Working from home is awesome, right up until the cat throws up on your computer. And your neighbor, who you can only assume is building a time machine, starts firing up all sorts of power tools and noisy machinery across the street.
COVID-19 has caused remote work to become a necessity instead of a luxury for many professionals. But which environment allows us to be more productive: the home office or the office office?
In the office office, your colleagues often pose the greatest threat to keeping you from getting some real, heads-down work done. They drop by your desk, engage you in conversation, and invite you to lunch — or so I hear. The social benefits are nice to have, but they can become a challenge if you’re easily distracted.
However, at the home office, while family members can be a distraction, I find that it’s easy for you to become your own worst enemy. Because without coworkers around, you’re free to drop those pesky inhibitions. At the home office, no one’s watching. You don’t necessarily feel that same peer pressure or communal obligation to get stuff done. (Also, you don’t have to wear pants.)
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Below, I’ve compiled many great work-at-home tips and tricks from some of my awesome coworkers.
- Communicate expectation with anyone who will be home with you.
- Take clear breaks.
- Interact with other humans.
- Prepare meals the night before.
- Pick a definitive finish time.
- Eat and sleep.
- Talk to your employer.
- Join a remote-friendly company.
- Start a career as a freelancer.
- Start a home business.