The reality is that Covid19 has dramatically changed the way people work and live their lives. Self-isolating and being told to work from home every day in an effort to stay safe are the orders of the day. Usually, most people are accustomed to working from home maybe one day a week, but now they are being presented with a new style of working altogether. They are now immediately expected to be skilled at the art of working remotely.
Working from home isn’t new and people with different careers have been choosing this style of working for years. But if you are one of many who have been asked to do the same for the first time, you are most likely finding it challenging. Maybe even discovering that it’s not as easy as you thought it would be.
The majority of people have been conditioned and trained into working and focusing because of certain outside factors like, set office hours that dictate when work starts and ends, meetings that make people adhere to schedules, and of course managers who keep a watchful eye on employees.
So what does one do when suddenly, these factors designed to keep employees in check no longer exist? The transition isn’t always an easy one and you may find yourself floundering to stay productive.
Here are some helpful tips to stay on top of things:
Don’t assume that remote working will be short-lived
No one knows the exact date that global quarantine will end, so be ready to go the distance and embrace this style of working as the new normal for now.
Working from home is an unexplored option and an ongoing process for businesses
There will be businesses who continue to learn about and leverage remote working to their advantage. And why not? There are many positive aspects and opportunities to remote working, such as saving money on office space, as much of the work can be done from home. All that is needed is a computer and a good internet connection. It also allows for more flexibility, freeing up people to successfully navigate the demands of both work and home life.
Create a schedule and stick to it
A common problem that most people experience when working remotely is friends and family assuming that you have more free time on your hands than you actually do. This is especially true if your work is mostly done on a computer since the friend or family member can’t exactly see what you are working on all the time. Something you can do to help with this problem is to let your friends and family know when not to disturb you by informing them of your “office hours”. This way, they will be more likely to respect your work time.
Schedule some break times in your day in between your work and meetings
This is always a healthy practice to include in your day, as your brain needs a break every now and then. Take some time to make some tea or coffee and look out of the window for a few minutes. You will feel more productive after a break and want to complete the task with fresh eyes. Also, don’t skip lunch. Your body needs fuel to function correctly and keep up with your work tasks. Do this from the start to avoid creating bad habits.
Find a workspace
This could be a desk that you have in a room that you only use to work at or a different, dedicated room altogether, such as a home office. It’s important that you make some type of separation for work and home time to unplug and for your own sanity. If you live with family members, discuss and decide on an area of the house to work from without interruptions. You can even create a “working” sign to indicate that you are not to be disturbed.
Reach out to people you work with
Don’t sit back and wait for them to contact you. Combat isolation by showing that you are mindful of others and are willing to connect with them even from home during this time. If you don’t have regular meetings, make an effort to schedule some reminders to reach out via email, phone, or video chat. This will also help to improve your overall mood.
Send updates more frequently than usual
Since remote working is a new experience for most people, rather choose to over-communicate about your work progress until remote working protocols have been established. To be safe, make sure to send updates to your manager and clients before they ask for them. Check in to find out how often they would like to be notified of progress and changes to make sure that they are happy with the frequency.
Work from your garden
A change of scenery can be inspiring and feel like a breath of fresh air, literally! Take advantage of the fact that you aren’t tied to a desk in an office and enjoy some sunshine and nature while you work.
Clock out
Schedule a stop working time, a time when you end your workday and transition into what you would normally do at home. This could be relaxing in front of the tv or taking a long, hot bath to end your day. This way you clock out mentally and physically and trust that whatever needs to be done at this point can be done tomorrow. Avoid checking emails and work messages “after hours”.
