In this day and age, it is essential for businesses to keep up with the ever-evolving digital world, and many companies have started to move towards remote work for the many benefits it provides. Although the transition to this lifestyle can be daunting, it can be successfully achieved with the right tips and strategies. Here are a few essential tips to help you make sure your team is productive and well-being while working from home.
Table of Contents
- 1. Enhancing Your Remote Work Productivity
- 2. Achieving Mental Well-being in a Remote Work Environment
- 3. Staying Motivated and Focused During Remote Work
- 4. Strategies For Making Remote Work More Sustaining
- Q&A
1. Enhancing Your Remote Work Productivity
The remote work environment has many advantages, but it can be difficult to stay productive when not in a physical office space. This article aims to give tips and tricks to help you stay focused and productive while working remotely.
Create a Schedule & Stick to It: Set your work hours and the tasks you want to complete during those hours – and stick to it! Having a schedule will help establish a sense of “normalcy” and provide an impetus to get started. Additionally, blocking off break times can keep you refreshed and energized to complete your tasks.
Set a Dedicated Workspace: Create a dedicated workspace that allows you to feel comfortable in the environment and stay productive. It can be helpful to place decorative elements such as plants, inspirational quotes, or photos that make the workspace feel inviting and reduce stress. Additionally, make sure the space isn’t isolated so you feel connected to other people.
Utilizing Technology: Technology is a great resource to increase your productivity and help you stay connected with your team. Try out different apps that are helpful such as:
- Time tracking tools to keep track of progress.
- Productivity hacks such as setting mini deadlines for tasks.
- Video chat services to connect with team members.
- File sharing platforms to easily collaborate.
It’s important to find the ones that work best for you.
Take Regular Breaks: Working remotely means working alone. It’s important to take breaks during the day, so you don’t feel overwhelmed and burn out. Schedule regular breaks for yourself in order to recharge and feel motivated to continue working. Additionally, this can help you separate work life from your personal life when you are in the same physical space.
2. Achieving Mental Well-being in a Remote Work Environment
Finding Balance
Working from home has become somewhat of the new norm, as many of us try to juggle long hours accompanied by a constant connection to the digital world. While projects still must get done, it is more important than ever to create balance in the home workspace so that mental well-being is fostered among employees.
Making Space for Creativity
Allow yourself small creative breaks throughout the day, such as:
- Planning out a walk for the end of the day with a colleague or running buddy
- Finding digital groups to join for upcoming virtual happy hour
- Taking a break to listen to music
- Scheduling virtual meetings that involve social activities for team building and engagement
These breaks help to take our minds off of the stress of the workday and can actually increase productivity.
Creating Routines
The lack of a physical separation between work and home can be a difficult adjustment. To create a better balance, create a routine that sets the separation for you – set start and end times for the day, create a home office, and designate breaks to step away from the computer.
The Benefits of Flexibility
Despite the challenges that come with WFH, there are still some benefits. Reduce the burden of commutes and having completely flexible work hours can be an added perk. Seeing family and pets throughout the day can keep us grounded and put a smile on our faces. Taking 5-10 minute breaks to walk and stretch the body can also be a great source of relaxation.
3. Staying Motivated and Focused During Remote Work
Start your day with a plan. Working remotely can cause the days to blur together and create a sense of distraction. Make sure you stay focused and on top of your tasks by creating an agenda for yourself each morning. This will create a sense of purpose and natural motivation to cross off items on your to-do list!
Break up work with small activities. Working remotely can take a toll on both your mental and physical health. It is important to break up your work throughout the day with small activities like stretching or taking a short walk. This will help give your mind a break from the intensity of work and can leave your day feeling more dynamic.
Find a buddy. Working alone in a remote space can feel lonely and isolating. Find a buddy who you can connect with each day around your work. This can be a work colleague, mentor, or friend. Having someone to talk to and vent about work stress can be helpful for both staying accountable and keeping morale high.
Working remotely can feel like a grind, so remember to reward yourself for a job well done! Give yourself treats such as a longer break, an extra hour to chat with a friend, or watch an episode of your favourite show. It could even be something as simple as crossing off items on your to-do list. This will give you a sense of accomplishment and clarity to keep moving forward!
4. Strategies For Making Remote Work More Sustaining
1. Set Goals & Outcomes: Working remotely requires goal setting and seeing results, just like any job. As an employer, set clear goals for yourself and your employees to measure the progress they’re making. Additionally, it’s important to hold employees (and yourself) accountable for following through on set tasks.
2. Invest in Technology: There is no one-size-fits-all approach to working remotely. It requires sound organizational tools and a great internet connection to stay productive and connected. Investing a bit more in technology to help keep everyone in the loop will certainly be worth it, especially for something that’s supposed to keep things running smoothly.
3. Build Connections & Community: Whether it’s having virtual coffee breaks, a book club over Skype, or a remote book club, building communities among coworkers can help keep morale high. Promote the values of connection and camaraderie by encouraging employees to explore their interests and learn more about each other.
4. Find Balance: Working from home isn’t the same as working from an office, and that’s OK. Establish boundaries between work hours and personal time, and resist the temptation to keep working after you’re supposed to clock out. Make sure to take breaks, get some exercise, and have some fun.
Finding a balance is essential to being productive and creative even when working remotely. Encouraging employees to take care of themselves is just as important as the company’s mission or culture.
Q&A
Q: What are some important tips for working from home successfully?
A: One of the most important tips for successfully working from home is to create an ergonomic workspace that is comfortable and promotes productivity. Additionally, try to cultivate a consistent daily routine that you can stick to, with set hours dedicated to work and time off for fun activities. Finally, make sure to stay connected with colleagues to encourage collaboration, create accountability, and feel supported.
Q: Why is creating an ergonomic workspace critical for remote work?
A: Moving your office from a conventional work environment to your home can create an increase in the risks of physical strain from sitting at a computer for long periods of time. Creating an ergonomic workspace reduces this risk and ensures that you will be able to work effectively and comfortably for longer periods of time.
Q: How can I stay connected with colleagues while working remotely?
A: Staying connected with your colleagues while working remotely is essential for ensuring successful collaboration and accountability. Embrace communication tools like video chats to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Additionally, you can use project management systems like Trello to keep everyone informed and organized.
Remote work has become a staple of our economic landscape, but that doesn’t mean success in this new reality is guaranteed. To ensure you stay productive and maintain your well-being, keep in mind the essential tips laid out in this article. With the right strategies in place, you can tap into the power of working remotely and show the world just what you’re capable of.
