You’re new to remote work. What are the best practices for staying productive?
Remote work can be a great opportunity to enjoy more flexibility, autonomy, and creativity in your job. But it also comes with some challenges, such as staying focused, motivated, and connected with your colleagues and clients. How can you make the most of your remote work experience and maintain your productivity and well-being? Here are some best practices to follow.
One of the first things you need to do when you start working remotely is to create a comfortable and functional workspace. Ideally, you should have a separate room or area where you can work without distractions, noise, or interruptions. Make sure you have a good desk, chair, lighting, and internet connection. You may also want to invest in some tools and accessories that can enhance your productivity, such as a second monitor, a headset, a keyboard, and a mouse. Having a dedicated workspace can help you separate your work and personal life, establish a routine, and signal to yourself and others that you are in work mode.
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Work in a quiet place where nobody can distract you. Make sure you have a good internet connection. Make use of your most productive time of the day to complete as much work as possible. Leave your workspace a few times a day and take breaks from work. Set time aside for friends and family. Do regular exercise.
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In these last 3 years of Home-Office, I have learned that to stay productive, it is necessary to stay away from distractions that may occur in the home environment, such as television, people, social networks, among others. Having a calm environment away from the noise of the house, as well as an office or a closed room can give a great advantage in focusing on work.
Another key aspect of working remotely is to plan your schedule and tasks ahead of time. You may have more flexibility to choose your working hours, but you still need to be consistent and accountable. Use a calendar or a planner to block out your time for meetings, projects, deadlines, and breaks. You may also want to use a task management tool or a to-do list to prioritize and track your work. Setting clear and realistic goals and expectations can help you stay focused, motivated, and organized. You may also want to communicate your availability and progress to your manager and team members regularly.
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Task list software is a tool that can help a lot with task planning. Suggestions for task planning include monthly planning, which presents major tasks, then weekly planning, and in smaller sections, daily planning. It is important to prioritize tasks, remove what is not essential and focus on what is important. Software such as Planner, MS To Do, OneNote, Trello can help with this work.
Working remotely can blur the lines between your work and personal life, which can lead to stress, burnout, or isolation. To avoid these pitfalls, you need to establish some boundaries and routines that can help you balance your work and life. For example, you can set a fixed start and end time for your workday, and stick to it. You can also create some rituals that can help you transition from work to leisure, such as changing your clothes, shutting down your computer, or doing some physical activity. You should also respect your personal time and space, and avoid checking your work emails or messages after hours or on weekends.
One of the biggest challenges of working remotely is to maintain a sense of connection and engagement with your colleagues and clients. You may miss the social interaction, feedback, and collaboration that you get in a traditional office setting. To overcome this challenge, you need to make an effort to stay in touch and communicate effectively with your work network. You can use various tools and platforms, such as video calls, chats, emails, and forums, to share updates, ask questions, offer support, and exchange ideas. You should also participate in virtual meetings, events, and social activities that can help you build rapport, trust, and camaraderie with your team members.
Working remotely can have a negative impact on your physical and mental health, especially if you spend long hours in front of a screen or feel isolated. To prevent these issues, it is important to take care of yourself. You can do this by taking regular breaks throughout the day and moving your body, eating healthy and drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep and rest, and seeking support from friends, family, or colleagues. Additionally, you can practice relaxation techniques like meditation or reading to calm your mind and body. If you feel overwhelmed by your work or are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress, professional help should be sought.
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To have a healthy life, it is important to balance your social life and work, to this end, have fixed times for entering and leaving work, avoid working overtime frequently and excessively, and avoid carrying out work during rest periods. Doing some type of sport or going to the gym can contribute to well-being and willingness at work, as well as a balanced and healthy diet.
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