COVID-19 has resulted in lots of companies worldwide implementing a complete or partial “lockdown” from work to keep their employees and customers as safe as possible. Many governments are slowly beginning to ease up on the restrictions this pandemic has brought along, nonetheless, social distancing measures have remained a crucial priority within the policy schedule of public health and business concerns (as to be expected). Therefore, communication technology (ICT) is the main source helping maintain the daily economic and business activities at local and international levels during the coronavirus by offering virtual exchange between employers, employees, and customers, in addition to online services, sales, and support.

Now that a larger number of businesses are currently working from home (WFH) as a whole, the main worry for companies is keeping up productivity with so many distractions at home. Now, you are most likely asking yourself if you are taking advantage of the flexible work hours and also the many opportunities and tools available to boost your effectiveness? Here are several ways you can get more done efficiently and spend less time doing it.

Establish Your Workspace

Most of us are probably working with space and budget limitations and can’t necessarily set up the perfect home office we had envisioned. But to make things a little more comfortable, it’s best to have a determined spot within your home where you can do your work, it can be a separate room or a permanent desk in a room you use for numerous purposes. By doing this, you’ll save time daily because you’ll avoid having to set up your area before you can begin your workday. Constantly having to move paperwork and office supplies or plugging in chargers for your devices requires you to spend a couple of minutes organizing and getting set up instead of actually sitting down to do the work you need to get done.

Minimize The Distractions

Even though we wish it wasn’t true, those of us who get to work from home often have to deal with more distractions than those who are out of the house and back at the office, whether it’s a child playing around or wanting your attention, a cute cate or dog giving you the “cuddle with me now” stare or social media on your phone. Setting limits for yourself can be a difficult task, but it really needs to be done, whenever and wherever you can so you don’t lose focus and get behind on work. If you set up your workspace far away from the TV or place where your kids play video games it can be very helpful. If you know you are easily distracted and find it necessary, you could always drown out noises that you know will keep you away from your productiveness. In case you didn’t know, they make a mobile app for that, too.

Tech for Your Home Office

Are you currently loving your internet service provider—let’s say, as much as the series you’re binge-watching on Netflix or Hulu? If your answer to this question was no, it’s about time to find a new one. You need a provider that is reliable and makes your job easier, not more complicated (especially during these times). The best internet service providers create value, not continuous stress or frustrations. Although we all want to minimize our monthly expenses, internet service isn’t something you should cut back on. Remember it’s the main reason you are able to work from home and also a service you should extensively research before committing to a long-term plan.

Numerous internet service providers promise high speed. Some offer different kinds of internet plans— usually the “higher” the speed delivered, the more you’ll have to pay for it. Do you know what speed you’ve been guaranteed and whether or not your internet service provider is actually fulfilling its commitment to you? You should check it out. It can be done quickly so you can put it to the test right now, as you’re reading this article. When searching and comparing ISPs, it’s important to know the difference between download speeds and upload speeds. If you consistently send out a high volume of large files then the upload speed can turn out to be very crucial for your specific line of work. Also, if you didn’t already know, your uploading speed can have a direct effect on your downloading speed. Data caps are another feature you should consider attentively when choosing a plan, especially if you’re sharing that internet connection with other members that live with you at home.

Forgetting your password?

Always having a bit of trouble remembering your password for x, y, or z online work account? You are not alone, trust us. Can you believe the average person has approximately 70 and 80 passwords to remember (wow!) and it’s no shocker that business workers tend to have even more. A one time-saving, security technology you’ll probably want to consider is a password manager. It’s a lifesaver! Password managers store hundreds of passwords so you only have to remember one for every digital device you use or online site you frequently visit. Now think about all the occasions you’ve had to go back and look at that tiny notebook with all your passwords written down (not safely placed) or how many times you’ve actually had to reset your passwords. It has much greater cybersecurity, as well. As an employee, it’s imperative to protect all the information you send, receive, and are responsible for. Your company and employers are counting on you to keep everything secure while working away from the office.

Always check-in with yourself

Now that we are working from home employers and employees need to take conscious extra steps to stay in top health, both mentally and physically. It can be very tempting to not disconnect from work when you have it in front of you every second of every day. But the “fact” is you need to take better care of yourself (in every aspect) in order to effectively and efficiently perform during your working hours. We recommend you always keep your medical appointments and do at least twenty minutes of exercise to maintain your health. Get enough sleep, that means at least 7-8 hours. Make sure these are also your priorities, they should be as much of a pressing matter as accomplishing your monthly work goals and as a result, will get you in the right headspace to attain anything work through your way.