Work from the home setup is a growing trend nowadays especially for working moms and people who are seeking work-life balance. As thefear of the Covid-19 pandemic keep to spread, several companies are encouraged to adapt to work from home. Employees can just easily plugin from anywhere they are with the help of the right equipment and a strong internet connection. It can be surprisingly tough and huge adjustments for some especially for an employee with energetic kids playing and running around the house. However, not having regular commuting and driving hours serves a lot of opportunities to develop a better work-life balance and benefits that you may not be aware of.
In this writing, we will discuss the benefits and challenges of having a work from home setup that would also help employees figure out the important things that should be kept in mind.
It Helps You Save Money
If you are not used to working from home and just got this arrangement because of this pandemic, you might be missing the office ambiance, nearby restaurants, and cafes. Though you are actually saving a lot of money by just staying at home. There is no need to pay the daily parking fees, train rides, or any commuting expenses. Needless to say, you don’t need to spend eating out, buying coffee, and teas which can easily add up fast to your expenses. You may also be eligible for a home office tax deduction if you are self-employed or a freelancer. This is commonly misunderstood by many hard-working freelancers and fails to claim what they are entitled to. Lots of helpful information can be found online that would certainly guide you on how to claim.
How to Stay Focus
It is the most known challenge of an employee who is new in this work setup. Maintaining a high level of productivity while working from home can be a bit challenging at the start. You can get easily distracted with household chores, suffer frequent interruptions from family members or friends, and even your social media accounts. To avoid this, you can ask family members to help you concentrate at work and it’s better to share your schedule. Also, minimize the use of the mobile phone during working hours. Another thing that could help you focus is to have your own working space. Design your workstation as if it’s like you’re in your actual office. Work in a room where you can lock up yourself for the entire shift where no one can distract you.
Backup Internet Connection
Having a robust internet connection is the most important tool to do your daily job. However, have you thought of some sort of backup just in case your internet provider decides to have its routine maintenance? Do not wait for that day as it certainly puts you in a bad shape. If you can have two internet connections at your home, it is certainly beneficial in the future. You can also opt for prepaid internet if you are concerned about the monthly bills.
Maintain Healthy Routines
This work setup can present new challenges to both physical and mental well-being. You might be tempted to spend extra hours working since no extra time to drive or commute going home. This can make you more tired than usual and not healthy in the long run. Make sure you maintain your regular working hours, take your breaks as if you’re in the actual office. Ensure you get enough sleep and eat at regular times. Staying at home more often means limited physical movements so make sure to have regular exercise. This can improve your overall physical and mental state.
This is also a great time to bond with your family. Right after work, you can play with your kids without worrying that you’ll be stuck in traffic and they are already asleep when you get home. You have plenty of time to spend with them and certainly, this is the best time to promote work-life balance.
Work With Integrity
Integrity is the key to most successful freelancers out there. If your employer permits a work from home setup for whatever reasons, it means you’ve been trusted. Do not ruin this trust. Surely you’ve got the freedom in your own house, unlike from the office, but remember this should not be an issue to work with honesty. Working remotely, trust and transparency are vital for maintaining a good relationship with your boss.
Work from home employees may have a lot of things to adjust, but you can maintain your productivity by focusing on your goal. To avoid self-isolation, maintain strong communication with your teammates and this would also uplift the healthy team bonds. Celebrate personal and team success and don’t stop communicating with others.