How to Work From Home without skipping a beat

For many of us Working From Home or WFH occasionally was a nice break from our hectic commutes and to balance demands of family and work simultaneously. Thanks to high speed internet at home we could create the same work environment as our workplace. With tools like remote login, secure tokens, Instant Messaging (IM), Video conferencing and mobile phones some of my colleagues have even worked during their beach vacations to deliver on critical projects.

As the work-home lines blurred, the always-on workforce knows how to work remotely with cross functional teams across the world in different time zones. However, the current scenario is a little different where many of us are finding ourselves in an open ended work from home mode and social distancing.

Here are some tips to keep your productivity high in the times of Coronavirus pandemic-

1. Start your day as a regular work day

Keeping your work day schedule sets the tone for the day. Wake up at your regular time and begin the day as a normal day. It’s easy to fall into a vicious cycle of waking up late. Control the urge to sleeping late and waking up late. If you Snooze, you loose!

2. Exercise

Use your commute time to schedule a workout session on your calendar before the work meetings and conference calls take over your day. Since most gyms are closed, Walk your dog, listen to an audible book or some music while you get some fresh air outside. Greet the people you meet during your walk but keep your distance from each other. You will come back refreshed ready to take in the day! Healthy body, healthy mind!!

3. Get out of your pajamas

Dress up like you would to go to work. If you are doing video conference for any meeting you would want to look professional. Dressing up for work sends a clear signal to your family that you mean business now. Dress the part!

4. Schedule virtual coffee breaks with your colleagues

During your busy day find 10 minutes to setup a virtual coffee break with a colleague and see how they are dealing with situation at hand. You may be able to offer each other support and bounce off ideas like you would normally do at the coffee machine or water cooler at work. With Coronavirus you are stuck at home with your immediate family and sometimes you will need to get a break and talk to people outside your immediate family. Small Talk, Small breaks!

5. Set regular work schedule

If you were normally at work between 9 am to 5pm. Try to keep that schedule consistently. It’s easier to stay in the work mode 24/7 with your laptop constantly open and never ending texts and calls. While this may be tempting, you want to pace yourself for this marathon and be consistent. Make sure you are on target with your deliverables and keep yourself accountable by scheduling a sync up with your manager. Consistency is key to success!!

6. Eat healthy and regular meals

This is the time to build your health and immunity. Make sure you are cooking your own healthy meals and not relying on takeouts. Stock up your refrigerator and pantry with healthy fruits, vegetables, snacks and grains to create simple but healthy meals. Enjoy family dinner time that is such a luxury in today’s world. Use meal times to bond with your family over cooking together and talking without any devices. You are what you Eat!!

7. Talk to people over the phone

Call your Mom, Dad, siblings, cousins, friends and family. We are all in unprecedented times and will need each other’s support to overcome this difficult time. Use technology to connect with people on various platforms. Be grateful, be kind and be considerate. Everyone is having a tough day and we all need to take one day at a time. Be tech-social!

8. Read, Read, Read

How we wish we had more time to read all the books we have stored in our kindle and downloaded on Audible or lying on our coffee table. This is a perfect time to create that reading hour. Create a challenge within the family to see who reads the maximum books and involve your kids in the process. Books are food for your soul!!

9. Schedule family time

If you have teenage kids it’s easy for them to disappear in their rooms and get on their devices. However, many schools have distance learning during Coronavirus break from school. Set up a routine for your kids and create regular family activities like board games, cooking, hiking together as a family. Assign age appropriate chores so every one is engaged and contributing. Family First!

10. Get regular sleep

Sleep is so underrated but in times like these you need to take the time to rest and recover. Begin each day with the same energy and enthusiasm. Just like good times do not last forever, bad times do not last either. End the day with gratitude in your heart and a prayer. Rest, Recover, Repeat!!

Hope these tips help you navigate the next few weeks as we balance work & personal lives in uncertain times. I don’t know if Coronavirus will give us a fever or not but the social distancing can definitely give us the cabin fever! Be creative, Be positive & Be hopeful!!