Getting the most out of your WFH days

Flexible working hours and work from home (WFH) days have been on the rise in Australia for some time now. More companies are adopting formal policies to give their staff improved work-life balance, as well as benefit from the increased productivity WFH provides.

Currently, we’ve had WFH placed upon us due to COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing, meaning we’ve had to quickly adjust our work style and typical day-to-day in order to continue our roles.

Lockdowns won’t last forever, so at some point we’ll return to the workplace and possibly prefer to WFH on certain days or occasions.

So whether it's an enforced WFH or by choice, here are 6 key considerations to help you get the most out of your WFH days.

RELATED: How to be productive throughout the day when WFH

Turn around any negative connotations

There are some people who continue to perceive their colleagues’ non-traditional work arrangements as a negative – that is, assuming they aren’t working hard enough because they’re probably in their pyjamas with their laptop on their knees and the TV on in the background. These people are generally wrong, because studies continue to show greater productivity and outcomes when WFH. In addition, check out Entrepreneur’s 20 reasons to let employees work from home.

The best thing to do, particularly if you feel that there is judgement, is to demonstrate to your team and boss that working from home is far more productive for you personally:

• Check in periodically. It doesn’t matter whether it’s over the phone or via email, just let your co-workers know that you’re where you should be, and doing what you should be doing.
• Send your team or your boss a list of tasks you intend to complete while working from home the day before. Then at the end of your WFH day let, them know what you’ve completed from the list or compile a summary of your day so they’re reassured.
• Thank your boss for letting you work from home. Managers know that happy staff are productive staff.
• Genuinely do the work. You can be proactive in sending your work over to your boss as proof and to establish trust. Don’t take advantage of the good will of your company by pretending to be at home working, only to be tagged on social media at lunch outing with friends.

Act like you’re going to work

Don’t turn your alarm off on days you plan to work from home. They’re not meant to be “easier”, they’re meant to be more productive and a pleasant environment for getting through whatever tasks need to be completed.

• So stick to your routine as much as possible:
• Get up at the same time as you would for work
• Get dressed (doesn’t have to be your usual work attire, just make sure you transition from bed-wear to day-wear)
• Eat breakfast
• Set up your work station so everything you need is in one place, like it would be on your office desk

Use your commute time

If you would normally spend 30 minutes going through emails on the train before starting work at 8:30am, do the same when you work from home. You’ll be prepped to start work at and won’t have to waste 8:30am - 9am on emails. If you don’t already have a regular commute activity, here are The Muse’s five ways to get more out of your commute minus the nap.

Alternatively, start earlier than normal and let yourself finish a little earlier in the afternoon.

Eliminate your distractions

By WFH, you’re spared those usual work distractions, questions from colleagues, general office noise, and the thought of what you’re having for lunch.

But now you have to battle with home distractions. If you’re going to turn on your TV in the morning while you eat breakfast, turn it off as soon as you’ve finished eating – don’t fall for the ‘five more minutes’ trick.

Are you alone in the house? If not, make sure anyone else around knows that you are working and shouldn’t be disturbed. It’s a lot easier to do if you have a home office, but if you are set up in the kitchen or living room – ask for peace and privacy for at least three hours in the morning and three after lunch, or when you have important meetings.

Take breaks

Decide what time you’re going to have a lunch break and stick to it. It can be tempting to work from the second you get up in the morning to the time your stomach starts growling in the evening when you work from home. But it’s important to rest your eyes and mind, as well as to replenish with food and drink.

Lifehacker suggests that you should use skills during your break that you don’t use for work. This is thought to make us feel more relaxed and refreshed.

Go for a walk or spend some time in the garden – just get away from your screen for a bit.

RELATED: How to achieve work-life balance

Decide whether it’s for you

Not everyone likes working from home. Some of us are more comfortable in an office where it’s harder to stray from routine. Or they miss the social aspect of being at work with everyone else. That’s fine – it’s not for everyone.

Look back at the list of tasks you set yourself for the day, did you complete everything?

Be honest with yourself and where it’s in your control, don’t take work from home days if they don’t suit you.

If you find  that you can absolutely smash your to-do list, and felt positive and productive, then WFH is probably a good idea for your job type and/or personal situation.

Have an open and honest chat with your manager about making it a regular thing and agree on some basic rules, as well as what you should be achieving on work from home days.

Importantly, make sure you give yourself the best chance of experiencing a positive a WFH routine by using the tips above, settling in via routine and regularly making changes for improvements.