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Many people were forced to start working remotely without having a clue how to get used to the new working environment. Many of them are still figuring out how to be most productive, keep the work-life balance and stay happy at the same time. Let’s have a look at five tips that will help you set your remote working style and get most out of it.
Find The Working Style that Suits You Best
Some remote workers prefer working from the early morning hours till late lunch; others enjoy working throughout the whole day with a couple of breaks. If your manager (or a team) allows you to choose when to work, try to experiment and figure out what suits you best. Maybe a break after lunch with a cup of freshly roasted coffee and a few pages from your favourite book will regain your energy for the rest of the day. Or how about a short workout? It can work as well! Invest the time in finding out your working style, and you will benefit from the result.
Create a Comfortable Workspace
For some remote workers, it works well to work on a sofa, by the kitchen table, in a coffee shop or the garden. However, if you work remotely full-time, it’s highly recommended to create a suitable workspace in a calm place in your apartment/house. It basically means to have a proper desk (not a kitchen table), ergonomic chair, external monitor and anything else that would help your productivity, concentration and will support your health (e.g. back pain is ubiquitous - usually caused by not sitting on a proper chair!). Read more here about how to choose the right office chair.
Know When It’s Time to Log Off
Remote work doesn’t mean that you have to be available round-the-clock. It also has its rules, and one of them is definitely to know when it’s time to log off. When you are about to end your working day, don’t forget to switch off all work notifications on your mobile phone and laptop (e.g. emails or Slack). If you don’t do this, you will always be "connected" and feel the urge to react when something shows up. Plus, your colleagues will quickly get used to your round-the-clock availability, which might turn out to be a considerable disadvantage if you really need to be off.
Stay Connected
Remote work also means that you won’t be in regular touch with your colleagues. Moreover, if you work from home and not, e.g. a coffee shop or a co-working place, your regular social contact will reduce. In this case, try to arrange a lunch with your friends or relatives (colleagues if they live close by), or afternoon coffee or just some gathering to regain social contact. Some remote workers who are more social – extroverts – might find it challenging to be alone all day.
Be Manager of Yourself
When working remotely, there’s no-one who would stay behind you and control you all the time (learn more about micromanaging in this article). You have more latitude over your time and therefore more freedom. Plan your work thoroughly, know the estimates and decide when it's most productive to do you work. Besides, if you're stuck with a problem and your manager isn’t yet working, try to find the solution on your own instead of waiting for her/him to help you. Remote work is more about being yourself a manager than you would imagine!
Ready to implement these remote work practices into your remote working style? Let us know if they help you or if there is anything else that you’ve figured out to be working.
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