Belize and the rest of the world, as we know it, has been forced to take a pause from its “regular lifestyle” due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This change has caused some businesses to close indefinitely and, as requested by the Belize government, many businesses are now required to have employees work from home if possible. But, while working from home may sound easy, it requires discipline.
Here are a few tips to help you work from home efficiently:
Maintain regular hours
Set a schedule and stick to it. One of the benefits of working remotely is flexibility. In essence, sometimes, you may need to work later or start earlier to get the job done, but the idea is to keep to your schedule and ensure to maintain a proper work-life balance. Remember to take a little break during your work-time to get up, stretch, drink some water, or rest your eyes a bit. Make a daily to-do list to help keep on track.
Useful tools: Trello, Notezilla
Establish a workspace
A big challenge when it comes to working remotely is keeping your work, and home lives separate. Find a designated area to work without being a distraction or being distracted by others in your home. Try to make your workspace comfortable with a chair you can sit in for eight hours a day.
Stay connected
Regular communication is essential in order to maintain a healthy work relationship and trust between you and your employer. You might find it’s best to check in with your boss and co-workers over the phone or through video chat. This will cut down on miscommunication and break up some of the social isolation that can come from working from home. Remember to share updates as the day goes by to keep everyone on your team in the loop.
Useful tools: Zoom, Skype, teamwork
Maintain a high level of security
Working remotely has its risks, and with that maintaining a high level of security is important. First off, ensure that you use strong password protection for your laptop, remote connection to your office computer, video conferences, and anything that is work-related. Use encryptions when dealing with confidential information and, if possible, use a VPN for extra security.
Useful tools: MSP360, ExpressVPN
The bottom line is - working from home during this time may not be what you planned, but you can make the most of it. It takes time to get used to the new normal, so give yourself time to adjust to your new work life.