6 Tips to Make Working From Home Easier

Whether you’re working from home one day every week or full time, it’s important to set up an efficient workspace.

This includes having a designated room or area with the right technology, strategies for dealing with distractions, and a schedule that allows for social interaction and stimulation that comes from working with others. Read on to know how you can work from home efficiently.

Understand the Ground Rules

Do you have a nine-to-five routine or a flexible schedule? Which tech tools, such as Slack for group chats, Zoom for video conferencing, or Trello for project management, do you think you’ll need? Are you allowed to work on public Wi-Fi? If you work for someone else, make sure your boss lays out the ground rules and provides you with the necessary equipment. This includes a laptop, as well as network access, passcodes, and remote login instructions, including two-factor authentication. Be sure to run some test runs and work out any issues that might arise. If you’re a freelancer, you may need many of the same resources.

Set up A Practical Work Environment

While not everyone has a dedicated home office, having a private, quiet space to work in is essential. If at all possible, keep your work area separate from your personal space, and use it solely for work.

Check Your Internet Speed

Multiple people using the internet can slow your connection and download speeds. Try to stay as close as possible to your Wi-Fi router, or switch to Ethernet. As most laptops don’t have Ethernet ports these days, you’ll need a dongle as well as an Ethernet cable to connect your device to your router.

Use Mobile Apps

If your work requires you to make long-distance and/or international calls, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp, and Skype all provide free international calls over the Internet. The call will be free if you and the person you’re contacting are both using the same service.

Keep Distractions to A Minimum

If you have pets at home or live in a noisy vicinity, consider investing in noise-canceling headphones. And if you have children, see if you and your spouse can take turns looking after them.

Plan Extra Social Activities

Some people like the idea of remote working but even the most introverted of people can sometimes start to feel anxious and claustrophobic when working from home. Schedule some time to interact with the outside world. Plan a lunch date, video chat with friends, or sign up for a hobby class.