Seven K's of being productive while working at home

There are strong indications that Kenya’s partial lock-down might be relaxed today, but social and economic changes of the past three months raise questions over whether we will revert to our old lives or emerge into a ‘new normal'. Most of the government have been emphasizing on working from home if possible and only go to work if its necessary. 

In Rwanda for instance, teachers are working from home and God willing they will return in September. Most people who have been working from home either as freelancers for online or self employed know the joy that come with it. Human resource  and Sociologist experts agree that sometimes working from home may blur the line between personal life and work.  It's important to balance between the two. The seven K's described below will help you be productive and at the same time maintain some sanity: 

1. Keep a schedule: All  schools use a timetable to ensure learning take place uninterrupted. In the same case ensue you set a regular schedule and stick to it. 

2. Keep a separate work space: Selecting a work space is a bit tricky. Do you select Kitchen, bedroom, dinning or extra bedroom. Bearing in mind some stay in bed sitter so options are limited. Selection is determined by so many factors; size of the house, type of work and of course the location. According to zenhabits.net, "Have a room dedicated to working. Don’t do it wherever you happen to be. Set aside some space, preferably a room (it doesn’t have to be big) to be your workspace. That way, when you enter it, you know consciously what you’re there to do: go to work. It changes the state of mind from “I’m at home” to “I’m at work”."

3. Knowing how to manage time wisely is key: Climbing the ladder of success is all about understanding to balance time. "The more successful you get, the less time you have. "  Finally Family Homes states. Track your time well to avoid distraction.  GTimeLog can help. A gtimelog is a small time tracking application for GNOME. Its main goal is to be as unintrusive as possible.

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4. Keep TV, Mobile phone away: Keep technology away unless you must work with it. Television can really distract you. Social media and internet may be good but during working time turn them off unless you are using them. 

5. Keep it neat and tidy: There is danger since you are working from home you work without showering, un-kept hair, with pajamas. “A morning shower allows for time to meditate and regroup before starting a long or hectic day,” says Mona Gohara, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine. A tidy workspace helps keep a tidy mind, which helps make your day more productive.

6. Know when to stop: Breaks are essential, for every hour you work give a ten to 20 minutes break. Don't overrun your schedule. Remember you have a life. Health is also paramount. According to Melanie Curtin, "The workday and how we work are intimately related to productivity, yet more hours may not lead to increased focus, concentration, and success."

In the late 18th century, 10-16 hour workdays were normal because factories “needed” to be run 24/7. When it became clear that such long days were both brutal and unsustainable, leaders like Welsh activist Robert Owen advocated for shorter workdays. In 1817, his slogan became: “Eight hours labour, eight hours recreation, eight hours rest.”

 Research suggests that in an eight-hour day, the average worker is only productive for two hours and 53 minutes.

7. Keep writing down: Jot down new ideas and any other new thing that pop in your mind. It’s important to write down your to do list because your brain can’t operate at its best when you try to keep track of all your to-do’s in your head. So always have a pen and a notebook.