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Ace your productivity with remote work tips!
In 2016, a survey of 15,000+ American adults showed that about 43% of them spent some time out-of-office, working remotely. So, remote work is not a post-Covid-19 invention. It had become a standard work arrangement long before.
However, looking into the ongoing pandemic situation, it seems that it is going to be the only future of work. Sooner or later, everyone has to make the shift, but let me tell you that it will not be an easy one.
Organizations have different benefits as well. As an employer, think about the space that you could save with employees not having to go to parking lots and not having to pay an expensive lease on your building annually because of the extra space you got for expanding your company. By not having such big spaces within your company you can actually minimize your carbon footprint overall. This can, in turn, help create a more environmentally friendly image for your brand.
In the current age where everything is now virtual, people are now getting comfortable with the idea of working together virtually and on their own terms. Being outside of the office while having access to the office seems to be the preference of employees all around.
Like everything else, remote working also has its perks and challenges. While you can practically work from anywhere you want, you also need to ensure that you make the most of your business hours and be productive at the same time.As you won’t have the office environment and the structure that comes with it, you will have to strike a balance between work and your life beyond. So, how do you work remotely?
Top 7 Working Remotely Tips You Need to Know About
Want to work remotely? Here are a few tips to help you do that the proper way.
Create a dedicated workstation & dress professionally
While you may picture “work from home” as working on a bed or a couch, that won’t go a long way, especially if you’re the kind of person who needs structure. Let’s not assume that everyone has a spare room to set up a home office.
In that case, you can dedicate a tablespace (not in the hallway, of course) to a private room and use separate peripherals for work. For instance, when you’re working with an external keyboard and mouse, it is work time. On the flip side, if the laptop is on your lap, that would mean personal time. Also, ensure that you create an ergonomically sound and sustainable environment that will better your performance instead of taking it down. Hand-free headsets and a comfortable chair with a solid backrest are a few aspects to consider. In short, do whatever it takes to get your brain in the work mode. If getting out of your pajamas and changing into a professional outfit helps, so be it!
Cross the communication hurdle
Effective communication is a big deal for successful remote working. Remember, overcommunicating is okay to ensure your message is conveyed to the employer or the fellow members of your team.Embrace tools like screen recorders to help you with this. You will easily find a free and highly functional mp4 recorder out there. Remember, the right tools and equipment will make things a lot easier while you work from home.Also, be sure that there is no gap in communication as far as your employer’s remote work guidelines and policies are concerned.
Establish some ground rules with family
Let’s admit it, if you have a family, the challenges of working from home only aggravates. That means you need to protect your workspace from family interruptions. For starters, let them know about your work hours and set some ground rules for these hours. Negotiate your meeting times and quiet times with them.A DND sign at the door can help. Does it seem too much? Then you’ve got to be highly proactive about dodging incidents like noisy kids playing in the background of a critical video chat or a negotiation call.
Make a timetable & stick to it.
You simply cannot let your laundry time clash with your work hours. One of the safest ways to start the remote working lifestyle is to make a strict timetable for the entire day. Having said that, you have to discipline yourself to do your best to stick to specific schedules for specific tasks, which includes office work.A big up-side of this work arrangement is its flexibility, provided your job type allows it. Remote work can also mean differences in time zones. In that case, learn to manage your work hours accordingly.
schedule your breaks
Things work differently for freelancers and those who work for an organization. For the latter, you are already aware of the fixed break time policies and take them accordingly. However, as a freelancer, you might end up slogging because there are no pre-set breaks.Slogging is an enemy of productivity, and breaks are essential. Make sure you pre-schedule your meal breaks and short breaks once every two hours at least. Moving away from the screen for a while will de-stress your eyes and ensure healthy blood circulation in the body.
Stay active
Consider this as an extension of the previous point. Since you will be majorly sitting through your work hours, you must include some form of physical activity in your daily timetable. The lack of it can lead to plenty of illnesses.
Something like a 30-minute walk on the lawn would also work. If you have a gym set up at home, take some time off for a few crunches or simply do yoga.Physical health plays a significant role in how productive you will be with the job at hand. So, don’t forget to commit to a daily fitness regime and eat healthy and nutritious.
Believe in yourself
When you don’t have your team around physically to pull each other up in case of discrepancies, it is easy to accuse yourself of slacking or doubting your efficiency. However, you must negate this tendency.
As a first step, be aware of what you’re thinking & don’t let negative thoughts linger for long. Surely, even while in office, such thoughts keep coming and going. Treat this no differently while working remotely. Acknowledge self-doubt to be a passing thought and continue to focus on what you do best Remember, delivering results on time is the goal here, rather than who provides it before others In the beginning, this new reality might feel hard-hitting. However, once you are used to the remote working environment, the fun part about it will unleash. If you bank on these seven tips for working remotely, you can successfully shift to this flexible work-life over time.
Most of all, be kind to yourself in the process!
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