6 Tips On How To Work From Home

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Due to the current COVID-10 pandemic, there are more people now than ever working from home, globally. Some do not have a choice but to make do with this new lifestyle, at least for a few months.

In Malaysia, working from home is not yet a very common occurrence as most place of employment would prefer their staff to be in the office, in the flesh. So, you might not be prepared for working from home. We have compiled a list of helpful tips, that will be more applicable to our local lifestyle as a few of our staff members do work from home quite regularly, pre-pandemic.

(take note that these tips can vary according to your current status: single, a mother with small children or living with people, so tweak as you need!)

Photo by Kari Shea on Unsplash

1. Set up a place for your temporary home office.

Find a conducive area in your house - preferable a proper table with a supportive chair. Try to avoid the temptation of working in bed or couch. If you have a spare room, clear it out as best as possible to make it your temporary office for the next few weeks. Ensure that you have all you need - your gadgets, work materials and a good internet connection. Tidy and organize your work space before you start. Also, get the temperature right - for me, I point a fan directly at me so that I won't get annoyed with being hot.

2. Eliminate all and potential distractions.

If you don't need your phone for work, you can switch it off or put it in Airplane Mode. I find it helpful not to open up social media sites on my laptop screen, as I keep checking and getting distracted with useless information. If you live with people, let them know that you do not want to be disturbed for a certain amount of time. Set a timer if you need utmost concentration on your task.

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3. Set a routine and plan your tasks for the day (or even the whole week).

I would divide my day into three sections, two for work and one for non-work. You can customize to suit your lifestyle and work responsibilities (for example, if you are a mother, you might prefer to cook and clean in the morning, and then work late at night). The reason I do this is to trick my brain into thinking I am not stressed out and busy. Essentially, I only have 3 things to do, that's it. I plan these sections around my meal times, which are of course breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try not to multitask too much if you can help it, or else it will feel like you were busy doing a thousand things but not finishing any.

(breakfast)
MORNING - reply emails, proofread
(lunch)
AFTERNOON - write a blog post, edit photos
(dinner)
EVENING - (you can use this for non-work activities such as house chores, leisure, exercise, hobby)

For me, I even plan the whole week so that I only focus on one thing per day.

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4. Take care of your body.

During this time of staying at home, we will be more sedentary. Schedule mini breaks to move around, drink lots of water, stretch and eat foods that make you feel healthy and not sluggish. It can be tempting to snack on chips and drink sugary drinks - but pay attention to how you feel after that. If you don't feel your best, rethink what you are putting into your body. Take your vitamins, and take deep breaths regularly. Also, house chores can be a great way to burn some calories and stay fit.

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5. Take care of your mind and soul.

If your job is stressful, take a moment to meditate or pray before you start the day. Maybe put a positive mantra where you can see it, on your screensaver or on the wall. Another important nugget of wisdom is to always assume positive intent. What does this mean? We are so used to talking and reading people's faces, that when you are working from home and isolated, sometimes an innocent reply can be misinterpreted as rude. Don't think into it, don't take it personally - assume the best. For your part, you can use more emoticons and emojis to get your vibe across clearly :)

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6. Dress up to feel good.

Almost all the guidelines on the internet on working from home says this: don't be tempted to wear your pajamas the whole day! Dressing up and looking good will do wonders for your psyche! Head on to our website for a month of awesome discounts and promotions, even perfect outfits for wearing at home. Since you have read until here, we thank you and we offer you a secret reward. Use promo code BAJURUMAH to get 10% off store-wide at www.misclaire.com. Hurry - this promotion is only valid until 2nd April 2020.