How to Work from Home During the Coronavirus Outbreak

 

Coronavirus dominates the news right now—it's all we can think and talk about. We've been told to prepare for lifestyle changes. Companies like Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft have told employees to work remotely, and many others are preparing their staff for the possibility of remote work, at least until the threat has diminished.

But how do you not only work from home but do it successfully? I've worked from home for the majority of my adult life, well before words like "remote work" and "telecommuting" were part of our modern vocabulary. That's over 20 years in the telework trenches! Now, I work from home managing a team of remote podcasters here on Quick and Dirty Tips. Let's talk about the challenges of working from home and how to successfully manage them.

Working from home isn't always easy

If you've never worked from home, or you do so infrequently, you may have fantasized about how awesome it would be to have a permanent remote gig. There would be no daily commute to the office, for one thing. And how wonderful would it be to roll out of bed, make some coffee, and work in your pajamas?

It's true that working from home has its perks, but it also has challenges. Here are a few of the most common ones.

• Distractions are everywhere. At home, there are lots of things vying for your attention. The dog needs to go out. Oh, and while you're at it, the trash should go out, too. Was that the mail carrier? A nap would be good right now.
   
• There's less accountability. At the office, you'd expect your coworkers to judge you if they find you scrolling through Instagram when you're supposed to be finishing an important report. At home, that peer pressure is gone and all bets are— look at the cute corgi video!
   
• Communication is more challenging. If you're not used to having to communicate in writing, you may struggle with things like context and diplomacy. You'll have to work harder to make yourself understood.
   
• You'll have to be your own cheerleader. Don't expect people to notice when you've accomplished something big. You'll have to champion yourself to get the same level of recognition when you work remotely.

Whether you're working...

Keep reading on Quick and Dirty Tips