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Remote working is undeniably on the rise due to the COVID pandemic and employers figuring out the most efficient systems to make a WFH setup work for their companies.
Bearing this in mind, it has become increasingly likely that a lot of entry-level candidates will find themselves facing the prospect of working from home in their first role.
If you've never experienced a WFH situation before then don't worry, you're not alone. A lot of graduates and even experienced workers have been exposed to a WFH setup for the first time this year including those of us at Klickstarters.
Below we'll take you through what to expect when you're setting up your own home office!
Picking a dedicated workspace is your first step, you don't want your work cluttered around your home. Separating your work and home life is an important part of working from home.
Make sure you have all the right equipment and stationery necessary to do your new role effectively. Remember to ask your employer about any items you think you might need while working remotely.
Picking a specific spot or room in your home as your work hub will help you separate your job and all that goes with it from your home and relaxation time.
Even if your remote working hours are 9 to 5, it's still different than sitting in the office following the usual schedule. Creating a routine can help with keeping your day structured and your brain engaged.
You don't even need to keep it within your working hours. Making a pre-work morning routine can guide you to your workspace feeling ready to engage with your work.
Similarly, a lunchtime routine can help break up the day, getting out of the house during your lunch break can offer some exercise and a way to get out of your perceived workspace. This also applies to taking breaks during the working day, 5 minutes even if it's just to make a drink will help your well-being and remind you your home is still for relaxing.
Extended working from home can sometimes leave you feeling isolated and out of the loop. Being social and around people is important to your well-being and being in the workplace can usually cover these needs.
Remote working will sometimes mean you might feel you aren't getting these needs fulfilled. A good workplace and manager will make sure you are kept in the loop and being talked to throughout the working day - but some days are busier than others.
While working from home you should be confident that you can contact your coworkers for work or social reasons. We're all in this together and a quick chat about your current project or a catch-up over lunch or in the morning can do wonders for you and your coworkers.
The big downside of WFH is the distractions that come from being at home. You need to create a distraction-free zone, you can apply some rules to yourself and those around you.
These rules can range from putting your phone on silent so that you don't get tempted by the notifications. Asking those who live with you to knock before entering the room you work in. Even setting a rule about stopping work when your working hours are over can help your well-being.
It's important to set these rules for your own well-being and to help contribute to your productivity. This especially applies when you're in an environment that is potentially distracting like your home. Setting yourself rules will tie in with you creating a WFH routine essentially planning your days out in full to be productive and effective.
