Working from home has become more popular since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a graduate, you may find yourself preferring to work from home. Alternatively, you may find that some jobs are only available remotely without a physical office space. You may find yourself unsure about how to manage working from home. This article will provide advice on how to communicate with your co-workers and how to stay productive while working from home. 

How to communicate with your remote co-workers?

Working from home can limit your ability to communicate effectively with your co-workers. When you work at an office, you interact with your co-workers regularly at meetings, in break rooms, and in the office space. However, this is severely limited when you are working remotely. Here are some strategies that you can implement to improve your communication. 

Schedule regular catch ups

One way to open up communication with your co-workers is to schedule meetings or catch ups. These short sessions can allow you to get to know your co-workers better and also check in the progress of the team in completing a task, project or goal. You should keep in mind that your co-workers are unlikely to appreciate unnecessary meetings if the work day already involves regular check-ins or communications. Building positive relationships with your co-workers also means valuing their time and the amount of work they have to complete. 

Open up communication channels

Your workplace may already have a designated channel of communication for employees to stay connected. This is particularly likely if a significant number of employees work from home. However, if your workplace does not have any open communication channels, you can take steps to initiate this. This is by consulting with your co-workers and supervisor to determine whether it is something that will bring value to the team and make communication easier. You may find that opening up another communication channel will be detrimental to productivity if it is likely to produce multiple streams of information communication and cause miscommunication.

Reduce miscommunication

Miscommunication is likely to occur when working from home. This is because when we speak with each other in person, we are able to hear the tone of voice and the facial expressions accompanying the words that are being spoken. You can reduce miscommunication while working from home by monitoring your body language and facial expressions during video meetings, as well as reading over your messages and emails to ensure that the tone does not come across as confrontational. 

How to stay productive while working from home?

Perhaps the most challenging aspect about working from home is staying productive with completing your workload. Procrastination is a real challenge! It is only augmented by the distractions provided by your home environment and personal space. Here are some tips to follow to increase your productivity:

Tip 1: Dress Professionally

One perceived benefit of working from home is not having to get formally dressed for going into the office. You can attend meetings and complete your work in your pyjamas without anyone being the wiser! However, wearing pyjamas or other “comfort wear” means that your brain is attuned for relaxation, making it harder to concentrate on the work ahead. This means that you should get dressed as if you were to go into the office before you officially begin work for the day. This will allow you to maintain a work-life balance despite occupying the same space for both. While you are wearing professional clothing, you are at “work”. While you are wearing comfortable clothing, you are at “home”. 

Tip 2: Follow a schedule

While there is more flexibility associated with working from home, you should attempt to adhere to the daily and weekly working hours designated by your employer so that your work is completed during the working day and does not seep into your personal time. If you have control over your working hours, you should plan a schedule and attempt to follow it so that you can maintain a work-life balance. Otherwise, you may be susceptible to becoming procrastinating during the working day and having to complete your unfinished work during your personal time to catch up. You can use a physical or online calendar, a diary, or a planner to schedule your work. You can also schedule your day at the beginning of each day to help you keep on track. When logging on for the day, you can write down a list of tasks you need to complete in the day as well as any meetings. It may be helpful to list these tasks in order of priority so that the most pressing goals of the day are accomplished. You can also choose to provide status updates to your manager if required to keep them in the loop about your progress. 

Tip 3: Have a workspace

You should attempt to carve out some space that is designated for work. This space can replicate your work space at an office. You can keep any stationary, books, and technology in that space. Some motivational quotes, candles, or photographs may also brighten up this space and encourage your productivity. If you live with other people, it is helpful to let them know that the space is your designated workspace and of your working hours so that you can limit distractions. You may also choose to keep snacks near your workspace to keep you fueled and energised throughout the work day. 

Tip 4: Take breaks

Working from home can make it more likely for you to miss breaks due to the blurred boundaries between home and work. Take regular scheduled breaks, just as you would in an office. You can set up a five minute timer to stand up, walk around the room, open up a window, step outside, do some stretches, and just give your brain a break from the work and your eyes a break from your computer screen. Breaks are not only important for maintaining flow and productivity throughout the day, but also for your health. Without regular breaks you are at risk of becoming overworked and burnout. You should also ensure that you do not work through your lunch break. Another helpful tip is to take your lunch away from your work space to give your mind a break from work. You should also avoid looking at anything work related or doing any work after your work day has ended to maintain the separation from your work and personal life. 

Read our informative article about how to avoid burnout here.

You can also find out more about relieving work-related stress here.