For those of us lucky enough to be able to keep working during the lock-down, one of the hardest adjustments is adapting to a “work from home” environment. Without much experience in working remotely, it can be difficult to get started on the right track and to build the ideal space in order for us to work productively.
Create a workspace that is quiet, full of natural light and above all, comfortable. Not only is the environment you work in crucial to how productive you will be, but it’s also important to keep a separation between home and work. This might seem silly since you’re working from home. But if you’re using one space for everything, you might be more likely to get distracted by your surroundings and vice versa, find yourself working when you’re supposed to be getting some downtime.
Especially for the night-owls, it can be tempting to adjust the hours we work to suit our more natural cycle. For those working individually, this may not be a problem. But for those working in teams it’s important to stick to the regular schedule. What’s more, when the office re-opens it will be an easier adjustment to return. Conversely, we’re more likely to work way past close of business. A little overtime isn’t a bad thing, but make sure you don’t overdo it.
I was lucky enough to be a user of MS Teams and 3CX. So while I may not have done much remote working before, I was already a power user of the system, and had access to everything from the get go – which was a big help! Having the right tools is essential, so if you feel like your team isn’t able to communicate effectively, make sure that your organisation knows that the lack of communications tools is a problem.
Team meetings are essential for employees to stay up to date with the latest company news, projects and results. Working from home can isolate us from what our colleagues are working on or how busy they are, so regular catch ups are needed. What’s more, it’s a great way to boost morale and encourage team bonding.
This remote working tip applies more to those working from home regularly and not because of the pandemic. But, it’s an important one! Working remotely means that you can work just about anywhere that has an internet connection. Avoid feeling boxed in and head out to work at a cafe or other quiet place.
Distractions are the number one cause of decreased productivity. That’s why time after time studies have shown that working from home gets better results. But without distractions, we can sometimes forget to stop and take a breather. Make sure to get up every hour for a 5 minute stretch, or to grab a snack or drink.
Working from home takes discipline and organisation, but the benefits can be substantial. Remote working can allow you to work from anywhere, be more productive, and take care of your personal needs more easily without disrupting your work. These working from home tips should help you to get started on the right track and quickly adjust so that you and your company can realise the benefits of remote working.
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