How to maximize working from home

By now most of us have been more or less used to the system of working from home; we have defined routines, have designated work desks and enjoy our weekends without the pending stress of work calls.

But then are you able to achieve much when working from home? For most people though they feel they are logged in through the day, for 10-12 hours at a stretch, they are not able to achieve much. There are still the pending emails that need to be answered, the project report to be filed, the client call to be made...why so when we logged in some 10 hours ago?

Possibly because now we are at a stage where we need to accept this change as a long term change and prepare ourselves psychologically for the same.

Here are some tips for the same:

1. Invest in noise cancelling headphones: The whirring of the dishwasher, or the barking of the pet is enough to distract you from work at hand--things that you don’t encounter in your office. Therefore block or replace these sounds with something soothing that will help you concentrate and focus.
2. Establish impenetrable psychological boundaries during work hours: Do not let thoughts of the laundry, stowing milk away in the fridge, refilling water bottles distract you from work. Prepare yourself that you are in office and will only do these jobs when you reach home--in case of work from home, outside the scheduled work time.
3. Make your workstation/desk inaccessible to family: Your family members do not put their empty cups of coffee, colouring sets, playdough at your office desk, right? Explain to them the same rules about your work desk at home. If possible mark out a room or part of the room for work rather than sitting on the bed, sofa, or dining table. This ways, you can prepare the room before your work hours.
4. Shut your laptop when office hours are over: As you would with an office. Maintain the discipline of logging in and logging out timely. This will teach you not to procrastinate and think that that email can be sent later and the report filed at night. Office is shut. Reinforce that to yourself.
5. Limit the temptation to get up and answer the doorbell: Though with COVID the number of visitors is obviously going to reduce but things like deliveries can tempt you to answer the doorbell, receive the package, sanitize and then look at the contents--your half an hour gone!!! So, schedule deliveries post work hours, let visitors know you are working, take turns with your spouse to attend house chores during your breaks.

Happy WFH.