We are currently living through a virus outbreak that is taking place across the globe. As such, companies around Ireland and further afield have taken steps to continue offering their services and function with minimal disruption. One of these steps is, of course, working from home.
As a VoIP telephony provider, Goldfish.ie makes this easy as all you need to use our VoIP numbers is a VoIP telephone (be it a physical handset or a softphone) and an Internet connection. So long as you have those things, you’ll be able to use our service from home.
That being said, there’s plenty of other tips you can use to help you work from home. If this is not something you’re used to, it can be a bit disconcerting, to begin with, but if you follow our tips below, you’ll be up and running in no time!
Make sure you’ve got everything you need
Now, this may sound obvious, but you might be surprised to know exactly what you use in the workplace that you just take for granted. Picture this, you’ve remembered to take your laptop, keyboard, all the necessary chargers and even your favourite mug back home. You open your laptop and log in to your work account… and realise you don’t have that overly complicated password written down anywhere!
Knowing what you need before working from home is vital to ensuring your work is not interrupted. Make a list of things you need and keep it updated every so often so that you’re always prepared for any eventuality.
Maintain regular hours
Working from home can inevitably bring some new distractions you’re not used to in the workplace. That’s why it’s a good idea to maintain the same working hours you’re used to while at home. Keeping to the same schedule and sticking to “work-mode” will help ease the pressure you may face as well as nullify any new distractions. Additionally, other work colleagues will know when you’re available and when you’re not as you’ll be working the same hours. So, while an extra hour in bed might sound inviting, you might be better off sticking to your established routine.
Schedule breaks
This is just as important as taking breaks in the workplace. However, you may feel less comfortable taking breaks when you’re at home; it can feel weird taking a break in your own home! But it is advisable to continue to take these breaks to let your mind rest for a bit. Get out of the house, take a walk, go for a run, water the plants, have some lunch… anything that lets you unwind, preferably outside. But the important thing here is to get out of the room where you’re working to fully switch off.
Try to stay focused
This ties back to keeping regular working hours. At home, you’ll have loads of different distractions to the workplace, some of which are unavoidable, such as someone knocking on the door, other people or kids in the household, TV, a fully stocked kitchen… I can speak for myself; it can be tricky to stay focused! Luckily, there are some tricks of the trade that you can use. Set up a designated workspace away from the general hub of your house if possible, like a study or spare room, and close the door. Ask any dependents for privacy where possible. Take any snacks with you instead of having to trudge down to the kitchen each time… It’s the small things that make a big difference.
Get dressed
OK, hear me out. You may be tempted to sit in your pyjamas or a nice cosy dressing gown when you’re working from home, but I can tell you, you’ll come to regret it. In normal circumstances, there’s nothing better than coming home and slipping into something more comfortable after a hard day’s work… well, you won’t be able to do that if you’re already in your PJs!
Now don’t get me wrong, we’re not advocating dressing in a suit or work dress that you’ve just dry cleaned over the weekend. We’re simply saying it could help you from a mentality point of view to get dressed as if you’re going to work to some degree. Additionally, it’ll help with our previous point of staying focused on work (but perhaps maybe keep the slippers on!).
Stay in contact
Chances are, you’re not the only one working from home, so it’s important to stay in touch with your work colleagues. It’s easy to forget to do this as the way of communicating may be different than what you’re used to. You may be used to talking face to face or during a meeting, so you’ll need to adapt by using our VoIP system to call each other or use one of the many chat services available.
It’s also a good way to keep on track and helps your superiors know that you are doing just as a good a job from home than in the workplace!
