Turning your home into your office is tricky even in the best of times! But it can be hugely rewarding…if you keep your productivity up! It takes dedication and smart strategies to pull it off effectively.
Here are some tips from our own experience, and from what we’ve learned from other remote workers:
1 - Get out of your PJ’s in the morning!
While working from home means you can dress in (basically) whatever you want, making sure you actually get dressed will help get you in the headspace for work, and be ready for those pesky last minute Zoom calls!
2 - Create a routine for your mornings
Have a morning routine that ends with you starting work. What is your trigger? It could be coming home after morning exercise, or finishing your coffee after reading the morning news. Whatever works for you, but do aim to get up more than 10 minutes before your work day starts to give yourself time to get in the zone.
3 - Maintain regular hours
Having clear guidelines for work and non-work hours helps remote workers maintain a healthy work/life balance. Work hours are not the time to be sneaking in household chores! Having a set schedule also contributes effectively managing tasks and stay on track to meet your deadlines. We recommend short morning planning sessions to map out your day.
4 - Schedule breaks away from work, and use them in their entirety
Respite from your desk is important or you’ll burn yourself out. Also make sure you take your breaks in their entirety. While on your break, don’t look at anything work related.
5 - Have a dedicated work space
This is not your bedroom! Keeping your bedroom separate from your work will help keep the work/personal divide a little clearer. Have a desk (or designated area) set up in your home that is conducive to working, that allows you to work comfortably and stay focused.
6 - Turn work notifications off outside work hours
You can set ‘do not disturb’ notifications on your phone or emails for specific times of the day. This is especially recommended if you aren’t lucky enough to have a work specific mobile and/or computer. Just as work time is work time, personal time is personal time - don’t let those notifications get the better of you.
7 - Stay connected to other members of your team
Disconnect and a feeling of social isolation are common problems for remote workers, especially for extroverts who thrive off human connection. Find ways to collaborate with your colleagues. Apps like Slack, Zoom or Microsoft Teams are great mediums that can be used by co-workers to remain in communication about a number of topics.
8 - Be Positive
The more you need to communicate via text or email, the harder it is for others to interpret your tone. Often, you’ll need to be positive to the point you feel you’re being too positive! Embrace the exclamation mark, and don’t be afraid to throw in a few emoji’s, Future you will thank you.
9 - Get outside and stay active
Even if it’s just a quick walk around the block, or taking the dog for a stroll, the fresh air will do you (and your mind) wonders. Just because you work at home, doesn’t mean you’re confined to the space, so get up and get active so you don’t become too sedentary. A brisk 30 minute walk, or some at-home workout routines are good for both mind and body.
10 - End your day with a routine
Just as you began your day with a routine, end your day with one to signal the move from work to personal time. It could be signing out of work apps, calling a friend to stay connected, or getting out of the house. It could be something as simple and shutting down your computer, turning off your work phone or getting back into your pj’s! Whatever you do, do it consistently to mark the end of your working hours.
At the end of the day, everyone’s situation is different so the key is finding what works best for you. But you are not alone! There is a large community of remote workers who are always more than happy to share their own tips and tricks for successful remote working.