Working from home is not simple. Sure, you could argue that there are those who thrive because they do not have to commute to work every day and can spend more time relaxing.
However, one cannot underestimate the importance of surrounding yourself with an environment that motivates and encourages productivity. The lack of supervisors and coworkers means that you need to readjust your approach to work.
Technology can come in handy and improve the situation. Staying at home and making use of the technology you have to make things better is the way to go. Here is a list of 5 ways technology can improve your work productivity
VPNs are a good investment. Trustworthy VPN services are under $2 per month, and they provide you with online privacy, security, and access to geo-restricted content.
A virtual private network can come in handy if you have to look for information on a subject and you cannot access it with your ISP. Or maybe you have received a computer from work and would like to keep things more private? For example, make skype calls, play games online, do some shopping while you have a minute or two of free time. Usually, a stealth online shopping guide will recommend you get a reliable VPN, though sticking to an incognito browser is enough in some cases.
Stuck at home means fewer chances to socialize with other people. The situation becomes even worse if you live alone.
Thankfully, there are means of communication that can help you stay in touch with friends, family, and coworkers.
Text or call them on your phone. Or, if you prefer, send messages on social media. Video chat and voice chat are available, meaning that you can see the face of those you are speaking to. It may not be the same as meeting somewhere outside, but the experience is still better than plain texting.
Communication platforms are also great if you want to meet other people that can keep you company. However, be wary of potential scammers as there are plenty of individuals who would love to take advantage of those who are unaware of potential dangers on the internet.
When you work from home, and there is nobody to supervise you, it is easy to lose track of time. You may procrastinate when the deadline is still not for a couple of days. You may also not bother taking a proper lunch break or going to bed at a reasonable hour.
These things build up over time, and they can backfire quite a lot, especially when it comes to your health.
Sticking to a schedule and tracking your time is one of the best ways to overcome the problem. There are multiple smartphone and desktop applications that can track the time for you.
Create a routine and stick to it. Know when you should be working, going to bed, waking up, taking a break, or doing some exercise.
A good workplace provides you with opportunities to learn and advance your career. However, being at home means that you cannot attend conferences, live lectures, and other events that may educate you.
On the other hand, that is not necessarily a bad thing. If you want, you can learn online as there are multiple opportunities. And there is no need to get your place of employment involved.
Thanks to online course platforms like Coursera, you can find a plethora of available online courses and consume them in your free time. Sure, you could ask for your employer to pay for these courses, but there are plenty of free courses.
Besides, you can also find video tutorials on YouTube. The bottom line is that the technology we have available today offers you education. If you are not stuck in the same place at your job and can progress as a person, you will have more motivation to work.
Speaking of finding motivation, you may find yourself more involved in work if there is something to look forward to after you finish.
The available entertainment is another victory thanks to technology. There ought to be enough entertainment even for those who are quite picky.
Sure, there are instances when devices like smartphones can be distracting, particularly if you enable the notifications or spend time browsing social media instead of doing your job, but that is not the main focus here.
