Working from Home during COVID-19 Crisis? 6 Hacks to Boost Efficiency

• By Jagmeet Kaur

• 1st May 2020

By now, we all have heard about the deadly COVID-19 virus. As much as we want to escape the truth, the sad reality is that the virus is spreading like fire. With classes canceled, malls being shut, industries on a halt, the COVID-19 virus has defiantly put the entire economy on a standstill.  With the surge in the coronavirus cases, IT companies are in a desperate lookout for ways to carry out their daily operations without any hiccups or loss of productivity. And, this is where work from home, the new normal comes to the rescue of small as well as established IT firms.

Amid the Lockdown order from the government, there has been a growing concern about the dip in sales and loss of revenue across the globe. In the battle between life and livelihood, work from home comes as a savior for IT-enabled firms. With business organizations voting for work from home, the question is, is it that easy to carry out the new strategy? Executives and managers are scrambling madly to put together contingency plans to make work from home a success. But, what about employees, can they contribute to the struggle to improve work from home efficiency. Let’s find out!

Tips to improve productivity while working within the four walls of our home

In ordinary circumstances, our home is a relaxing space, where we find solace from the hustle and stress of work. On the other hand, when we walk through the office door, we carry a different mindset, like we are embarking on a mission with only one aim that is to achieve success. However, amid the COVID-19 crisis, the distinction between office and home is slowly fading. As soon as we wake up, we check updates from the team, get ready for the team meetings over a group video call, and set up your workstation at home.  When work and home life merge, it can take a toll on the productivity level, resulting in an increase in stress due to the inability to fully switch off.

While you will be spending a lot of time at home in the coming days, it’s essential to learn some skills to improve productivity while embracing the work from home culture.

• Set up a schedule

Work from home or not; developing a strict schedule is a must to achieve your set targets. Tight schedules not only help your team to plan better but also convince your employer that you are working with great efforts to achieve the desired output. Amidst the state of panic, it can be challenging to stick to your deliverables and goal. In such situations, you can continuously check your targets, create a summary of tasks you have performed, and constantly communicate with your manager. Communication is the key to achieve success will working remotely.

• It’s essential to create boundaries

Do you want to separate your workspace from your living room physically? Well, even the shortest distraction can kill your productivity. According to a recent study, a three-second interruption can increase the number of mistakes you commit to your work. Also, there is a need to self-isolate yourself from the great dependent, yes, we are talking about your Smartphone. Your phone can be a roadblock in your path to perform work with zero errors. We know working for 8 hours in front of your laptop can be daunting. To release stress and to stay motivated, you can occasionally take a break from technology and shift to pen and paper.

• Make sure you have the necessary tools

Well, you might be thinking to work effectively from home what tools do you require, right? For the majority of the workforce, a simple laptop and a working network connection will do the thing. But, having these tools is not enough. You need to incorporate some productivity hacks to achieve quality standards. Here are some tips to improve the quality of the work:

1. Make sure your laptop is charged at all times.
2. Always use an excellent handset for calls.
3. Makes sure when you are on a video or conference call, you isolate yourself from the family members.
4. Get a set up you are comfortable with.

• Staying social will improve the quality of work

Do you know when people feel tired or alienated from their work from home productivity falls? This is where the HR department can develop some interesting home office hacks to boost the morale of employees. For instance, the HR department can arrange a competition for the best work home station. HR can develop a social calendar, which includes various kinds of office events they can organize to develop a normal working vibe amongst the employees.

• Find something you love

With no social events and activities to perform, we all are finding our-selves with an excess of free time. And, this excess time can be frustrating. While working, you can set aside some time to perform something you love. Or, you can take up a hobby during the weekends to make sure weekends feel like one. So, get up and move and get the fresh air if you can to break the monotony.

• Take care of your mental health

Waking up to the scary news and unfamiliar situation can lead to stress and anxiety amongst the employees. Mental and physical strength is directly proportional to your work from home productivity. To stay upbeat, there are some strategies you can use to keep track of your mental health.

In the end, we can only hope and pray for the sun to shine bright on us again. Till then, embrace the work from home culture and use these tips to improve your productivity. Also, if you don’t want to fall in the trap of short term thinking, plan as much as you can. While nobody knows how long we have to fight these battles, its best to develop long term plans for your business.