Work in the time of Corona

The novel coronavirus illness, Covid-19, has been called a once-in-a-century pandemic. This outbreak has transformed our lives. It has hampered our routine, our lifestyle and most importantly our work. It is indeed a time of crisis and we all need to fight this battle together by staying at home. Work from home is a new reality. It sounds like a breeze but it requires a lot of discipline and dedication on our part. It is vital to make these days productive even while staying at home. Here’s what you can do to make the best out the 24×7 routine.

A Whole Lot of Discipline and Smart Work

You no longer have to travel to and fro, every day. As a result, you are saving a lot of time and you are already in your comfort zone, 24×7. Do you need anything more to be your absolute best? The answer is yes. You need discipline and motivation. You need a driving force to get you out of bed and to your desk. Ask yourself what you want to accomplish today. Begin your day with a promise to be better than what you were the day before. Be effective and productive. Logging in, just for the sake of passing time and adding to your hourly count is not going to help. Aim to complete tasks more effectively and in shorter durations, so that at the end of the day you have a sense of pride and accomplishment. Try this for a few days and see its effect. It will not only increase your productivity but will also make you a star performer.

Take Routinely Breaks

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Take a break whenever required. Acknowledge the limitations to your attention span and take a break to rejuvenate your mind. These small breaks can help you reduce stress and increase overall productivity. So go ahead, take tea breaks, lunch break, KitKat breaks, talking to your friend/girlfriend/boyfriend break, exercise break or simply scroll your social media feed.

Keep Communicating with your Peers and Supervisors

While working from home we need to build effective communication for avoiding conflicts and establishing a better understanding of the project targets. It should be realised that we are a cog in a giant wheel, thus staying connected with our peers/supervisors and being responsive on-call, skype and message especially during work hours is important.

Create a to-do list

Whether you work from home or from the office, creating a to-do list or setting up daily targets is how you should always begin your day. Humans have a tendency of working better when they have shorter targets and clearer goals. Creating a to-do list for the day will give you focus and clarity. It will drive you to complete the tasks before the day ends and will help you increase productivity.

Be Ethical in your Obligations

You may have heard of the saying, What goes around comes around. If companies have an obligation to pay you, to look after you. You also have an obligation to complete your tasks and contribute to the company’s success both diligently and ethically. Be true to your ethics. Take responsibility for your roles and maintain authenticity in the tasks performed by you. Because at the end of the day, it will come back to you as a reward.

Connect with your Families and Loved Ones

Every cloud has a silver lining. Despite the scare and long house arrest, there is a silver lining. You now have the time to connect with your family and loved ones. Don’t let the extra time you get go to waste. Spend this time with your family. Connect with them, talk to them and make good memories.

Take up new Habits and develop new Skills

You will be surprised to see that even after all this, you still have some time left. What Now? Are you thinking about binging on Netflix? Instead of just chilling and binging, why not try taking up a new habit. Do something which will add value to you. You will never find a better time. You can learn new languages or pick up that dusty old guitar you purchased 3 years ago and start strumming. Think about it. Take up a new habit and start exploring. The possibilities are endless.

Do the Five

And finally, don’t forget to do the five and help stop coronavirus. 

1. Wash your hands 
2. Use elbow to Cough
3. Don’t touch your face
4. Keep a safe distance from people, and 
5. Stay at Home