What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of working from home? If you think it’s about lazing around all day behind a flexible work schedule, then you’re not alone. It is true that working from home makes is more flexible but that doesn’t mean remote work is easy. Work is still work and you need to be productive as much as possible. If you are new to working from home, here are some tips on getting started. Remote work poses some unique challenges and there are some myths surrounding it. We will talk about some of the common myths.
You don’t need to set a schedule
As a part of a large team, there are times when you will need to interact with your colleagues. This means, you will need to set a calendar with meetings and project deadlines to meet. The flexible schedule is an advantage, no doubt. Structure it in such a way that you have the right balance of work and personal life. So, it’s true that things are flexible but without a schedule you will not get anything done.
You can work out of your bed
You will need to keep in touch with your peers very often over audio or video calls. If it’s a video conference, imagine yourself in your pajama, in bed with a laptop. If you are working from home, make sure you are dressed reasonably well, sit upright on a desk. There are benefits to it and you can do your bit to be as professional, while being comfortable at home.
You don’t need to follow the 9-hour rule
Some organizations measure the hours spent at work. Some need to have their teams in office but the reality can be different, depending on the kind of work you do. There are many professionals who can be productive despite them taking short breaks, spending time reading or sketching on the notepad, etc. At the end of the day, what matters are the results and not how much time is spent on the laptop. Taking breaks is fine, but what’s more important is prioritizing your work, being disciplined through your work.
You can easily balance work and family
When you work under the same roof as your personal life, people can find it difficult to switch between them. Working from home doesn’t always translate to a balanced work and personal life. There are times when you might be loaded with work, and it becomes difficult to move away from the PC. You might need to keep responding to mails when you should be signing out and spending time with your family.
Employees don’t stay focused at home
This is one of the most common myths. Many think it is hard to focus when there are dishes piling up and laundry to be done, or when the TV is just button’s press away. You can overcome this challenge by setting a strict schedule with very specific work hours and break timings. Sticking to the schedule will help you focus and be productive. If you can setup a work space away from the distractions, you’ll see the difference.
Employees are not productive at home
The common misconception is that people are less productive when working remotely, especially with no one overseeing them. This may not be the case with everyone working remotely. Some people are more productive and happier working from home. Working in a quieter space boosts creativity and innovative thinking, not to mention efficiency.
Employees lack innovation and collaboration
Managers have always been required to keep a track of their subordinates. Communication can be difficult without face-to-face meetings. The results are three things – a lack of innovation, collaboration and communication. Working remotely doesn’t mean everyone is bad at collaborating or innovating. There are apps and services available for phones, laptops and PCs that allow you to share and view remote assets. Also, there are several messaging, audio and video calling apps that help you stay in touch with team members and share updates.
These are just some of the common myths of working remotely. The other benefits of remote work are that employees fall sick less frequenty and take fewer breaks. Overall productivity can boom, depending on the kind of work you do. Working from home can be a blessing, if companies invest in the tools and services that ensure their employees are happy and engaged when working remotely.
