I personally love working remotely. I get to work in the comfort of my home in my comfy clothes if I want. If the weather is nice, I can sit on my back porch in the sunshine. On my lunch break I can switch the load of laundry, so it is ready for me to fold in the evening. Forgot to get the roast out the freezer in the morning. No worries, I can take it out after my next call. I love the peace and quiet when I’m trying to really focus on a project. When I need something to get me through a mundane project, I can crank up the music.
Remote working has provided me an opportunity to focus on the important things for me; my health, more time with my family, and the work/life synergy. But remote working is not for everyone. You don’t have a boss right there watching every move forcing you to stay on task. You must be self-motivated. Having some rules in place will help to keep yourself on track.
Struggling with staying focused and productive while working from home? These 6 tips for successful remote working will make you a pro at being productive at home!
6 Tips for Successful Remote Working
- Establish a consistent routine that works for you.
This is very important. There are different distractions at home than in the office. If you are not used to them, it can be very easy to fall off track. When you are in the office it is easy to forget you have a sink full of dishes from last night’s dinner, clothes in the dryer waiting to be folded and put away, etc. At home all of that is in your face. You need to set a routine, so you don’t get distracted.
Now this doesn’t mean you have to completely ignore these tasks during the day. You just need to make sure they don’t pull you away from your work responsibilities. Make time in your routine to handle these.
2. Stay focused and be fully present wherever you are.
Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, be 100% present. If it is time to be on a virtual call, turn off your chat notification and minimize your emails. If it is time to go cook dinner, turn off your work computer. Minimize the distractions so you can be present. If you are spending time with your kids, but constantly checking your emails, they will notice. And they will let you know they notice!
3. Maintain clear and regular communication with your team.
Your boss and your team are not going to know what you are doing unless you tell them. Use your chat messaging app to let them know when you are in a meeting. Send an email letting them know the progress on common projects. Schedule regular check-ins and come prepared with an agenda.
4. Master organization to boost productivity.
This one is tough for me! I like to call it organized chaos. I know where everything is amongst the chaos, but it is still chaos. And it can be overstimulating. My work area is in the main part of our house. It is so important to take a few minutes at the end of my workday to organize the things I took out throughout the day. I don’t want to look at a mess all evening and neither do my family members. Cleaning things up also means no personal information of my clients are left out for anyone to see.
5. Safeguard your equipment for long-term use.
In most cases the computer you are working on, the monitors on your desk, the printer, etc. are not yours. It is important to remember that and treat it as such. Keep it clean and out of reach of others. Don’t let your teen print her home homework from your desk or your spouse look up something really quick from your computer. They wouldn’t be able to do that if it was in an office outside of your home so they shouldn’t be able to do that when it is in your home.
6. Create a dedicated workspace that inspires productivity.
Be sure you are set up for success. Don’t work at the kitchen table. First off, this will be incredible uncomfortable for a long period of time. Secondly, your family will no longer be able to utilize the table for eating, chatting and just gathering together. Thirdly, how are you going to organize your work and protect your equipment when it is right in the middle of everything.
Have a space that is dedicated to your work. Invest in a comfortable desk and chair. You will be working at this spot for many hours at a time. Speak with your company about possibly investing in your home set up. Also, be sure you are in a location that is conducive to your productivity. For me personally, I needed to be in an open space, not in a closed bedroom upstairs. But I don’t have anyone else home in my house during the day.
There you have it! Six tips that help me make working from home, work for me! Let me know some of your best tips for working from home. Share them in the comments below.