutting out a lot of the distractions.

But Breaks Are Important Too

© getty

It's important to finish the designated work, but it's also important to make the best of the situation presented. If you're someone who was previously overwhelmed with work or had never-ending commute hours, this is the time to do the things that you wouldn't normally do. Dancing in the room, baking brownies, or gaming for that matter. Give yourself short breaks, now that you're at home you can even afford to do some of these things simultaneously with work as long as you're not making any errors. This way, you have something to look forward to and keep the day moving.

Make An Effort To Reach Out To Friends

© getty

Taking a WFH can also sometimes mean no outside contact, especially if you live alone. Prolonged isolation can potentially impact productivity and your mental health. This is also because it's a sudden shift of routine and completely different from what we're used to. In order to have some semblance of normalcy, make it a point to call up your friends, maybe even through Skype and spend some time with them. This will help in ensuring that staying at home doesn't feel like a prison.

Try To Stay Hopeful

© getty

These days, it may seem like we're on the sets of the film Contagion with our everyday reality completely altered, courtesy the novel Coronavirus. Negative headlines, postponed and canceled events, and shut cinema halls can seem like a lot at once. However, it's important to remember that it's temporary and soon things will start to resume to normal. 

View the full article