WORK FROM HOME: what it worth to know

2 years ago

From 2019 the COVID-19 pandemic, which shook the world, work from home has become particularly relevant to many working people. This type of work, like any other phenomenon, has both positive and negative sides. Still, most work from home is viewed positively, and this is confirmed in 2022 of January study by the Pew Research Center, they found that out of 5,889 employees surveyed, as many as 61 percent choose to work from home because they do not want to return to work in their official job. Hearing this instinctively begs the question: why is work from home so attractive to employees and what is it worth knowing when choosing this type of work?

Indeed, the large-scale transition from traditional single-place work to remote work dates back to the 1970s, when in 1973 soaring gasoline prices have made workers' trips to work more expensive and prompted the government to implement a new work-from-home policy. This type of work has certainly saved not only staff time but also money. What is especially relevant these days, when not only fuel prices but also inflation is rising rapidly in the country. Saving money while working from home is also influenced by the ability to prepare food rather than order, as is the norm for many employees working in the office.

One of the biggest advantages of working from home is that workers are not tied to any location in terms of work and can live anywhere in the world. This is especially true for people who work two jobs or live with the other half, whose careers require constant travel around the world. Working from home is also attractive to employees because it allows employees to spend more time with family, as there is no need to get up early and get ready for work or have to park for long periods in traffic jams. Working from home is also particularly useful if the worker is experiencing certain problems with their own or their family's health - this can be a great way to help the worker stay at home and work at the same time.

From an employer perspective, working from home allows organizations to reduce or eliminate real estate costs and hire talented workers from around the world. Employees can be geographically flexible (i.e. live where they want to) because they no longer have to drive to and from work, so they can also better reconcile work and private life.

Working from home can even benefit society and the world at large. Global Workplace Analytics, a research and consulting firm, estimates that if every citizen in the US worked part-time remotely, greenhouse gas emissions from travel could be reduced by more than $ 51 million metric tons per year. In this way, at least some of the contribution to tackling climate change could be made. The downside of remote work is that this type of work separates employees from their colleagues and the company itself, making people feel socially and professionally isolated, especially in organizations where some people work together and some from home. In such situations, employees working from home often feel separated from the flow of information that is usually received by employees physically in the office. There is also concern that employees working from home are less likely to become close friends with colleagues and do not feel full members of the organization.

If you still want to try this type of work, we suggest you follow these tips before you start working:

- If you want to keep up with the work and get it done on time, it is very important to create an efficient workspace. When working from home, you should first take care of all the equipment needed for the job and distribute it in the room so that there is enough space to work comfortably. A few office accents in your home can encourage you to be more productive, e.g. A high quality office chair is definitely one of the best investments you can make when you decide to work from home. If you still don’t have the space or funds for it, you need to make sure you can sit comfortably while working from home. If not, you’ll probably find plenty of excuses to get up and go do something else! You must also consider light, air and noise when you decide to work from home. The room where you will be working should be bright enough to have a clear view of the keyboard. If you can, open the window to breathe in the fresh air. However, if your neighborhood is noisy, consider purchasing headphones and using online noise-canceling sites.

- In order for work from home to be truly productive, you should make it clear to yourself and your household that your home is your workplace at certain times of the day. So, at some point, you have to make sure you are unobstructed, out of sight, and able to work smoothly.

- Working from home can become a new challenge to your physical and mental well-being. If you do not want this to happen, you should set up a regular agenda and try to stick to it, i. y. start and finish work at a similar time at all times, allow sufficient time for sleep and rest, and eat normally. There should also be regular short breaks in your agenda to help you stay energetic and focused while working, as well as keep your eyes from constantly working at the screen. You can use a timer when working from home, for example take an hour to work, and when the alarm sounds, reward yourself with a five or ten minute break to make coffee or breathe in the fresh air. Remember that the goal is to take a break from your computer screen, so don’t switch from one screen to another until the alarm sounds! You can also take a short workout to help you concentrate and avoid back pain.

- When working from home, it’s also important to remember to take care of your organization’s data security. To do this, use only secure Wi-Fi networks that require a password to connect. When backing up your data, do not store "sensitive" material on removable media, such as USB sticks, as you can store not only the files you want, but also viruses. Try to keep the devices in a safe place so that they cannot be seen by anyone who may pass by your workplace. This is especially important if strangers may enter your home.

- 2008 Research at the University of California has shown that it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to return to work after a break. Going back to work from work at home can be even harder because the home is full of stimuli that can distract us. One of them is the use of soc. networks or, in other words, browsing on your phone. These days, it’s the biggest stimulus that can affect your productivity from home. You need to control how much time you spend browsing on your phone, and to implement this in your phone settings, you can choose how much time you want to spend each day in a particular app (Facebook, Instagram, etc.). Allow time for the phone to be inspected and set aside during work so that you can concentrate and get fully involved in quality work.

- If you want to be more motivated to work from home, agree with your manager on clear goals beforehand. Along with short-term, task-related goals, make sure you clearly know the broader career goals you are pursuing. With them in mind, you will be motivated to work as best you can wherever you are. Make a to-do list to manage your workload. Keep in mind, however, that the points in it need to be realistic and broken down into sub-tasks so that you can clearly see the progress as you work. If the tasks are really routine and boring, you can also treat yourself to treats as you complete them. For example, drink your favorite type of coffee for a difficult or boring task. Working will become another motivational tool that will encourage you to work productively.

- When working from home, it is also important to maintain a friendly relationship with co-workers and the manager and to nurture the employer’s trust in you as an employee. To do this, you should make sure your co-workers and supervisor know when you are free, when you are attending a meeting, or when you are having lunch. Also, try to keep your calendar up to date. Include regular meetings with your supervisor and co-workers on your agenda. During them, not only share the work done or other information related to the work, but also do not forget to ask how other employees are doing, what their mood is, what difficulties they are worried about. It is really beneficial to do this, because proper and friendly communication with the manager builds confidence in your productivity and in you as an employee in general.

Working from home, in fact, not only has many benefits, it can also present a number of challenges. We hope our tips help you overcome them! But don't despair if it will be difficult to work in a home environment - what may be a productivity-boosting environment for some may be a distracting place for someone to work. The most important thing is to choose the environment that suits you, and then it will be easier to work by itself.