Personalizing the Work From Home Experience

With a drastic change in the global work scenario, working from home has become a growing trend. However, according to an article by the business daily 81% of Kenyans find it ineffective and unproductive. This survey was conducted by Consumer Insight Africa between March 28th and March 31st.

Looking into the matter, we highlighted a number of reasons why this could be the case:

1. Distractions

The office set up is structured in such a way that distractions are minimized. Not only that, but it also prepares an employee’s mindset to focus on their tasks during the period they are in the office. Working from home has changed this dynamic as most people were not prepared to handle the complexities. The home has any distractions not limited to television, household chores and in some cases children or family members requiring attention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh4f9AYRCZY

Distractions while working from home.

2. Minimal or no supervision

The work from home set up has come with employees needing to exert a lot of discipline into their daily routines. However, this is not the case at all times. Exercising supervision when employees are working from home is a challenge businesses are facing, and while there are tools crafted to help with this, the fact remains that while in their homes, employees have free reign over their time and the tasks they choose to do.

3. Communication challenges

The office space offered a lot of convenience to employees. They were near each other and could easily communicate. As of now, working from home has presented communication challenges. Employees experience a myriad of issues such as unstable internet connection and fluctuating power. This delays the flow of communication.

However, this does not mean that the work from home experience cannot be enhanced.

There are a few tips you can implement in order to get the best out of the experience and increase productivity.

1. Putting on Work Clothes

While dressing well improves other peoples’ impression of you, studies have shown that it also has a positive impact on your productivity. Waking up each morning and getting ready as if you were going to the office will help change your mindset. It will also give you a sense of purpose as you handle the day’s tasks.

Being in the right state of mind is one of the steps you can take to improve your work from home experience and dressing up will do this for you.

2. Reduce your social media consumption

With social media right at our fingertips, it is easy to lose track of time as you follow popular trends and catch up with friends. This has a negative impact on your productivity while you work from home. 

To curb this, set a schedule for yourself on when you need to check on your social media usage not only during the day but also at night. Using social media at night has been proven to negatively impact your sleeping pattern. As you know, a good night’s sleep impacts positively on your productivity the next day

3. Engage your co-workers on a personal level

Everyone is facing challenges during this period and your co-workers are no exception. While working from home, you can engage your co-workers on a personal level. This will recreating the office experience.

Remember when you’d grab a cup of coffee while having a little bit of small talk? Finding out about their week, their pets or even family? Working from home should not stop you from doing this. It will build a connection between you and your co-workers which will improve working relations even if remote.

4. Calendars, use them

In the office, there were clear cut times of doing things and co-workers were well aware of your activities. However, working from home has brought a sense of urgency to all matters work-related.

Without careful planning, you might find yourself in endless video conferencing calls leaving no time for your work. By using calendars you are able to indicate to fellow co-workers your availability. This will help you plan your day and make it easier for you to improve on efficiency.

If you loved this article, here are more on how to reduce your employees’ anxiety during Covid-19 and healthy habits while working from home.