7 Tips For Adapting To Working From Home During The Coronavirus Crisis

Today I am pleased to welcome a new author, Jaclyn Crawford, who is writing about adapting to working from home during the Coronavirus crisis.

The image below gives you some idea of the challenges many are facing!
The coronavirus outbreak has prompted an anxious trial run for remote work across the world. In an effort to help contain the virus, many businesses are emptying their offices and resorting to a fully remote workforce. For some employees, this is their first experience with setting up a professional workspace at home.

Some of the biggest challenges employers face while working remotely during this trying time include struggling with loneliness, communicating with fellow staff members and managing their time. Fortunately, there are ways to help ease the transition into this temporary “new normal” where kitchen counters are being converted into desks and well-stocked refrigerators are serving as cafeterias. Here are seven ways to thrive as a remote worker in this period of coronavirus.

Adapting To Working From Home During The Coronavirus Crisis

Create a work routine — While working from home has its perks, it’s important to maintain your usual schedule. Work the same hours as you did in the office and create a new morning routine. Use the time you spent commuting to take care of your well-being, whether that’s by exercising, cooking a healthy breakfast or meditating to get you focused for the day.
Get dressed — For many people, the prospect of staying in their pajamas all day is the most enticing aspect of working from home. However, getting dressed as usual can psychologically prepare you to start work. Changing into business attire also can be useful if you need to dial into a video call. (Joy’s personal tip… try those jeans on at least every 3 days so you’re sure ‘all is well with the kingdom’ LOL)
Set boundaries between work and leisure — Working remotely can lead to longer hours than what you typically worked in the office. This can limit your personal and family time. The solution is to maintain your usual working hours. Be ready to start your day at the same time you would normally arrive at your office and finish your day at your regular quitting time. You will have saved ‘commuting time’.
Tackle home projects to keep busy after work hours — As mentioned, setting boundaries between work and leisure is difficult yet essential to maintaining a balance between work and personal life. To promote this balance, find home projects to tackle in your spare time to keep work life from intruding on home life. This can help you avoid working more hours or checking emails off the clock. Instead, give your car that long overdue deep-clean or assemble the bookcase. Now’s the time!
Alternate shifts with your partner — Trying to balance work and family can be even more difficult with a pandemic roiling every aspect of society — especially if you have children who are home due to school closures. To ensure kids stay safe and active, try alternating child care duties with a spouse or partner, if he or she also is working from home.
Set up a home office — Are you struggling to be as productive from the couch as you are from your cubicle? Having a dedicated office space, such as one with walls and a door, can help provide a quiet and productive atmosphere for work. If you don’t have room for a traditional office, consider where you can comfortably work without interruption. Try to create a setup similar to your workplace, with a properly adjusted desk and chair.
Take breaks — When you’re working from home, it’s easy to lose track of time and neglect your daily self-care, such as eating regular meals and staying hydrated. Set break times and stick with them to keep yourself from being glued to your computer screen all day. Try getting up, walking around, stretching and taking five-minute mindfulness breaks every few hours. This can help undo any mental blocks you may be struggling with and reduce digital eye strain.

There’s no doubt that what we learn in the next few months could shape the future of work. As businesses continue to forge ahead with remote working arrangements, the coming months will offer an unexpected, yet illuminating test of our white-collar future.

Author bio: Excited to share her love of home design and décor with readers, Jaclyn Crawford started with ImproveNet in 2016.