As part of the measures to control the spread of the coronavirus, some Chinese companies offered employees the opportunity to work from home. 

Buzzwords and hashtags related to "working at home" started to trend on Chinese social media almost at the same time. After days of the massive experiment in "remote work," many complained that working from home was not as wonderful as they expected.

Blurring boundaries

There is no need to pull yourself together in early morning, put on a suit or even wear any make-up. All you need to do is get up and sit in front of your computer.

But the boundaries built up by those rituals disappeared as well. Some people complained that working at home means working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as there is not a clear concept of when they're "off."

Tip: Put on your proper clothes, and even makeup before starting your work. Make a schedule and stick to it as much as possible.

Say hi to the cat!

Disturbance, the biggest enemy of working from home. The problem is that it usually comes from the ones you love.

Pets owners may find it a great pleasure to work at home, with their beloved animal lying alongside you. Isn't it nice to pet your cat while having a meeting with colleagues online?

And there are also your family members, from the toddlers to your caring parents, who don't take into account that you're working, when you're at home.

Tips: Go to your study or your bedroom, lock the door and hang up a sign saying "working." 

Why is the office important?

Chinese netizens have been posting photos of what their "home offices" look like online. 

Some of them tried their best to create an environment similar to the office: sitting in front of a table in the living room or the study, with a cup of coffee or tea. But not everyone could make it.

For those who went straight to their hometown in villages, the working environment could be squatting in front of the chair in the yard. Fortunately, most of them brought their laptops.

Of course there are people lying in beds, working during intervals of naps. 

Tips: The importance of the office is providing a comfortable environment for long periods of work. Try to sit in the right gesture, if not, you'd better get up and do some exercise as a little break.

Efficiency matters, but…

Efficiency always matters in work. But it is not easy to be efficient while working from home. Why?

As mentioned in the above: pets, kids, parents, environment…and most importantly, the equipment. For most people, working remotely at home also means a poor internet connection and an old computer or laptop that could barely support multiple tasks.

While not being able to talk to your colleagues or your boss face to face, you might need to carry the cellphone or laptop everywhere you go, in case there is a sudden call of meeting through WeChat.

Tips: Maybe it is a reminder for you to update your laptop…

Now comes the question: Do you prefer working at home or in the office?

Cover image: Yin Yating