How To Make Working From Home Become The New Reality
Working from home (WFH) became a real feature of everyday life in the turn of these last fifteen (15) to eighteen (18) months. The world of work is such that there seems to be a constant shift to have remote working spaces.
The beauty about remote working is the ability to maximize your time while spending less on travel and daily lunch expenses. The truth is studies have shown that the opposite is true, “remote workers are more likely to over work, because when your personal life and your work are both under the same roof, it’s harder to switch off.”
Let’s look at some ways you can ensure you don’t get caught in a trap of over-work while doing WFH.
Remote Working In 2021
In 2021, the time for work has become shifted so much that it has caused many to blur the lines. The proverbial 9 am – 5 pm no longer seems to exist when working from home.
Set A Schedule For Your Day
The result of over-work can be exhaustion, irritability, and even physical illness. What is more agreeable is for you to work similar hours just like you were in-office. Set a schedule for your day so that you cover the work for your business or employer but leave time for your normal daily activities.
Each day before work, spend time crafting a scheduled plan of your work activities. If you work for someone else, ensure they set a schedule convenient for tasks for the day. In the course of the day, adapt depending on circumstances and remember time for meetings and meal times. “Run the day, or it will run you!”
Take Hourly Breaks
Try to also treat the work day like normal in-office time. Set a time when you will break for lunch. Create as many possibilities of movement, time for meals and seeing the outside air and sun as possible. This can be a fruitful and productive time of work once you manage yourself and pace your energy.
Stretch each hour and walk around a bit for a few minutes. The result of stagnant bodies can lead to lifestyle illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. Consistent movement will mean better circulation, increased clarity of mind, and focus on the tasks at hand.
Ensure You Have Time For Your Family
Don’t forget to even structure your time for family. Entertainment and family hours can be a great relaxation to become more upbeat about the next workday.
With family lines and spaces crossing because everyone may be at home for both school and work, set areas for everyone to be comfortable and get work done. Allow the very fullness of the day to be structured for both work and play. As the old adage goes, “all work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy.”
The Future World Of Work
The future according to Internet Income Jamaica (IIJ) CEO, Alicia Lyttle, is one where “the freelancer can become an online empire business owner who services clients worldwide with flexible times for working and freedom to travel and take care of his/her family.”
At IIJ, we have always envisioned making as many people trained and capable of doing remote work as a freelancer. Ms. Lyttle sees Jamaica and the Caribbean as a great hub for creating many remote workers who can be flexible freelancers.
According to Harpreet Singh in a recent Entrepreneur.com article, “Predicting the future of work is always tricky, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made any type of prognosis even more difficult. One thing is clear: we all know that work will never be the same, even if we don’t yet know all the ways in which it will be different.”
Aside from freelancing, it’s also true that many people who are employed by others have to be adaptable to changing environments. Even school children have to shift how they learn into a space for online learning.
It could be said that the world of remote working may just become the future!
