How to Work from Home Without Going Crazy
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:18 am
You have to work, but you don't have to go to the office. For some, remote work is a way of life, while for others, the sudden transition to this format has seriously thrown them off track. How to work from home without compromising productivity and nerves.
Experienced freelancers know that remote work has its advantages, but also its pitfalls, and over time you can learn to avoid them. But what should those who have been going to the office for years do, and now this way of life has been suddenly disrupted by restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic?
Yes, technology allows you to solve many problems outside the office. Modern devices and various applications make it possible to view work mail, databases, create and send documents, hold meetings and conferences from anywhere in the world... It's not difficult if you know how. It is possible that someone will only now, due to circumstances, discover some tools. But mastering technology is half the battle. The success and quality of remote work depend on many factors.
Follow the schedule
The main danger for those who suddenly stopped wasting time getting ready and going venezuela whatsapp list to the office is the idea that you can start work at any time, as well as finish it. The best way out is to stick to a proven schedule. A well-thought-out schedule will not let you down when switching to remote work, and most importantly, it will help you maintain a balance between work and personal life, which freelancers often suffer from.
Do the same things at home that you would normally do in the office. Schedule calls, meetings, emails, etc. Follow to-do lists, track time. Without external constraints like a meeting room schedule or a fixed lunch break, this can be difficult. An alarm clock or timer can come in handy. If you are familiar with time management techniques but have never used them, now is the time! One of these techniques that is quite popular is the so-called Pomodoro Technique. It involves alternating 25 minutes of focused work on each task and five-minute breaks.
Keep your boundaries
Your stay at home may be seen by your family members as an opportunity to socialize more or to sort out accumulated household chores together. But you are not on vacation and most likely not even on sick leave. This means that deadlines for submitting reports or projects have not been cancelled. Be prepared to defend your boundaries: explain to your household that you cannot be distracted from work, and ask them not to disturb you unnecessarily.
Don't forget that while you're working on your home computer, you'll be tempted by social networks, photos, your favorite TV series — in short, everything that usually entertains you in your free time. If you find yourself regularly "hanging out" while viewing third-party content, block access to certain folders and/or applications. This will make it much easier for you to stick to your schedule.
Keep the kids busy
Children who are stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic are partly facing the same problems as their parents. Many see what is happening as an early start to the holidays and expect their free days to be filled with various kinds of entertainment. Meanwhile, classes in most schools, clubs and sections have migrated to an online format and are in full swing, and parents working from home are not getting up from their computers for hours.
In order to more or less control your children's education and avoid excessive attention from them, it is necessary to convey to your offspring that the school and extracurricular schedule for the coming weeks will also apply at home. Explain to your children why it is important to always keep track of time (fortunately, every smartphone has a timer) and do assignments strictly according to the schedule. This will give both them and you the opportunity to complete current tasks in full within a realistic time frame.
Preschoolers, whose daily routine is not marred by examples, exercises and reports, are more difficult to occupy for eight or nine hours. You will have to be resourceful... and make them a schedule. Announce what and how long the child will do during the day. For clarity, you can hang a large poster with the corresponding pictures. However, adults will have to keep track of the time. Older preschoolers can be asked to do a general cleaning in their room: wipe the dust, sort out toys, sort out the parts from different Lego sets dumped in a large box, etc. Numerous online broadcasts and lectures from museums and educational centers can also help. Only the lazy have not organized virtual excursions and lessons now. Without leaving home, children can get to classes in modeling, painting, gymnastics and even to the Moscow Zoo and Planetarium.
Experienced freelancers know that remote work has its advantages, but also its pitfalls, and over time you can learn to avoid them. But what should those who have been going to the office for years do, and now this way of life has been suddenly disrupted by restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic?
Yes, technology allows you to solve many problems outside the office. Modern devices and various applications make it possible to view work mail, databases, create and send documents, hold meetings and conferences from anywhere in the world... It's not difficult if you know how. It is possible that someone will only now, due to circumstances, discover some tools. But mastering technology is half the battle. The success and quality of remote work depend on many factors.
Follow the schedule
The main danger for those who suddenly stopped wasting time getting ready and going venezuela whatsapp list to the office is the idea that you can start work at any time, as well as finish it. The best way out is to stick to a proven schedule. A well-thought-out schedule will not let you down when switching to remote work, and most importantly, it will help you maintain a balance between work and personal life, which freelancers often suffer from.
Do the same things at home that you would normally do in the office. Schedule calls, meetings, emails, etc. Follow to-do lists, track time. Without external constraints like a meeting room schedule or a fixed lunch break, this can be difficult. An alarm clock or timer can come in handy. If you are familiar with time management techniques but have never used them, now is the time! One of these techniques that is quite popular is the so-called Pomodoro Technique. It involves alternating 25 minutes of focused work on each task and five-minute breaks.
Keep your boundaries
Your stay at home may be seen by your family members as an opportunity to socialize more or to sort out accumulated household chores together. But you are not on vacation and most likely not even on sick leave. This means that deadlines for submitting reports or projects have not been cancelled. Be prepared to defend your boundaries: explain to your household that you cannot be distracted from work, and ask them not to disturb you unnecessarily.
Don't forget that while you're working on your home computer, you'll be tempted by social networks, photos, your favorite TV series — in short, everything that usually entertains you in your free time. If you find yourself regularly "hanging out" while viewing third-party content, block access to certain folders and/or applications. This will make it much easier for you to stick to your schedule.
Keep the kids busy
Children who are stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic are partly facing the same problems as their parents. Many see what is happening as an early start to the holidays and expect their free days to be filled with various kinds of entertainment. Meanwhile, classes in most schools, clubs and sections have migrated to an online format and are in full swing, and parents working from home are not getting up from their computers for hours.
In order to more or less control your children's education and avoid excessive attention from them, it is necessary to convey to your offspring that the school and extracurricular schedule for the coming weeks will also apply at home. Explain to your children why it is important to always keep track of time (fortunately, every smartphone has a timer) and do assignments strictly according to the schedule. This will give both them and you the opportunity to complete current tasks in full within a realistic time frame.
Preschoolers, whose daily routine is not marred by examples, exercises and reports, are more difficult to occupy for eight or nine hours. You will have to be resourceful... and make them a schedule. Announce what and how long the child will do during the day. For clarity, you can hang a large poster with the corresponding pictures. However, adults will have to keep track of the time. Older preschoolers can be asked to do a general cleaning in their room: wipe the dust, sort out toys, sort out the parts from different Lego sets dumped in a large box, etc. Numerous online broadcasts and lectures from museums and educational centers can also help. Only the lazy have not organized virtual excursions and lessons now. Without leaving home, children can get to classes in modeling, painting, gymnastics and even to the Moscow Zoo and Planetarium.