The coronavirus has upended life as we know it. And it has also resulted in millions of people working remotely, in most cases out of their homes. There is no clear end to this devastating pandemic, and working remotely is likely to be the norm for months, if not years to come. In such a scenario, businesses and employees must implement technology to induce a proper work environment at home. Here are a few ways to do so.
1) Create an environment similar to a “Live” Office
Working from home can be isolating at times and may lead to mental issues. In such a scenario, it is essential to take care of your health when working remotely. You may miss the office chatter that you indulged in during normal times. One way to replicate is to try and create an environment similar to a “Live” office. Using tools such as Slack can help in doing so. Asking questions in a private chat is similar to whispering in somebody’s ear. Asking questions in a Slack team channel is analogous to spinning your chair around and speaking to a group.
2) Block distracting websites while you are working
Working from home can result in spending a lot of unproductive time on social media, watching youtube videos, and other distractions, which can lower your productivity. There are several anti-distraction apps that you can use to limit the time you spend on certain sites or apps during work hours. For example, you can set a time limit (say 15 minutes) for how long you can spend time on non-work-related apps or sites. The app will block your access to those sites if you cross the set time limit.
3) Use time tracking software
Maintaining regular timesheets is an essential aspect of working from home. Doing so will help you and your direct manager get an insight into how productive you are when working. Time clock software from Buddy Punch is a great tool that will help you achieve this objective. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices, allowing employees to punch in and punch out, submit time sheets, and view timesheets from their mobile devices.
4) Use Chatbots and AI to enhance your mood and streamline your workflow
Think chatbots, and you may immediately think about customer support chatbots. However, apart from customer service functionality, chatbots can do a lot more. There are chatbots out there that can help you calm down and improve your mood. Some chatbots help you meditate and get over emotional health challenges.
5) Use headphones that have a microphone
Working from home can result in a lot of background noise, especially if you have kids or roommates. Using headphones that have a microphone will help reduce background noise during voice or video calls. Many such headsets come with noise-canceling features, which help provide better sound quality for you and your audience.
6) Have regular video calls with your team
Video calls help in strengthening virtual team members by allowing remote employees to integrate better with a group. As a result, meetings are more productive, decision-making is faster, and overall mental health levels improve throughout a team. Employees that participate in video meetings can observe the facial expressions of co-workers and display higher levels of engagement. Plus, it is one of the best ways to replicate regular office interaction in a work-from-home scenario.
In Summary
With remote work becoming a necessity in this day and age, it is essential to be able to replicate a work environment if you are working from home. Using technology is a great way to do so and enhance your productivity levels while taking care of any emotional health issues.
