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Updated 01 Apr, 2020

With the coronavirus being categorised as a pandemic, shifting to a home-office might be the new normal for a while.

While in theory working from home sounds great, limiting social interaction and delving into isolation may start taking a toll on your spirits sooner than you think.

This is because it's no surprise that communication is easy and effortless when you're in close proximity with your workers. Questions are answered instantly, help is available before you even have to ask for it, and the environment around you is uplifted by casual conversation and silly jokes (at least that's how we roll here).

However, if you aren't used to remote working, you may struggle in undertaking basic tasks that you are otherwise good at completing in a formal setting.

Work from home might open up avenues of new sets of challenges - but here are all the ways you as an employee can deliver effective results on tight deadlines, without falling short or losing your sanity:

First things first, get out of your jammies

If you're lying down in bed, stocked up on snacks and headphones intact, chances are that your productivity will take a hit.

With Netflix open in one tab and cellphone in hand to 'communicate' in the other hand, there is a strong likelihood that distractions might get the best of you. Just because you can lounge on a presumable day off, doesn't mean you should. You're still on the clock, be responsible and self-motivated. Stick to routine as usual. Shower, get dressed, and treat your work-from-home like any other day at work i.e like a real job.

Find a work station

If you do not have a dedicated home office or study table, find a place that suffices to set up shop (hint: even the dinner table will work because desperate times call for desperate measures).

In doing this, move away from distractions, any family members that might interrupt you, and work behind closed doors at a quiet place that formalises your day at work.

Set boundaries with whoever you're in lockdown with

Look, when you're working from home, things like this are bound to happen:

It's impossible to work from home without interruptions but what will help you is clearly defining work hours to family members and keeping the timings consistent. Maybe set up a signal letting others know you're in focus mode, like a DIY Do Not Disturb sign.

If you've got a child, you and your partner both work, come up with a system and tag team accordingly.

Set boundaries with yourself

People may think employees slack off while working remotely but we've found the opposite happening. When does the work day start? End? Who knows. That's not healthy!

There will always be more work and when you have a set time leaving the office, you can leave some stuff behind at the workplace. That's not the case when your office is where you live.

For this reason, creating a schedule is of utmost importance. Time your tasks, maintain a deadline, but make sure you're cutting yourself some slack.

Walk around, hydrate yourself but get back to work right after so that a 10 min break doesn't turn into a three-hour rest. Set alarms that remind you to move away, stretch, get fresh air and disconnect from the screen.

But then also, set alarms as reminders that you need to get back to work so you can wrap up on time.

Communication is key so use your tools wisely

Coronavirus scares have called for social distancing, but you can always use digital platforms to sustain meaningful connections with colleagues.

This does not mean using Snapchat filters and sending your friends constant updates of how you're working - but instead using applications that cultivate your social habits into effective ones, and benefit from actually working.

By using applications such as Workplace, Slack and Zoom, you can be in constant contact with your colleagues and that will also alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation that are bound to set in eventually.

Get on call with your manager

Make your life easier and try squeezing in a 10 minute phone-call with your supervisor/team in the beginning of the workday so daily task expectations can be put into place.

This will not just save the time and energy usually wasted gravitating between task allocation and responses, but also aid in drafting guidelines for the day while helping you retain focus.

Also get on video call with your favourite co-workers

In an era of video-calls, face-to-face work discussions are likely to eliminate feelings of isolation, despair and laziness that may arise when working from home.

Team-building exercises such as virtual lunches or coffee-breaks could prove to be useful for those who might need help, but are too hesitant to reach out for it.

Its important to remind each other that you are available to help. During this pandemic, boost each other's morale through digital support groups that could prove to be useful for colleagues living alone, or dealing with toxic families at home.

Your colleagues are your work fam - once you know your co-workers are equally involved in daily tasks, you'll be motivated to do better. Team work makes the dream work.

Comments

M. Saeed Mar 31, 2020 03:22pm
Emergency situations create their own emergency rules.
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KT Mar 31, 2020 03:26pm
Bad thing is internet is slow at working hours bandwidth gets choked so plan your work use bulk data transfer between 1 am to 4 am in night. Avoid video calls between 11 am and 4 pm. For those who are using optic fiber internet they are most blessed employees. Last but not least pray there is no power-failure.
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Khurram Mar 31, 2020 03:54pm
WFH is difficult for female employees as their typical normal work day means chatting a lot with colleagues and co workers, cracking jokes, lunch plans etc till 5pm hits when its time to leave. For guys who are used to working quietly on their desktops working on boring excel sheets with little to no communication needs, WFH works best.
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VICTOR. D Mar 31, 2020 04:19pm
Sir I am Victor Graphic designer I am looking job like online jobs
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Hasan Mar 31, 2020 04:50pm
Too many instructions.
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outerwings Mar 31, 2020 10:02pm
Why would anyone wanna work? :/
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Compulsive Mar 31, 2020 11:28pm
Pakistan likely to loose business due to expensive internet
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JABINA Mar 31, 2020 11:54pm
So easy to space off.
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asif Apr 01, 2020 05:49pm
also i would encourage peoples to go out on the roof early in the morning or later in the day for sunbath its very healthy and also relief stress , depression and anxiety make yourself cup of coffee relax and breath
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AA Apr 02, 2020 12:18am
While I agree with some of these I would not encourage lots of video chats be they with co-workers or friends. Decrease your screen time everyone!
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Syed A. Mateen Apr 02, 2020 03:03pm
After the spread of Coronavirus in Pakistan every one is told to work from home for the purpose of maintaining social distances. As per the local law an apartment or a house is constructed on a residential piece of land and its only purpose of usage is that it can only be utilised for residence purposes. Any residential property cannot be converted for commercial utilisation, until and unless, it is allowed by the competent authority after fulfilling all formal and legal formalities. Any one working from home is utilising the residential property for office work which comes under the definition of commercial use of residential properties. Therefore, any one working from home is in contradiction of the local laws, therefore, working from home is also illegal. In the office order issued by competent authority for locking down the city, the office order also does not permit officially that people are allowed to work from home, rather it says to remain at home to avoid being affected.
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