The growing popularity of working from home is changing the corporate landscape. Working remotely from home is changing the traditional ways global workspaces used to operate as the world is transitioning into new ways of working. Remote work has taken the world by storm and – showing no signs of slowing down.

With this growing trend, everyone is enticed to hop on the bandwagon. Employees are actively seeking work from home opportunities, either part-time or full-time.

With a large percentage of the workforce seeking remote opportunities with flexible schedules, companies are also embracing this growing trend as an alternative way to entice new employees.

Companies have realized that the current resource is not motivated by traditional perks and privileges. We are talking about generation Z here – a resource that is far more tech-savvy and liberated compared to its predecessors.

So, small-medium enterprises and even large conglomerates have realized that traditional 9 to 5 won’t work here.

Albeit, transitioning from old ways of working to the new ones is not easy. Whether you have been serving the corporate sector for ages or newly seeking employment, you all are newbies when it comes to working from home culture.

In this article, we have compiled 10 easy to follow tips that can get you started with your newly found remote gig.

But, before we do that. Let’s mention a few advantages of transitioning into a work from home environment.

Advantages of Working from Home

You might have heard of different perks associate with working from home. It is our privilege to compile a list of advantages when working from home.

  1. No more beating the traffic during the rush hour.
  2. No more commute expense to work.
  3. Lower overheads and the opportunity to claim back a small percentage of household costs.
  4. Flexible working hours.
  5. Say goodbye to a standard 9 to 5 routine.
  6. Any day can be your off-day, depending on how efficiently you hustle and accomplish the tasks at hand.
  7. You get to spend more time with your family.
  8. You can work in your pajamas or wear no make-up, nobody cares.
  9. No one is looking over your shoulder and micromanaging your tasks.
  10. No more credit hijacking as the work you do is clearly reflected and reported to concerned personnel via tickets assigned to you.

Glass Window in the Background and laptop on a side table

Disadvantages of Working from Home

It’s not always sunshine and rainbows when working from home. There’s a flipside to each coin. So, let us look at a few disadvantages associated with working from home.

  1. You need to be self-driven and motivated at all times since there is minimal supervision involved when working from home.
  2. You will likely have to get up super early or work super late depending on the tasks assigned to you. Don’t fight your internal clock, do what you find best for you.
  3. You’re the supplier of all the gear and supplies you need for work such as laptop and stationary etc.
  4. It can be very hard to switch off when working from home – making it easier to over-work.
  5. No one is looking over your shoulder for accountability. You might have read this in the advantages section as well. It’s kind of bitter-sweet. With zero or minimal monitoring, there’s no one else to blame when you’ve made a mess.
  6. No more office gossip. You would definitely miss the mini-rant sessions with your office buddies and coffee breaks with teammates.
  7. If you own a potato PC or have a discounted internet connection. Your work is bound to suffer.
  8. There’s a very high likelihood of you getting stuck in the void called the Internet – you might end up binge-watching cat videos for hours.
  9. The fridge becomes really accessible so self-control is a must.
  10. Lack of physical activity might turn you into a couch potato.

Manusing laptop on a Sofa

Top 10 Tips for Working from Home

Since we have discussed the bright aspects and touched the dark side of working from home, allow us to present the tips to facilitate your work from home experience and escalate your productivity.

Plan Before You Start

It is crucial to make a list of tasks that you need to accomplish by day end or by the end of the week. A good task management tool can help you with this.

Planning helps you stay focused and concentrate on tasks that really matter. This would not only be beneficial for your professional growth but also help your employer achieve desired objectives.

headphone,coffee cup,laptop and black board showing list to do

Don’t Fight Your Inner Clock

It doesn’t matter if you’re a morning person or your brain kick starts late at night. Lock your working hours and then stick to it.

Clock on a hand

Aim for 7-9 Hour Sleep

Sleep deprivation causes mood swings, depletes energy levels and severely affects productivity. So, give your brain the rest it deserves.

Women sleeping under the blanket

Ideal Temperature

According to researchers at Cornell University, the likelihood of human error increases when the ideal temperature is not maintained at the workplace.

Choose a workspace in your house that is warm, comfortable and helps you concentrate. Ideal temperature conditions have a tremendous impact on your productivity.

Black Coffee in hands

Have a Dedicated Workspace

It is highly recommended to have a dedicated workspace when working from home remotely. If you lack space and find it hard to concentrate at home, hire an office either in your local town.

Working from home not necessarily means you have to work from home, there’s so much obligation. If you can’t find a dedicated workspace at home, there’s no harm in looking elsewhere.

Workspace

Keep It Balanced – As All Things Should Be

If you struggle to find balance - schedule everything. That includes household chores, lunch, exercise, work, family, friends, and sleep. Don’t let one suffer because of the other. Even over-doing work is off-limits. We know, it’s easier said than done. Try! You’d get the hang of it eventually.

Egg queue Balanced

Communicate

If you are working as part of a team - communication is key. There’s no other way to put it. Being a part of a team means interdependency in tasks. The only way you can keep things running smoothly is via communication.

three Flowers

Track Everything

It is highly recommended to track your working hours by the project to make sure you are on the right track. Your tracking report would help you self-reflect on your actions at the end of the day and help you improve your productivity. Time tracking also serves as proof for a certain time invested in the respective tasks assigned.

Work from Home Tips

Take a Breather

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Plan your breaks between working slots. We recommend you consider the Pomodoro Technique here, it is an approach that allows you to have 5 minutes of break after every 25 minutes spent on work. This small break can be used to blow off the steam and rejuvenate before diving back in with full throttle.

Glass of Coke and smart phone on a table

Look After Yourself

Take a day off. It doesn’t matter if you’re working from home. Work is work. Have some ‘Me Time’. Go out with friends. Watch a movie. Go on a date. Do something that you love. There’s nothing wrong with skipping a day at work, even if you’re working from home.

Playing Games

Wrapping Up

The trend of working from home is on an all-time high. Working professionals are looking for jobs that allow them to work from home remotely along with the rookies in respective industries.

In this article, we prescribed some amazing tips that can definitely help you out in your remote work shenanigans. If you’re a newbie in the work from home culture, tell us about your experience so far. And let us know in the comments if the tricks worked out for you.

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