home office

The pros and cons of working from home

Working from home can be an excellent opportunity to increase productivity and work on your terms – but it’s essential to understand the pros and cons before adopting this model. Now more than ever, remote working is becoming increasingly popular, with businesses embracing new technologies allowing employees to stay connected at home. Knowing the benefits and potential drawbacks of this lifestyle shift is extremely valuable whether you are already set up for remote working or considering making the switch. In this blog post, we will explore these considerations in closer detail so that you can make informed decisions as an employee when it comes to developing efficient working strategies during these unprecedented times.

The pros of working from home

No need for expensive office clothes or lunch out

You can use your time more efficiently to accomplish your goals when you don’t get dressed up to go into an office or take a lunch break out with colleagues. You benefit not only from being able to work in comfortable clothes and save money on buying meals every day but also by having the flexibility of planning your day and honing your skills whenever it works for you. In addition, working from home allows you to create a workplace that works best for you and gives you the freedom to grow both professionally and personally.

No need to commute

One of the most significant benefits of working from home is not having to commute – no more worrying about traffic, arriving on time for an important meeting, or squeezing onto a crowded bus in rush hour. Instead of spending hours per day commuting, you have extra time and energy to use however you’d like. When working from home, you can work with greater focus and efficiency while making the most of your time. You may be able to do more in a shorter amount of time, allowing you a more outstanding balance between life and work.

Increased flexibility and freedom

Working from home can be a liberating experience! You no longer have to be bound by societal norms and the traditional 9-to-5 work schedule. Creating your plan and finding the balance between your professional and personal lives is incredibly liberating; you finally have the freedom to work when you feel most inspired rather than conforming to someone else’s demands.

For example, working from home allows you to create a personal schedule if you work best in the early morning hours and need a sliver of time in the afternoon to reset and recharge. In addition, taking breaks throughout the day can help improve mental clarity, focus, and productivity. This autonomy can help unlock creativity, boost motivation, and produce better-quality output. In short, don’t forget to take advantage of the fact that when working from home, you have direct control over when you rest.

The cons of working from home

It can be challenging to stay focused and motivated

Working from home can be challenging when it comes to staying focused and motivated. With loads of distractions such as TV, friends, and family, or the tempting eating and snacking that comes with the territory, people can often find their motivation waivers.

The only way to get past these obstacles is to recognize them, plan ahead, and develop focus-friendly strategies that you know will work for you. Whether you need a structured office routine or creative rewards to keep your motivation high, it’s all about identifying what works best for you within the setting of your own home. Then, with a targeted and consistent focus on your mental productivity and well-being with structure and self-care in place, it’s possible to not only stay productive but thrive while working from home!

Less feedback

Working from home also means missing out on crucial feedback that you may need to do your job well or stay motivated in your work. For example, people tend to read signals like body language, facial expressions and gestures better when interacting in person, so not having these with colleagues or your boss when working remotely can make it tricky to assess how they genuinely feel about your work. However, this doesn’t have to be an insurmountable obstacle – by proactively seeking meaningful conversations with them, you can understand what is expected of you and know how you’re doing. You’ll also be showing initiative and commitment in the process!

It may be harder to socialize with colleagues

Working from home can have challenges when it comes to socializing with colleagues, as it might be harder to build relationships and make meaningful connections. Without the natural interactions that come with an office environment, or even just having daily conversations in passing, individuals may feel isolated or disconnected, which can lead to a lack of motivation and general unhappiness.

To combat this sense of loneliness while working remotely, creating opportunities for connection – through virtual meetings or video calls – is crucial so that you can still have some face time with colleagues. Additionally, try to keep up with your team through online chat platforms or emails so that you stay engaged with each other’s progress and tasks. Finally, don’t forget about self-care! Make sure you take regular breaks from work throughout the day and use them as an opportunity to stretch your legs, make yourself a snack, or even just catch up with a friend on the phone. This will help reduce stress and maintain your mental well-being while maintaining productivity levels.

With all these strategies in place, working from home need not mean loneliness; instead, it should provide a chance for increased focus, creativity, and productivity in equal measure!

Wrap-up

Overall, understanding both the benefits and potential challenges associated with remote working is key before adopting this model on a large scale; weighing up the pros and cons will help ensure you make educated decisions regarding developing efficient strategies during these unprecedented times.

Don’t hesitate to follow these tips if you decide to work from home. You can also apply these tips about time management, regardless of your situation. And for more information about career management, join us; it’s free!

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Working from home? 5 tips to stay productive

Working from home can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, you have the freedom to work in your pajamas all day long (or not at all). But on the other hand, it can be hard to stay motivated when there are no deadlines or office politics to deal with. Here are some tips for staying productive when working from home.

Make a list of the tasks you need to get done

Making a list of the tasks you need to get done can help you stay productive when working remotely. When you’re not in an office setting, it can be easy to get sidetracked by distractions like your home environment, children, or even simple things like the laundry.

By making a list and sticking to it, you can ensure that you stay on task and get everything done that you need to. A list also helps keep you organized so you don’t forget anything important. Additionally, crossing items off your list as you complete them can help to give you a sense of accomplishment and keep you motivated.

When making your list, try setting specific deadlines for each task and break them down into smaller goals. For example, if you’re working on a project due at the end of the week, break it down into tasks that need to be completed each day. By breaking down your goals and keeping a list of what needs to be done, you can help ensure that you stay productive when working remotely.

Take breaks every 20 minutes to move around and stretch

It can be easy to fall into the trap of remaining glued to your chair for hours when working from home. After all, no managers are breathing down your neck, and nobody will tell you to take a break. However, sitting in the same position for extended periods is bad for your health and can lead to decreased productivity.

Taking breaks every 20 minutes is essential to move around and stretch. Not only will this help to improve your circulation, but it will also give you a chance to clear your head and refocus on the task at hand. Even something as simple as getting up to make a cup of tea or taking a brief walk around the block can make a big difference in your productivity. So next time you find yourself stuck in front of the computer, remember to take a break and move your body – your mind will thank you!

Note: If you’re looking for a way to be more productive and get more tasks done in less time, give the Pomodoro Technique a try. This productivity hack has helped many people achieve their goals and can help you too. All you need is a timer and some willpower to stick to the rules.

Drink plenty of water and eat healthy snacks throughout the day

It’s no secret that you feel better overall when you’re adequately hydrated and have eaten a nutritious meal. You have more energy, your skin looks better, and your mind is sharper. That’s why it’s essential to make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and eating healthy snacks throughout the day when working from home. Not only will it help you stay productive, but you’ll also avoid the dreaded afternoon slump.

Ensure a water bottle is within easy reach to stay hydrated throughout the day. And instead of reaching for unhealthy snacks, choose foods that will give you sustained energy, like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grain toast. By taking care of yourself throughout the day, you’ll be able to stay focused and productive while working from home.

Put away all distractions, including TV, phone, and laptop

It can be challenging to stay productive when working from home, especially when so many distractions are around. One of the best things you can do is to put away all electronics and other distractions before you start working. This means turning off the TV, putting your phone on silent, and closing any tabs on your laptop that aren’t related to work.

By eliminating these distractions, you’ll be able to focus more on getting your work done efficiently. If you can find a way to eliminate distractions and take regular breaks, you’ll be much more productive when working from home.

phones are a big distraction when working from home

Create a designated workspace in your home that is free from clutter and distractions

A dedicated workspace will help you stay focused and productive. Try to keep your work area separate from areas where you relax or spend your leisure time. If possible, choose a room with a door that you can close to minimize distractions. Make sure to keep this area tidy and free of any personal items that could serve as a distraction, such as household appliances. Additionally, try to limit your time working in this space, so it doesn’t become overwhelming. Creating a designated workspace will make it easier to “leave work at work” when the day is done.

Conclusion

Although it may be challenging to change your entire lifestyle all at once, by making small changes each day, you can gradually begin to see improvements in your productivity and focus. At Jinn, we believe that self-improvement is an ongoing journey and are committed to helping our readers achieve their career goals. We hope these tips have inspired you to make some changes, and we look forward to sharing more content with you in the future. In the meantime, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter so that you never miss out on essential updates or job opportunities. Thanks for reading!

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How covid-19 could impact startups in the future?

As you may know, I started my entrepreneurial journey in December 2019, which means I am heading to my first anniversary (yeehaa). And of course, I learned a lot during all this time, just like any other entrepreneur I guess. Although I also experienced what it was to manage a startup during a pandemic, which is not something many startups have experienced, fortunately. And some things that were normal before, are clearly no longer adapted to the current world, as I could notice. Here I am going to discuss about teleworking, and how it will impact startups.

Depending on where you are, home office was more or less favorably considered. Often, traditional or conservative companies used it moderately, if not at all, while younger companies were perfectly fine with embracing it. When the lockdown was imposed to the population by the governments, virtually all companies (those not considered essential for the basic functioning of a country, such as supermarkets, banks, or gas stations) faced the following choice: run the operations remotely, or shut down until the situation gets better. Obviously, this has led to a massive increase in unemployment, as staff members were either furloughed or just dismissed. Meanwhile, remote working tools such as Zoom, Slack or Microsoft Teams (that we are using by the way) have seen their use increase significantly.

The impact of covid-19 on startups

How were startups impacted by such event? Well, I can’t answer for all startups, of course, but I can give my opinion. In my case, we were very early in the development of our Proof of Concept when the pandemic started. Because of my personal situation (I live in Austria, but the company is in France), and the one of my team members (between France and Belgium), teleworking was a necessity for us way before the lockdown, and it is still the case. So we did not really suffer a negative impact at first sight, rather, the impact was quite positive, since it brought new opportunities to us: more time to spend on this project, more people unemployed, therefore more potential customers.

But the downside came later, and it was probably already felt by startups which were further ahead of us in their development. As more and more people are getting worried about the economic situation, and the uncertainty regarding when an effective vaccine will be available, many would consider this is not the right time to take risks. However, a startup is a risk by its very nature. Therefore, access to talent and investment is severely reduced, which hinders the growth. Additionally, the untimely opening and closing of borders between countries does everything but helping in the propagation of ideas. Because let’s face it: as good as forums and webinars are, they do not replace physical social events in which you can build your network.

Prepare for tomorrow as a startup

In my experience, many startup incubators and accelerators used to request the founders to work full time on their idea, with an access to their site whenever they want. With the current situation, they evidently had to adapt, by proposing more online modules. Y Combinator, a leading startup accelerator, even did a full program remotely. The consequence of this is that while the cost of such program was mostly justified by the rent of a desk, and the access to the facilities, it is more difficult today to see an interest in these structures. Of course, one might say that they already have the network of talents and investors, and it is still useful. But does it justify such cost alone, especially when you need to consider the cost of moving to their location, like me, in the covid-19 context? I am not so sure.

Still, the world will probably not change so much so quickly. Mostly because we hear good news regarding the research of a vaccine. However, things will certainly not be back to how they were before these events. Now, teleworking is so much more accepted than some companies even decided to keep it longer than initially planned. As for startups, it is possible that in the future we may witness the birth of more and more startups whose co-founders work remotely, sometimes even between different countries. At Jinn, we are already preparing a tool for such contingency, so I will let you know when it will be ready. Then, business laws will probably need an update too, to better consider cross-countries startups. But this is another topic…

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