Lockdown will extend in India and you will still be Working from Home. Here are 9 tips to make it more officelike.

It is the second to last day of the 21-day lockdown. In a video conference with the PM, state CMs have asked PM Modi to extend the lockdown. Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab and Odisha have mandatorily increased the lockdown till 1st May. Hence, a large workforce will still be Working from Home.

Indians are not accustomed to Work-from-Home. We tend to make it more "Ghar Ka Kaam" rather than "Ghar se Kaam". At home-office, we become our worst enemy. You don't necessarily feel the peer pressure and you're free to drop those pesky inhibitions.

So how do you get into the office mode? Here are some tips that will come in handy starting today:

1. Sort out your technology

Technology is what enables remote work in the first place. If you have a work laptop, make sure you take it home Or encourage the company to follow BYOD policy. Here are some of the best platforms to help you work from home.

Make sure you have the right applications. Lots of remote workers are leaning heavily on Slack, Microsoft Teams, Skype, Zoom or GoToMeeting. Instant messaging and videoconferencing tools can make it easy to check in with coworkers and remind you how your work is contributing to the big picture. You can invest in some tools, and sort out your productivity issues.

2. Sort out Internet Issues

While working from home, it will be necessary that you have a good internet. You can use mobile data or Wi-Fi services. Just make sure that the connectivity helps you. Video calls need the best internet and also consume it the most. If your bandwidth is low and you're on a video call, try shutting down other programs to lighten the load on your connection. If your connection is choppy, you can often shut off the video portion of a call and participate with audio-only.

3. Dress-up to work or at least wear a shirt and tie.

One of the biggest USP of working from home is that you can wear whatever you want. There is no limit- from pyjamas to vests, or a sushi roll wrapped in a comfy blanket. But you should keep a sense of routine. Wear your professional attire and do it around the same time every day. This routine will get your productivity juices flowing. You will feel more professional and even your family will not disturb you.

4. Make a designated workspace

A separate workspace doesn’t have to be a dedicated office with a door that closes. It just has to be a place that makes you feel more professional. It can be a small working table, a corner of your room or the balcony- literally anyplace. But it has to be the same every day. It is critical to have a private and quiet space for your work.

5. Make a to-do list before working

Spending time figuring out what you'll do today can take away from actually doing those things. Try solidifying your schedule the day before. This will make it feel more official when you wake up the next day to get started on it. It is okay to change your agenda according to your needs, but it also important to work according to set agendas.

6. Kids are the biggest distraction! Make them study with you

If you are working from home with kids in tow, you'll need to make a plan for education and entertainment. Some apps can help your kids to study. You can use streaming services for the kids' entertainment. Keep #WorkLife Balance and organise online play dates with other parents. When the kids are studying while you are working, there will be reduced distractions.

7. Use the Pomodoro technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. Break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks of 5 minutes. Make time to get up and walk away from your desk at regular intervals to stretch your legs. Let your eyes relax every 25 minutes and grab on a munchie.

8. Don't mess with Social Media

Social media is designed to make it easy for you to open and browse quickly. At work, though, this convenience can be the detriment of your productivity. Log out all social media from the computer browser and keep your mobile phone away. The more social breaks you take, the less you are productive.

9. Tone down your workaholism

Many home-based workers find themselves working more hours, not fewer, logging in work time on nights and weekends, just because it's there and they can't ignore it. Working from home provides flexibility. But if you are not strictly following your routine, you will harm your productivity for the next day.

Finally, since you are staying at home, you save a lot on the commute and petty expenses. So, make that money count and invest in good technology. Wash your hands and stay sanitised. The lockdown will extend owing to the necessity, and you will have to work from home. So make the most out of it using these simple yet effective techniques.