The advent of computers and the internet has allowed millions of people to do their jobs at home while complying with social distancing guidelines. This is now the new norm, and somehow we must all get used to it.
While remote jobs have been around for a while, many are new to this kind of scenario. If you've never worked from home, let alone full-time, the adjustment period could take a toll on you.
That being said, here are some of the things you should avoid to make the transition as seamless as possible.
1. Don't treat this as if you're on vacay
Working from home may spell freedom, but in truth, your boss is still monitoring your performance. Don't slack off -- discipline is your best weapon when assigned remote work.
It's important you stand out from the crowd so when in the future the company unexpectedly announces job reductions, you'll survive the cut. Let your boss know that you can still be trusted even when the superiors aren't around.
2. Don't splurge
Working from home is the best excuse to buy the most expensive computer and furniture. While it's necessary to ensure that your machines at home will help deliver the job, today's crisis entails everybody to be frugal.
Consider your job when you have to buy new stuff instead. For example, if you write for a living, there's no need to buy a Threadripper CPU or the latest Core i9 device.
3. Don't force yourself to dress up
While dressing up gives the impression that you're going somewhere or doing something important, you don't always need that to motivate you to get the job done. There's absolutely no point in gearing up and ending up being uncomfortable if your job doesn't require video calls or conferences.
What to DO
For first-time work from home workers, it's essential that you set boundaries, both with yourself and your family. You need to focus on your job and eliminate distractions to establish the air that you're actually working. Without any supervision, who's going to stop you from watching that Netflix series you've wanted to binge on since like forever?
If you have kids, let them know that you should not be disturbed while you're on the computer. If all else fails and you lose control over the commotion and noise, invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones to help you focus and get the job done.
