Best practices for building a productive environment at home
Have a dedicated, distraction free workspace if possible
Not everyone has a home office but it is important to find a space that you can dedicate to work hours.
Make yourself accessible to others on your team
Work from home requires employees to be focused yet easily be available to other co-workers. Learn to manage multiple communication channels including voice, message and text.
Plan for your surroundings
Plan for who else will be home while you are home whether that be spouse, roommates, or children, and consider how that might impact your ability to focus, deal with background noise, etc.
Be aware of other interruptions you may experience
Other normal interruptions to be aware of can include noise from garbage trucks, lawn mowers and trimmers, deliveries, pets, and door bells ringing. This is part of life however planning your workspace with these in mind will help limit noise pollution.
Be considerate to your mental health
Working from home or “self-quarantine” can sometimes have a psychological impact. It’s important to stay connected with others and check in with teammates you would normally socialize with throughout your day.
Find a way to separate your work from your home
When it comes to working from home, the lines can blur between personal time and work hours. It’s important to find a way to separate the two. For those with families, come up with a creative way to disconnect from your computer and engage in family time via dinner, games, or group activities.