8 Tips to Work Effectively from Home

The circumstances of COVID-19 have pushed many organizations to work remotely, including our staff at SysGen. As we enter the seventh week of remote work, many of us may struggle with staying productive and comfortable working from home.  Here are some tips to work effectively from home and stay productive:

Set up your workspace.

Look for a space in your home where you can focus and work effectively from home. Set this space to be your workspace, separate from your living space where you interact with the people that you live with. You should be able to be in the space for a long time with minimal distractions.

Your office and home workflow may not be the same; you may be balancing work and childcare at the same time. Let your coworkers know your schedule, so they can reach out as required. Check up on your coworkers and managers and let them know what you’re working on and what you’ll be doing. Don’t forget to bring up important milestones and important projects to your coworkers on your own.

Keep an eye on your boundaries.

Working and living at home can make unplugging in between difficult. Make sure to take breaks, relax, and give yourself a “clock-in” and “clock-out” signals at the end of the day.

Take breaks in their entirety.

Remember to take your breaks, and truly take it. Don’t check your email and projects while you’re eating lunch, but focus to relax and unwind, so you can return to your workspace when your break is completed.

Embrace online meetings.

Depending on the company you work for, use the most of your collaboration platforms. Microsoft Teams is a great tool to communicate and collaborate with your coworkers. Make sure all your meetings include a virtual “join” option so that your team can join from wherever they are working. Turn video on so your team can interact face-to-face and feel more connected.

Be mindful and inclusive.

A crowded online meeting can make it hard for people to speak up and share their thoughts. Pause frequently to allow time for questions and remind your team that they can use the chat window to communicate. Ask how your coworkers are doing and see how they’re staying productive at home.

Keep a record of your meetings.

Hit “record” when you start a meeting. Your team members who can’t join can watch later or look for information. That way, colleagues can easily catch up or review anything they missed or need repeating.

Bring the team together.

Be deliberate about connecting with your coworkers to work effectively from home. Many might miss the routine of morning catch up over coffee, or the sense of togetherness in the physical office space. Create opportunities for the whole team to connect, whether it’s meetings or virtual lunch break.

Don’t forget to have fun!

Encourage fun activities and challenges to maintain morale using online collaboration tools, such as Microsoft Teams. Hold fun challenges such as photo contests or trivia week. Complimenting your team is a great way to stay positive, engaged, and energized, too.

Supporting Your Business

Ultimately, SysGen is here for you. We realize that IT infrastructure is critical to your business operations. SysGen promises to provide you with the best IT experience possible. This will not change despite the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our mission remains the same: to provide timely, high-quality IT support to ensure your focus is your business.

Find SysGen’s IT support and managed IT services in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Vernon, and Kelowna. Should you have more questions about SysGen’s IT service model or about our IT services during the COVID-19 response, please reach out to our team directly.