At the latest with the outbreak of the Corona crisis and the measures that accompanied it, it is on everyone's lips and most people have done it or perhaps still do it:
Work from home.
Getting up early in the morning, having a quick breakfast, scurrying out of the house or flat and traipsing to work was always pure stress for me.
But what I looked forward to the most were my work colleagues.
Now I've been working in a home office for over a year. And I have to admit that I miss the office with my favourite colleagues a bit. The jokes, the gossip and the mutual motivation have made everyday work in the office fresher and more bearable. Nevertheless, working in a home office is really practical in many ways, but you have to be careful not to let yourself "go".
Here I have some ideas on how you can make your everyday life in the home office more varied and productive:
1. The morning ritual - Get out of your pyjamas
Even if no one but you is at home, you should not sit down at your desk every day until you are showered and properly dressed. Here you feel a clear line between work and private life. It can also help you to switch more quickly from private mode to work mode. After all, you wear business clothes to the office and something casual at home.
2. Room with a door to close
If you have family and/or pets at home, it is even more important to create a quiet and productive office atmosphere. You should have the possibility to retreat in your flat or house by finding a room where you can close the door to be undisturbed.
It doesn't have to be an office room or anything like that. If necessary, you can also use your bedroom. The important thing is that you can close the door so as not to be disturbed.
3. Keep in touch with colleagues
Is the weekly Zoom meeting with your boss not enough for you to stay in touch with your colleagues?
Then you have the possibility to organise your own online meetings with your colleagues. For example, organise a weekly "regulars' table" with your colleagues via Zoom or Skype. Exchange ideas and spend some time together, this will further promote cohesion and also productivity in your work at home office.
4. Set goals
- Which tasks currently need to be done?
- Which tasks have priority?
- Which long-term projects do I want to move forward with?
It is best to write down your tasks in bullet points on a flip chart, with a classification of which ones have to be done first, and put it up so that you can see it every day and cross out the tasks you have already done. Or use a digital Kanban board. Trello also has a handy app for your mobile phone.
Have you completed all the goals and tasks you set yourself for this week? Great, then do what I do. I reward myself with a good glass of wine at the weekend after successfully completing my work.
Cheers!
