Herds of people have been forced to work from home to abide by social distancing guidelines due to the coronavirus pandemic. While this work option was once seen as a highly sought-after perk, now it is filled with partners who also have to work from home or have been laid off and children being homeschooling for the time being. This can make being productive challenging, but there are ways to maintain a sense of professionalism and continue to get your best work done.
According to Heather Sneed, director of professional services at HR company Ceridian and seasoned remote worker, the best way to transition into working from home full time is to create a dedicated workspace away from distractions.
Achieving a healthy work-life balance is also essential to staying sane during these unprecedented times, which is another reason why you should separate your workspace from the rest of your home.
Adam Hickman, content manager at Gallup and remote working scholar, added that having conversations about the expectations of your job while juggling other responsibilities is vital. Offer yourself the flexibility to work at the time that fits into your schedule.
Additionally, it is important for managers to empathize with their workers’ situations and check in on them from time to time. This opens up an opportunity to keep connected on a personal level and encourages healthy social interaction while self-quarantining.