Work-from-home habits to bring with you to the office

Other than a newfound passion for walks around the block and a complete rediscovery of our pantry, working from home transforms every day the way we function within a business. 

Forming new habits is inevitable, if not necessary, and it is our responsibility to figure out which of these new practices will still be relevant when going back to working in an office space. For some, it’s right around the corner. If you’re a part of that group or planning to set foot in the office in the upcoming weeks, here are some habits to integrate to your new routine. 

Collaboration tools

A team forced to work from home brings many challenges, including trying to avoid drowning in a sea of emails, since we can’t simply get up and ask our colleague a question face-to-face. Internal communication platforms such as Slack or Microsoft Teams have proved to be a real revelation during quarantine. 

Unclogging inboxes is one of the many advantages of these tools which aim, among other things, to help increase productivity and facilitate communication within a business. Using them therefore seems obvious in times where everyone is stuck at home. But what about the “after”? 

Using visuals during teleconferences

Now more than ever, quarantined participants in teleconferences are desperate to see faces other than their own reflection in their computer screen. These calls, previously overflowing with participants hidden behind unused cameras, now find themselves filled with new faces. 

This new habit of using visuals as well as audio components in a teleconference call could lead to more effective communication, since it allows us to notice the other person’s nonverbal cues more easily. And the task is even more entertaining this way! 

Putting social media platforms to good use

When a business closes its doors temporarily, it is essential to turn to new strategies to maintain, and even grow, their customer base. Social media platforms are a necessary tool in reaching those new goals. The quarantine situation we are currently experiencing therefore leads many businesses to increasing their social media presence in order to maintain a connection with their customer base. 

Instagram pages from companies such as La Brasserie chez Jules and Sushibox are good examples - their platforms, used less frequently in the past, are now given a new life. They shine a light on their delivery and online ordering services.

This strategy is fundamental to ensure the survival of numerous smaller, newer, or less up to date businesses. Why not put this new habit forward in the future? Who knows where it might lead… 

Obviously, these habits are neither universal nor fool-proof. For some, they have been part of their work life for a long time. It however remains indisputable that working from home affects everyone one way or the other, and that going back to the office will be different for everyone. The only thing will be to consider how to put these changes to our advantage! 

The important thing is to consider that these last few weeks served as a learning experience, and that these new habits can help create a new normal that easily fits with our old routine. 

What about you? Which home habits do you plan on maintaining when going back to work at the office?