Smart Working: how to organize yourself to work well from home
After years that seemed to hover in the air, Smart Working has become a reality for many workers of Italian companies, forced at home due to the COVID-19 emergency. The so-called "Agile Work" or "Telework" has revolutionized the lives of many. In fact, staying at home allows you to have greater freedom in terms of schedules and to be able to manage family tasks more easily. However, distractions are just around the corner and so is the risk of indolence or, on the contrary, continuous work stress. For this you need to know how to organize yourself in order to carry out your duties in the best possible way.
So, we have compiled these 5 tips on how to work well in Smart Working, which will be useful even after this period of isolation in your own homes. In addition to revealing the great resource of the remote work, this period of Coronavirus quarantine is giving the opportunity to do activities that we would normally neglect, such as these:
1. Get up as if you are going to work
You don't have to take the subway or the car to go to work. However, that's not a good reason to lose the weekday rhythm: sure, you can give yourself a little more time to sleep, but don't overdo it. Wake up anyway an "hour or an hour and a half" before your "office" hours and take advantage of the fact that you don't have to move around the busy streets during rush hour, to do something you normally don't have time for. Some exercise to stay fit or to relax your mind and body, such as yoga, a relaxing shower and a long breakfast - not in a rush as usual - are already a great start.You will simply have to establish a new daily ritual that is different from that of the holidays.
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2. Don't work in bed
Probably, this is the biggest temptation of Smart Working: working in bed. If you choose to work in the warmth of sheets and blankets, the problem is that at 11 c "there is the risk of a first nap and another" siesta at 2 pm, immediately after lunch. Also, the stretched position in this case hurts the back. Therefore, you should set up a place dedicated only to work. The table in the living room or kitchen, or the desk in the bedroom: the important thing is that that space becomes your new office station.
Prefer a lighted environment and prepare the necessary: agenda, post-its, pencils, pens, paper clips, water and snacks for snacks. What matters is that you have everything at hand and you do not have to get up too often from the at your station, with the risk of giving in to some distraction For the same reason, keep the book you are finishing reading, the television remote control and other objects that can distract you away from your new desk.
3. Keep in touch with colleagues
In these times of forced Smart Working due to Coronavirus, communication is essential! It is important to continue to converse with colleagues throughout the day. Through chats and all platforms dedicated to video calling and video conferencing, meetings and other decisions to be made are quite simple to organize and schedule. The management of everyone's tasks remains individual, since at home the same role is played as in the office, but it is always good to maintain contact with the rest of the team to know how to coordinate for some important strategy or work.
4. Respect schedules and breaks
For some companies, when working in Smart Working, working hours are more flexible, while for others they remain unchanged. In any case, you can run into one of the risks of Agile Work, that is to let yourself be carried away. Since there are no routes to do and you are already at home, it is easy to lose track of time. Don't forget to take the same breaks as a classic working day - 15-minute break every two hours -, to have lunch around 13, exactly as you do in the workplace, and to avoid prolonging "office hours". . In the same way, however, do not give in to some distraction while you are working: working from home is also an act of trust on the part of the company and you must complete all your tasks as best as possible. To help you, put on some music background that helps you stay focused and isolates you from the outside world.
5. Separate work from your private life
This advice is especially aimed at those who do not live alone. Having a roommate or family at home, with a partner and perhaps even children, can be a distraction during working hours. In this case, it is important to know how to balance between the tasks to be performed for the office and those at home and family. After setting up your station home office, talk to those who live with you and explain how you intend to manage your day, making them understand your needs to focus and keep attention and productivity high. Likewise, during breaks and at the end of the day, "free yourself" from work and PC tasks, shifting the focus to the people who live with you, especially children. By doing so, you will not make anyone feel excluded and you will be able to perfectly combine work and private life. If you live alone, the same procedure applies: when you go away, call your friends or family, dedicating time to interpersonal relationships.
