Nowadays, we are all dealing with an unprecedented situation due to the coronavirus pandemic. Employees from all over the world are working from home and trying to adapt to the remote work culture. 

Remote working offers you the flexibility to finish your tasks. However, to be more productive, you must be able to prioritize your work and minimize distractions. Also, if you’re new to this model, all you need is the right guidelines to keep going.

WFH Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

Prep Your Workstation  

Your workstation is where you must put your energy when you are working from home. Ensure you prepare for it. Make arrangements for all the resources you need to build your workstation. Ensure you find the right place that’s distraction-free and comfortable. Since you will spend most of your day working, ensure you keep all the needed devices and equipment near your workstation.

Create a Daily Routine 

A routine is what prompts your mind to get started with your daily activities. Maintain a daily routine. It can be making a cup of coffee every morning or going out for a jog. When you start your day by following a routine, it will become a habit that helps you to keep going.

Always Communicate with Your Team 

Just because you are a remote worker, does not mean that you’ll work on your own. Ensure you always communicate with your team and stay updated. Tools such as Cisco, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Workplace by Facebook will help you stay in touch with your colleagues at work. These will help you connect with your team, share files, arrange meetings and information that are related to your work. Additionally, these can keep everyone on the same page and ensure you’re more productive.

Take Breaks from Work

Take conscious 10-15 minute breaks every hour. You may listen to your favorite music, have some family time, or take your dog for a walk. However, ensure you do not take extended breaks so as to avoid delaying your task.

Take Care of Your Mind and Body

Keep your mind and body fit with the right meal and ensure your thoughts are positive. Sleep at the right time and eat healthy food. Ensure you wake up early and don’t oversleep in the morning. Most importantly, exercise daily. Go for a walk and keep yourself active all day. Meditation is also a way to focus and concentrate on your remote work. It’s ideal to engage in something productive and eat a good meal to keep your physical and mental health in check.

Stay Organized and Plan Your Tasks

Ensure you have an organized structure and plan your tasks accordingly. Organize your tasks based on the priority list. Do the most vital work at your most productive hours. This will help you to be more productive at work. Create a to-do list and plan your tasks in the evening or the morning before you commence any work activities. This will give you direction for your day.

Don'ts

Don’t Procrastinate 

When you work from home, the flexibility can make you lazy and you will start pushing off the task you are supposed to handle immediately. Procrastination will make your daily activities become slow. It can bring more stress to your work life. If you’re not careful, tasks can pile up and may become difficult to get done. 

Don’t Handle Household Chores During Work Hours 

As a remote worker, managing your chores is understandable. However, it’s essential to keep a balance between the two. Take your time to do the house chores and don’t let it interfere with your work activities. You can’t just hold a virtual meeting and go to the grocery store at the same time. It can be distracting and can make you complete your task late.

Don’t Binge On Your Compulsions

Try your best to control your compulsions. For instance, do not eat snacks all day when working remotely. This is not only unhealthy but it can also keep you unproductive. Additionally, if you like to play games, do not let that distract you from work.

Don’t Let Your Day Slip Away

Set office hours and offer yourself sufficient time to work. It may be based on a schedule that works for you. Arrange your day and plan what you want to achieve and stick to it. Don’t take it as your day off, since it’s not. Stick to your priorities and get the work done. 

Don’t Work From Anywhere 

A fixed workspace is vital for any remote worker. For the change of scenery, you may want to change that for some period. You can also share a co-working space with other IT security and WFH cybersecurity professionals. Another factor you need to consider is that you should avoid working from your bed or couch regardless of the temptation. The reason is that the couch or bed will make you feel relaxed and you may doze off. This will affect the quality of your work and make you lazy.

Don’t Be Distracted by Social Media and Email Notifications

As a WFH cybersecurity expert, you need to minimize distractions. Although it's essential to check your emails, you don’t need to always keep it open. Find a realistic time to check your emails. This is the same for social media because it’s the most distracting. Also, you can select a place to work which is free from distractions. Remote works give you that luxury to work anywhere you want in your home. Consequently, prioritize your work over other things so that you can be more focused. 

Conclusion

Are you a WFH cybersecurity expert or your organization has a remote cybersecurity team? If yes, you need to follow the above do’s and don’ts of working from home. 

If you need a cybersecurity tool that can make your remote work effective and protect you from WFH cybercrime, then choose Vicarius. Vicarius is a vulnerability management software that targets cybersecurity officers as well as IT managers and operators from the U.S. market.

Photo by Keren Fedida on Unsplash