How to Excel at Your Job During the COVID-19 Lockdown

Before the coronavirus outbreak, millions of Americans worked from home –– at least on occasion. Now, though, virtually all non-essential workers are spending the vast majority of their time working remotely. In fact, some could say that a work-from-home revolution has taken place. This could be our new normal, after all. With that in mind, today we’ll share a few helpful tips for professionals who may be struggling to stay focused and productive during these, admittedly, difficult times. Check them out here:

Turn Off Other Media

Do not try to work with the TV on. Do not try to work while listening to a podcast. Do not try to work while monitoring your news feed. While it may be tempting to distract yourself with other media, do your best to keep them muted during work hours. What’s more, isolate yourself as much as possible from others in your home who could distract you such as a significant other or roommate.

Communicate

Remote team members often have difficulty communicating with each other effectively. As such, it’s imperative to develop a system that enables you to stay connected with your coworkers. Don’t be afraid to reach out with a new idea or with a problem that’s giving you trouble. Also, make yourself available to your fellow team members and encourage them to message you.

Prioritize

Now more than ever, professionals need to prioritize their schedules. Create lists that outline your most important assignments and don’t feel bad about putting non-essential tasks on the backburner for a while. Otherwise, you could end up feeling overwhelmed.

Follow a Set Routine

Remote employment can blur many lines. If you spend all of your time in your home, it can be easy to fall into strange work patterns. Try to avoid this. Sure, sometimes you may have to take an hour out of your normal schedule to go to the grocery store or to make lunch for your kids. But in the main, try to do the bulk of your work between nine and five. Not following your set regiment can throw you off your game and leave you feeling exhausted.

Learn Something New

Have some extra time on your hands? Then look for ways to educate yourself and expand your current skill set. Many businesses produce employee training videos that professionals can view remotely to learn new things about their industry. Use the extra time you have now to grow both as a person and as a professional. Trust us, you’ll be glad you did in the long run.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes