Dixya Poudel

The novel coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Since then, the deadly virus has spread to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Millions of people have been infected globally with an unforeseen number of deaths. Meanwhile, the global economy has been hit hard. In the current economy, only essential businesses are allowed to remain open even as a few cities worldwide are considering reopening non-essential businesses. However, due to the fear of second or even third wave of coronavirus, most countries are still on lockdown.

As a consequence, the lockdown has led to a surge in online employments. Several renowned tech companies such as Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and Google have permitted their employees to work from home until the end of 2020 or longer. Virtual work is the norm in this era of pandemic. Even before the pandemic, the majority of the world population were working from home, occasionally termed as telecommuting. And there are people who choose to freelance and work online. Working from home can be quite productive and lucrative as well. If you like to work at your own volition, you might benefit from freelance jobs that can be carried out at the comforts of your home. Most virtual employments are agreeable to ongoing isolation such as writing and editing, web development and designing, computer coding, and creating art. Likewise, online businesses are currently booming which in turn has increased the uptake in virtual job opportunities. Amazon, which is the largest online shopping site in the world, has seen an immense increase in its business during the global lockdown. And the company has allowed a portion of its employees to work from home until upcoming October.

If you are working from home, create an uncluttered workspace stocked with only essential electronic gadgets and stationery. Arrange your work desk in a comfortable place in your home and make sure the space has enough natural light to facilitate your work. Also, carve out a routine while working from home for better productivity.  Meanwhile, inform your family members that you are going to work and need the house to be quiet. Turn off social media and text notifications in your mobile phone other than those pertaining to work. When working virtually, allocate breaks but if possible avoid snacking at your desk. Create an aesthetic setting in your work space at home-making it just the right amount of cosy and functional.

However lucrative it may be, there are also pitfalls to working from home. Often, a central place of work at an office building, store or warehouse requires formality and a set of discipline with dress codes, office etiquettes, rules and regulations. But at home, people find themselves procrastinating due to the lack of stringent routine. They find it harder to concentrate due to their household responsibilities that are pertinent at home. It could lead to a lax work and visible diminishments in productivity. Therefore, make sure that you are being conscientious during virtual work while also taking time for rest and relaxation.

One of the hallmarks of human nature is adaptability to adverse situations. With the economic downturn due to the pandemic, unemployment is on the rise worldwide. However, it has led to a surge in innovative ways of self-sustenance, including a viable opportunity which is working from home.