How to Make the Switch From Office to Home Office

More and more companies are implementing a work-from-home scheme to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. For many employees, this has been a welcome arrangement (No traffic! No need to leave the house!) but there are preparations to be made to ensure productivity. Working from home is also a good chance to strengthen values and discipline—both your own and your family’s.

Here are seven essential tips for making the switch from office to home office:

Begin with a grateful heart

In these trying times, the ability to work from home is something to be thankful for. You’re assured of a steady income while staying safe and healthy, and you’re protecting your family from getting sick as well. Not everyone is so lucky, so don’t take that for granted.

Prepare a schedule and stick to it

Your home is rife with distractions: your TV, your bed, your supportive (if sometimes rambunctious) family members—so it’s important to make sure your day is structured the way it would be in an office. Your discipline is a crucial tool you’ll be using as you work from home. Create a schedule that highlights your core hours and utilizes your DND settings to make sure you can focus on your deliverables. List everything you need to do, include breaks, and if you manage your time well, you might even be able to squeeze a nap in.

Get out of your pajamas

We get it, they’re comfy, but you need to start your day like you are actually going to the office to put yourself in that working mindset. Dressing up and freshening up are steps that show your commitment to your work. Set your alarm, get out of bed, eat breakfast, drink coffee, take a shower, wear something other than pajamas, and flex those working muscles.

Choose your work area

And no, it can’t be your bed. Your work area must be conducive to productivity. If you don’t have a proper desk, maybe use your dining table. Get creative. A good chair is also essential to make sure you stay comfortable while you slay those deadlines. Avoid back strain by getting up and stretching from time to time.

Make sure you have a strong internet connection

Connectivity is crucial if you want to work at home successfully. You will need to be as dependable as ever, with the ability to perform the tasks that you normally do in the office. This means you will need to communicate with your coworkers easily. A slow connection is a productivity killer.

Because PLDT Home knows that many of its subscribers are going to stay at home in the next month, it’s rolling out another round of free speed boost for PLDT Home Fibr Plan subscribers 1299 and 1699 in Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Laguna, and Cavite. Up from the usual 10 Mbps and 20 Mbps, subscribers will get to enjoy up to 25 Mbps of internet speed from March 15 to April 30.

PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi users won’t miss out because they will continue to enjoy their favorite P199 prepaid pack double the data promo (from 12GB to 24GB) on April 30. If you don’t have a PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi yet, you can get a brand new one for only P995.

PLDT is your partner in maintaining your dependability. When your internet connection is strong, your coworkers will be able to count on you.

Get your household on board

If you live with your family, explain to them that you are at home to work and that they can help you stick to your schedule by avoiding any interruptions unless absolutely necessary. It’s a good time for you to practice patience because interruptions will inevitably come. You just need to be ready to deal with them with a cool head.

Enjoy your breaks

Good breaks help you produce better work. Balance is key. Enjoy your lunch, have a nice conversation, devote time to your family, and then get back to work.

Keep your spirits up! Now is the perfect time to enjoy working at home with your favorite people. #StayHome to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep your family connected and productive.

For more details on how to work productively while you #StayHome, go to pldthome.com and follow PLDT on Facebook.