It’s safe to say that Covid-19 has taken over all aspects of our lives, whether it’s our social or work life. Many of us have gotten used to our everyday work life by now. Some of us have full functioning offices and office equipment where we live. Unlike me who’s typing this in my bedroom in Haz-Zebbug.
However, you choose to spin it; there are actually some great benefits from working at home in comparison to your average 9 to 5, five days office working week. I’ve compiled a list of ways I’m personally finding working from home can help us to take advantage of the situation.
Improved work-life balance
Much of our life and time is spent at the workplace – or on transportation from your home to the office. This puts a massive halt to our work-life balance and it can feel like it’s out of reach. However, when you start working from home, it’s a great opportunity to reinstate the balance you’ve lost. Less commute time on public transportation, packed roads, parking spaces and traffic can mean more time to catch up with your work deadlines as well as family time and leisure.
You’re also in your own comfort zone, with your own things, and being in the clothes that you want to wear. A bonus factor of this, is that you can be on top of your household duties at the same time such as doing laundry, cooking food while you work and in some cases even exercising.
My personal daily work routine consists of:
Dressing appropriately- It’s important for myself to dress in appropriate work attire, the way I dress easily influences my mood and attitude. This means no pyjamas.
Discipline- It’s imperative to follow strict routines or working hours. Wake up at your usual week day time and go through your usual routine. I use this time to read, send emails and stretch.
Set work hours– The starting times and finishing times of your work day should be routine as much as possible. Impose a deadline for the end of the day, then plan your personal errands after that. By giving yourself a deadline, you can increase expectations as well as increase efficiency.
Have short breaks– Having short breaks, up to 5 minutes, can help stimulate and energize your brain. Take a walk, get some fresh air on the balcony, wash your face and stretch.
Better Productivity
Working in a busy workplace or hectic office environment can be distracting, especially if you share desk space with someone else or work in a close knit team. Working remotely gives you a great opportunity to transform your schedule and ways of working which best suits you. This all depends on your own personal situation. By working from home it could mean having less distractions from colleagues asking you to make them a coffee, or coming over for a gossip session. In our office for instance at peak hours it can turn into king’s cross train station.
Having said this, you will of course find distractions be it either your family members or your flatmate asking you to listen to his new music demo. This is why it’s important for yourself to set working from home boundaries so they respect your needs to focus and work privately, during these critical times. It’s always good to make your workspace comfortable, such as setting up your home desk replicating your office set-up. For instance my partner went to her work office and took her work laptop, two monitors, and a swivel chair-(I’m currently working up the courage to ask my employers the same!).
Improved Job Satisfaction
Job satisfaction is crucial for any company. It can help you be more motivated and productive as well as making you want to engage more with workload, colleagues and life . Your team will feel happier and workflow becomes more and more effective.
It’s been proven by having flexible working arrangements (like working from home). Can have a positive impact on employees and is a top work perk. Employees who have them are happier with their jobs.
Just make sure to stay connected with your colleagues online, have regular meetings, take breaks and have a positive home set-up to work with.
