Working from home: best practices

Working from home has become much more common in recent years. While it has many advantages, some hurdles can actually make the work day harder if we do not pay attention to them.

First of all, the right attitude is fundamental. You have to take the work seriously, the same way you would if you were at the office.

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On work days, it is important to go to bed and get up at about the same time as usual and respect your rest routines.

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You should shower and dress as if you were going to the office and take the time to have a quiet breakfast before getting down to business.

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You should also have a regular spot to work from home. If possible, it should be a corner away from all those things that tend to distract us, like the TV or the fridge.

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Your workspace should be quiet and comfortable, resembling as much as possible the environment of our usual office.

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To avoid health problems, we must choose a place with good ventilation, adequate lighting, and the right chair and table to ensure favorable ergonomic conditions.

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A good internet connection is essential when working from home. We have to make sure it's all set before we start because it's terrible to despair about wifi during work time.

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You have to plan the tasks you intend to perform during the day. Otherwise, by not feeling the pressure of the work hierarchy, you run the risk of relaxing too much and not achieving your goals.

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There are computer programs that help us make working from home more bearable. For example, there's iWork, Apple's office suite, which allows you to synchronize Pages, Numbers, and Keynote with iCloud.

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It is important to adhere to the work schedule. Otherwise, we run the risk of running out of time and having to do overtime to get everything done.

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To clear your head, it is good to take the same breaks that you're used to in the office.

At home, we have the refrigerator closer at hand and it can be tempting to visit the kitchen more often. Poor nutrition can also affect our concentration. Not to mention the siesta you might want to take after a big meal.

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We have to forget about WhatsApp and social media until the end of the work day. Try to limit yourself to the work phone and mail.

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Try to continue fluid communication with your colleagues. In order to keep the focus, it's better to set a specific time to make video calls in applications like Skype or Zoom.

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Ask the people with whom you live to respect your time and your place of work. It is important for them to be aware that, even if you're home, you can't be available for other matters.

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If you have children at home, try to make them understand the situation and keep them occupied during the time you are working. Whenever possible, take advantage of the opportunities that teleworking offers when it comes to work-life balance. For example, the fact that you can now have lunch or take a walk with your children during the day.

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Many pets don't understand that we stay home so long without paying attention to them. They demand affection and sometimes it is impossible to resist playing with them for a while. So it's probably for the best to keep them away from your workspace.

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When you're at home, it's easy to procrastinate and all of a sudden become really enthusiastic about washing clothes, cooking, or clearing out the dishwasher. If you want to avoid distractions, it's better to leave the housework for another time.

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During breaks, you don't need to use your work computer. Try to stay off of it, in order to mentally break with the working day.

Divide your time at home between work and relaxing time. To keep your spirits up, continue with your hobbies and sports as much as possible.

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