It is Day One of the Movement Control Order (click here if you don't know what it is) and many are working from home.

While it is easier for some (like us, who've spent pretty much our whole careers writing from everywhere as long as we have internet connection to publish them later), some who're experiencing this for the first time may find the path a little rockier. 


It becomes even harder when you're an extrovert who needs people, have children running around the house constantly seeking attention and have a million distractions like the television, the long to-be-read books lying around and the biggest enemy of all - the bed. 

However, it's not impossible to get work done. Just need to adjust and strategise a little. Here are some tips that you could follow to get work done more efficiently and faster. 

1) Pick timings that works for you and stick to it

Just because you're working from home, doesn't mean you don't have to be disciplined. In fact, you have to be even more disciplined than usual since there are a lot more distractions and you're too close to all your other responsibilities at home. 

Treat your work-from-home days the way you would an office job, but leave some room for adjustment. If you're comfortable working from 9am to 6pm, stick to the timing. 

If your job allows you to work odd hours, then start or finish later, have longer breaks in between. As long as you meet deadlines, it shouldn't matter too much, right?

The adjustment is especially important if you have kids at home who need attention. Try to get most of your work done before they wake up, during their nap times or when they are busy with their own activities. 

2) Don't wake up too late

Give yourself a little bit of time before you start work. Shower, have your coffee and breakfast, and just give your body time to be fully awake before you sit in front of your computer. 

This will ensure that you're at your 100 per cent and can concentrate on getting your work done. 

Remember, you don't have to commute so you can use that time to get a fresher start.

3) Dress up, or down

This tip is not for everyone. If you're comfortable working in your pajamas, go right ahead. 

But for some, like award-winning Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng (you can read the full interview with him here), dressing up in comfortable but presentable clothes gives "a sense of purpose to the day", which helps them get into the right mindset to finish their work. 

If you feel that your home clothes are giving you too much home-y vibes, change into your work clothes to make things more office-like.

4) Set up a work space

Says the person who's working on her bed. But if it works for you, why not? 

It's important to have a comfortable place to sit (preferably an ergonomic chair), a place for your laptop so that it is at the right level to minimise the strain to your neck, eyes and other body parts, and just generally does not cause discomfort. 

Having a designated work space also helps with concentration. You'll be less tempted to turn on the television or lie down on the bed, scrolling through social media for just a wee bit, which could turn into hours if you're not careful. 

Speaking of social media...

5) Put your phones away and your social media off your computer tabs

This is especially crucial if you're a news-wh**re like us and want to know everything about COVID -19 as it's happening and sharing them with everyone we know. Ermm...for work purposes, of course. 

Social media is distracting enough on normal days, but it's even more so now that the world seem to be going crazy. 

Just put your phones away, take deep breaths and drown yourself in work. 

6) Set boundaries 

Set boundaries, not only with other people, but also for yourself. Tell your spouse and kids that you're working and shouldn't be disturbed. If you have a conference call, make sure your doors are locked. 

Work never ends so remember to stop once you're done with all the tasks that should be done on the day and not take up more that could be done on the next work day. 

It's so easy to get sucked and continue working for long hours (there are researches that shows that people who work remotely clock in more hours than those who work in offices), so try to avoid this. 

7) Keep your kids occupied

We're not parents and won't assume that we know the struggles parents face but we did ask other parents for tips, so we're sharing some with you. 

If you have really young kids who get excited at the sight of keyboards and mouse, make sure you have things that attracts them more. Their favourite toys, paper and crayons... anything that could help keep their hands off your work toys. 

Prepare activities for the kids - be it arts and crafts stuff, reading materials, a project that hopefully doesn't require as much of your guidance like building a LEGO set - anything to keep them occupied. 

Some friends said they got inflatable pools, clay and downloaded educational but fun videos to help keep the kids entertained and tire them out so they will sleep some of the time. 

At times like these, having a more balanced relationship with your spouse also comes in handy. Studies shows that women still shoulder much of the responsibilities when it comes to parenting. 

This has to change and change fast during this trying time. Both parents have to take turn with the kids when necessary - like when one has to attend virtual meetings or meet short deadlines - so work can get done while everyone still staying sane. 

8) Move around

As someone who arranges her room in such a way that everything is within reach without her having to move too much, this writer can tell you that this is not a good way to live the work-from-home life. Learn from her mistakes. 

When you don't move enough, you get lethargic easily, your body gets stiff leading to all kinds of aches and weight gain is not far behind. 

Try to move about at least every hour or so. Go get yourself a glass of water, run up and down the stairs at your home a few times, a few jumping jacks and burpees could help too, play catch with your children - the possibilities are endless! 

9) Make sure you have privacy tools set up on your computer

Some of you may deal with sensitive information at work. It's important to keep the information safe, so consult your IT department on the best practices and company policies to safeguard crucial information. 

While waiting for your IT department to respond, you can take measures such as installing anti-virus apps, only use secure Wi-Fi connections, make sure all your security software - privacy tools, browser add-ons etc. - are in order and up to date, back up your documents often and install encryption tools and make sure it's working.

10) Enjoy the perks instead of just dwelling on the struggles

It's not all rainbows and sunshine especially during the adjustment period, but working from home has many benefits. 

No morning commute, which means you have more time to do other things, don't have to get stressed about getting stuck in traffic jams and dealing with annoying drivers or public transport commuters. 

You get to spend more time with your family, if you're living in the same house. This could cause some friction, of course. But if you can spend hours with colleagues with all kinds of personalities, why can't you find ways to enjoy the company of your own families and friends?

There's also less pollution - have you noticed how the countries that are going through lockdown are showing less signs of pollution? There are many aspects to this besides working from home, but perhaps it is also a contributing factor?

Enjoy all the perks while you can, and if you like working from home, prove to your bosses that you can be productive so you can convince them to make it a culture in future!


Oh, one more thing: please do adhere to the Movement Control Order.

Please minimise your movement, stay at home as much as you can and for Buddha's sake, stop hanging out at eateries. 

The sooner we can curb the spread of the virus, the sooner life can return to normal.