Recommendations for making Home Office productive
Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2024 6:17 am
Many companies have adopted this way of working since before the Coronavirus spread around the world. Why? Well, there are advantages that increase the standard of work life of employees, reducing stress and travel time from home to the office, among others.
Until a few weeks ago, home office was only an alternative for freelancers and as a kind of benefit for people working in certain sectors; however, there are times when it becomes a necessity. An example is the situation we are currently experiencing. Factors can vary; at another time the offices may have to be remodeled or there may be a “business move” and the team may have to stay at home until everything is back to normal.
That is why on this occasion we will share with you some recommendations to make Home Office a beneficial activity, since according to statistics, working remotely increases productivity by 28% . Continue reading this article so you can apply them with your work team and of course with yourself.
Advantages and disadvantages of working from home
Among the benefits of Home Office are the following:
Savings: This is an advantage that can be applied both to office supplies and to employees and their expenses on any type of transportation.
Flexibility : Instead of schedules, only projects and deliverables are established, so schedules can be arranged according to each person's organization. Although it is clear that this is a factor that will be acquired over time and the level of personal and business organization.
Improved quality of work life : Because several factors such as commuting, rush hour and traffic congestion are avoided, stress levels are reduced. In addition, each team member has more time to do other activities such as cooking and exercising.
On the other hand, these are the points that you have to avoid:
Procrastination: Although this term does not exist in Spanish, it is a fact that postponing important activities for others that are not as relevant is something that everyone does at some point. However, it is possible to structure a schedule in which the productivity and concentration of each member is greater.
Distractions: cell phones, social media and, in general, living with family members can be factors that contribute to distraction and loss of time.
Poor communication: All members are at a distance. This means that there are only certain communication channels that can fail at some point.
Tips to be more productive
Below we present some tips to combat the disadvantages we have just mentioned and make the Home Office a work model that is not just a benefit but an alternative for everyone.
Set a schedule
This is recommended when you are just starting a workday at home. Setting a “start” and “end” time will help you finish the deliverables you had established on time and will help you communicate more accurately with your team. Start early so that your office time doesn’t consume your entire day.
Have a workspace
This recommendation refers to designating a place in the entire house that is exclusively for working. Bedrooms and the kitchen cannot be candidates for this position because they are places where there may be too many factors that contribute to distraction, and in the long run it will not be the most comfortable.
Attend all meetings
It's a good idea to organize daily or weekly meetings with your team to review pending tasks. Try to have your entire team always attend to maintain communication and task completion.
Avoid distractions such as cell phones and social networks
Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and social media in general are a distraction during working hours. If answering a message represents a “temptation” to lose concentration, it is best to put the device on silent and leave the calls and responses to said messages for later.
As for the computer, if you are going to listen to music, try to do it through a platform where there are no videos.
For WhatsApp, the most recommended option is to use its web version so as not to lose sight of the messages from the office group.
Monitor your productivity level
Not all of us are productive in the morning. Not all of us are productive in the evenings, and in general, we all have certain hours when we are most inspired. Monitor these factors so that, in the future, you can achieve the flexibility that only the Home Office offers.
Plan
Plan your entire day the night before; however, for work-related gambling data japan phone number tasks, take advantage of the first hour of the day to review what you will do for that day. There are platforms that can help you with this organization. We will mention them at the end of this article.
Staying connected with those at home
Don't lock yourself away. Communication with others is always good and necessary. Talking to them at certain times will also help them realize that you have your office hours at home.
Listening to the right music
Music is a proven way to help you concentrate. Try to listen to music that makes you feel better while working and recommend it to your team members.
Take breaks
It is always a good idea to take a 5-minute break between each activity you complete. Doing this helps you stay motivated throughout your work hours.
Use the appropriate equipment and furniture
Having a well-maintained desk, a fast computer and a comfortable chair will also be a key factor for everyone. Make sure that you and all members have this.
Communication with your entire team
Weekly or daily morning meetings are not enough. There are things you will need to go over personally with each area or member. You can make phone calls, video calls, or send text messages and emails to stay in constant communication.
Prepare your food in advance
The night before or during the weekend are the ideal times to do this task that could possibly be a distraction or even cause accidents during your work schedule. Do the same with your other activities such as exercising or going to the supermarket for your groceries.
Add elements that contribute to your personal organization
Having a whiteboard or a place to put your post-its will always be a great help to write down your most urgent tasks and to develop your ideas. It wouldn't be a bad idea for each team member to have one at home.
Having a plant helps your mood
This may seem subjective, but plants are more than just pretty decorations. Studies show that being around plants is good for your health: they filter the air and their presence is therapeutic. Plants brighten and add color to indoor spaces. They also help you manage stress better and refocus your energy. And if that weren't enough, psychologists have found that bringing some flora into a workspace can increase productivity by up to 15 percent.
Leaving home
For the moment, this cannot be a recommendation that applies. But when the contingency is over, it will be good for you to go to other places to do Home Office. It could be a cafeteria or restaurant that has a WiFi signal where you can work. The noise of people's conversations alludes to the atmosphere that exists in the offices, so this will help you stay focused.
Communication tools for working from home
Now that you have the recommendations to improve working from home, it is worth mentioning some tools that can improve your organization and that of the entire company.
Manage projects with TRELLO. Organize tasks, create new goals, and send information to the entire team through cards where you can include images, videos, files, delivery dates, and more.
Make communication easier with SLACK. Create channels for a specific topic, and replace work conversations so that every interaction is recorded.
Rely on the cloud with GOOGLE DRIVE. Store, share and access information from anywhere.
Each of these platforms will help you meet your company's goals while everyone is working from home.
Working from home is a necessity these days. Generations are passing by and the current ones feel better working remotely and having the flexibility to do other activities. Consider this for this stage we are living in and for your future projects in case you have to hire external staff who are only freelancers.
If you want to know more about this topic and others, we invite you to contact us to better develop your digital marketing strategies even when working remotely.
Until a few weeks ago, home office was only an alternative for freelancers and as a kind of benefit for people working in certain sectors; however, there are times when it becomes a necessity. An example is the situation we are currently experiencing. Factors can vary; at another time the offices may have to be remodeled or there may be a “business move” and the team may have to stay at home until everything is back to normal.
That is why on this occasion we will share with you some recommendations to make Home Office a beneficial activity, since according to statistics, working remotely increases productivity by 28% . Continue reading this article so you can apply them with your work team and of course with yourself.
Advantages and disadvantages of working from home
Among the benefits of Home Office are the following:
Savings: This is an advantage that can be applied both to office supplies and to employees and their expenses on any type of transportation.
Flexibility : Instead of schedules, only projects and deliverables are established, so schedules can be arranged according to each person's organization. Although it is clear that this is a factor that will be acquired over time and the level of personal and business organization.
Improved quality of work life : Because several factors such as commuting, rush hour and traffic congestion are avoided, stress levels are reduced. In addition, each team member has more time to do other activities such as cooking and exercising.
On the other hand, these are the points that you have to avoid:
Procrastination: Although this term does not exist in Spanish, it is a fact that postponing important activities for others that are not as relevant is something that everyone does at some point. However, it is possible to structure a schedule in which the productivity and concentration of each member is greater.
Distractions: cell phones, social media and, in general, living with family members can be factors that contribute to distraction and loss of time.
Poor communication: All members are at a distance. This means that there are only certain communication channels that can fail at some point.
Tips to be more productive
Below we present some tips to combat the disadvantages we have just mentioned and make the Home Office a work model that is not just a benefit but an alternative for everyone.
Set a schedule
This is recommended when you are just starting a workday at home. Setting a “start” and “end” time will help you finish the deliverables you had established on time and will help you communicate more accurately with your team. Start early so that your office time doesn’t consume your entire day.
Have a workspace
This recommendation refers to designating a place in the entire house that is exclusively for working. Bedrooms and the kitchen cannot be candidates for this position because they are places where there may be too many factors that contribute to distraction, and in the long run it will not be the most comfortable.
Attend all meetings
It's a good idea to organize daily or weekly meetings with your team to review pending tasks. Try to have your entire team always attend to maintain communication and task completion.
Avoid distractions such as cell phones and social networks
Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and social media in general are a distraction during working hours. If answering a message represents a “temptation” to lose concentration, it is best to put the device on silent and leave the calls and responses to said messages for later.
As for the computer, if you are going to listen to music, try to do it through a platform where there are no videos.
For WhatsApp, the most recommended option is to use its web version so as not to lose sight of the messages from the office group.
Monitor your productivity level
Not all of us are productive in the morning. Not all of us are productive in the evenings, and in general, we all have certain hours when we are most inspired. Monitor these factors so that, in the future, you can achieve the flexibility that only the Home Office offers.
Plan
Plan your entire day the night before; however, for work-related gambling data japan phone number tasks, take advantage of the first hour of the day to review what you will do for that day. There are platforms that can help you with this organization. We will mention them at the end of this article.
Staying connected with those at home
Don't lock yourself away. Communication with others is always good and necessary. Talking to them at certain times will also help them realize that you have your office hours at home.
Listening to the right music
Music is a proven way to help you concentrate. Try to listen to music that makes you feel better while working and recommend it to your team members.
Take breaks
It is always a good idea to take a 5-minute break between each activity you complete. Doing this helps you stay motivated throughout your work hours.
Use the appropriate equipment and furniture
Having a well-maintained desk, a fast computer and a comfortable chair will also be a key factor for everyone. Make sure that you and all members have this.
Communication with your entire team
Weekly or daily morning meetings are not enough. There are things you will need to go over personally with each area or member. You can make phone calls, video calls, or send text messages and emails to stay in constant communication.
Prepare your food in advance
The night before or during the weekend are the ideal times to do this task that could possibly be a distraction or even cause accidents during your work schedule. Do the same with your other activities such as exercising or going to the supermarket for your groceries.
Add elements that contribute to your personal organization
Having a whiteboard or a place to put your post-its will always be a great help to write down your most urgent tasks and to develop your ideas. It wouldn't be a bad idea for each team member to have one at home.
Having a plant helps your mood
This may seem subjective, but plants are more than just pretty decorations. Studies show that being around plants is good for your health: they filter the air and their presence is therapeutic. Plants brighten and add color to indoor spaces. They also help you manage stress better and refocus your energy. And if that weren't enough, psychologists have found that bringing some flora into a workspace can increase productivity by up to 15 percent.
Leaving home
For the moment, this cannot be a recommendation that applies. But when the contingency is over, it will be good for you to go to other places to do Home Office. It could be a cafeteria or restaurant that has a WiFi signal where you can work. The noise of people's conversations alludes to the atmosphere that exists in the offices, so this will help you stay focused.
Communication tools for working from home
Now that you have the recommendations to improve working from home, it is worth mentioning some tools that can improve your organization and that of the entire company.
Manage projects with TRELLO. Organize tasks, create new goals, and send information to the entire team through cards where you can include images, videos, files, delivery dates, and more.
Make communication easier with SLACK. Create channels for a specific topic, and replace work conversations so that every interaction is recorded.
Rely on the cloud with GOOGLE DRIVE. Store, share and access information from anywhere.
Each of these platforms will help you meet your company's goals while everyone is working from home.
Working from home is a necessity these days. Generations are passing by and the current ones feel better working remotely and having the flexibility to do other activities. Consider this for this stage we are living in and for your future projects in case you have to hire external staff who are only freelancers.
If you want to know more about this topic and others, we invite you to contact us to better develop your digital marketing strategies even when working remotely.