How to Continue Working Better During COVID?
As tough to believe as it may be, it has been close to 18 months now since the world entered the COVID-19 pandemic, and although life is slowly returning to normality, it will still be a while yet before we go back to how things once were, if at all.
As a result of the pandemic, governments from all over the globe ordered their people to stay at home to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus and to ‘flatten the curve’ as it were. Unless unavoidable, people were instructed to work from home, and productivity levels certainly took a huge hit.
Working from home isn’t for everybody, and if you’re used to working in an office environment, it can be quite a shock to the system. Not only do you have to be disciplined enough to start work at the right time and put the hours in, but you also need to avoid any distractions, learn how to use Zoom rooms and various other audio-video techs, and hold yourself accountable.
If you’re looking to continue working more efficiently during the COVID pandemic, here are some handy tips.
Maintain regular work hours
For years when your alarm went off early in the morning, you dreamed of the day that you could stay in bed until gone 9, stagger downstairs, enjoy breakfast, throw on some sweats, and start work at midday, working at your leisure. As soon as that “dream” became a reality, however, you probably realized just how detrimental it is for your work schedule.
One of the most challenging parts of working from home with no supervision is sticking to a regular work schedule, yet it is also one of the most important.
Whether you have your Zoom Rooms meeting early or not, you should always be sure to wake up at the same time you did when you went to the office, start work at the same time as you used to create, and finish when you used to spend.
If you start work whenever you like and finish whenever you want, your timekeeping will suffer, you’ll get less job done because you’re working less, you’ll be forced to play catchup for the rest of the week, and you’ll cause yourself unnecessary stress down the line. Not only that but returning to the office will also be a real shock to the system.
If you want to improve your productivity when working from home, be sure to stick to regular working hours.
Invest in quality audio-video tech
One thing that the pandemic has highlighted is the importance of quality audio-video technology.
With tools and software such as Zoom Rooms helping to keep businesses going when employees were stuck at home, the importance of top-quality audio-video tech is more significant than ever.
If you want to make your life easier and continue to work efficiently from home during the pandemic, invest in quality technology such as the DTEN D7 75” All-In-One Video Conferencing Interactive Whiteboard for Zoom Rooms from SOLOS or the Facebook Portal Plus.
Investing in quality equipment from a quality supplier such as SOLOS is hugely important because not only are you getting the best tech, you’re also getting the best service and prices as well.
Practice strong communication
It doesn’t matter whether you’re the boss or an employee; one of the best ways to improve productivity when working from home is to practice assertive communication with other people you work with.
By communicating with other people you work with, not only can you keep everybody updated, but this will again hold you accountable as you can let others know how much progress you’ve made and how well you’re getting on.
Good communication is also essential as it can help alleviate stress as you can request help if you are overwhelmed with work or are simply behind schedule slightly.
This is again where good audio-video technology compatible with Zoom Rooms is so important because you can speak to and see other people online, which helps give a sense of being in a professional office environment.
Plan your workflow in advance
One of the best ways of improving productivity when working from home is to plan your workflow.
Rather than waiting to see which jobs you have to do on the day, instead, look at what needs doing the following day and for the entire week, and plan your schedule accordingly.
By planning, you know exactly what needs to be done each day, which will help keep you motivated and organized. In the workplace, even if the workplace is home, organization is significant.
Dress for work
If you have a Zoom Rooms meeting, you aren’t going to go on cam with your hair messy and in your pajamas looking like you’ve just rolled out of bed. On days when you don’t have an online meeting, just because audio-video technology is absent, this doesn’t mean that you can work in your pajamas or sweatpants.
Before you start work each morning, brush your teeth, shower, and put on bright clothing just like you would wear if you were in the office. If you get into the habit of working in PJs or sweats, subconsciously, this could negatively affect your motivation levels.
We aren’t saying you need to wear smart shoes, a suit, and a tie every day, but try to dress smartly as this will subconsciously improve your motivation, which will then improve your productivity.
Maintain a clean workspace
Finally, the last thing you can do to improve productivity when working from home is to maintain a clean workspace.
Keep your desk free of clutter, dust it, vacuum the floor, wipe down surfaces, keep files and paperwork organized, and keep your office clean and organized.
Not only will a clean workspace look professional on your Zoom Rooms meetings, but it will also make life easier for you as you will know where everything is and will be able to locate things much more accessible, which will save time and effort.
