Remote Work Tips

15 May Remote Work Tips

Some people love the freedom of working from the comfort of their own home, but some thrive off and need structure. If you work from home and sometimes struggle to stay focused, here are a few tips to help you become more productive!

1. Establish Boundaries

This is an important first step to take with your boss, coworkers, and anyone you live with. Once you have set work hours, make sure everyone understands that during work hours you are in work mode and when you’re not working that you are off the clock. While working from home does come with more flexibility, some people assume that it also means doing whatever, whenever you want, which is certainly not always the case. Be clear with friends and family that you still have set deadlines to meet, work to get done, and a professional standard to uphold, even if you are working in sweats from the guest bedroom. On the other hand, make sure your work doesn’t take over your life and become something you can’t step away from at night or on the weekends. Boundaries are your bestie when it comes to remote work.

2. Set and stick to a Routine!

This is SO important and SO easy to get lazy with. Don’t adopt the, “Well, I don’t HAVE to get up, I could just lay in bed and work or sleep another hour…” mindset. Just don’t. Try to get up at the same time every day and stick to a schedule. Find what works for you!

3. Get Ready for the Day

This can vary for everyone! I don’t style my hair or put on nice work clothes to work from home (cause why?), but I still do my makeup and look presentable (sorry no pajamas). For me, I want to be comfortable but not ready-for-bed comfortable. Plus, if you video chat with your boss or co-workers you want to appear presentable and professional. That doesn’t mean you can’t wear sweatpants though, business on the top, casual on the bottom! (And slippers are a must).

4. Switch Up Your Environment

Working from where you live can make one go a little stir crazy. Sometimes it makes it hard to concentrate when all you can think about is that pile of laundry in the other room, the dishes in the sink, or how you haven’t been out of the house in three days. Try spending an occasional morning at a local coffee shop or an afternoon at the library for a little change of scenery. I love doing this because it gives my mind a little reset.

5. Take Breaks!

I find that it is so easy to just sit and work and never get up. To combat this, I try to drink a lot of water, so I’m not only getting up to refill my water, but for bathroom breaks too. I also recommend taking a lunch break at the same time every day. Take a break, stretch, eat, go for a walk to get out of the house for a bit, let your mind reset and then get back to it!

6. Create a Space Where you Enjoy Spending Time

If you hate your work environment, odds are you’re going to be miserable working from home. Spruce it up a bit! Lots of light, a good smelling diffuser, fun décor, heated blanket, music playing, whatever makes you happy! Some people will say don’t turn on the TV, but I have always been more productive with background noise, whether that’s music or TV. Now, I don’t recommend turning on a show you actually want to watch because then, no, you probably won’t get much done. But I like to turn on HGTV, turn down the volume and let it fill the silence. If you do this, I recommend having your back to the TV, so you aren’t tempted to just sit and watch.

7. Try Block Scheduling

To make sure you stay on track and get everything done that you need to try making a list of everything and scheduling out time to work on each specific task. This helps keep me accountable and stay disciplined, otherwise I just sit there and ask myself where to start.

8. Designate Work Hours

It can be distracting if your roommate, significant other, children, or even pets are at home while you’re trying to work. (Especially if you get easily distracted like me). Make sure you designate specific work time and spaces. Not only does this help set boundaries for everyone, but then you also don’t risk getting burnt out. Finding a good work-life balance is key!!

9. Use Software such as Microsoft Teams and Asana

Our team has found that communicating through Microsoft Teams is so helpful! Instead of emailing back and forth or calling each other, Teams has a chat feature as well as the ability to make voice calls or video chat! We conduct staff meetings and touch base often using the video call feature. The chat option is great too because it makes communicating easy and efficient, especially because there is an app for your phone so you can communicate on the go!

We also use Asana, which is a great for task management. Working remotely can be a little overwhelming trying to stay organized, but Asana allows you to log and track progress on projects, assign tasks and deadlines, and communicate with teammates about tasks. We can attach necessary resources to tasks, see what we need to do and when it is due, and use the comment section for questions. All tasks show up in chronological order and you can mark them complete as you finish them. I’m tellin’ ya, it’s even better than crossing something off a to-do list.

10.  Keep in Touch with the Outside World

When you work from home, it can get a little lonely, especially if you’re used to being able to talk to co-workers whenever you want. (I find myself calling my mom a lot…). Schedule lunch visits with friends or block out time to call friends or family if you can’t go out (but try to stick to the allotted time). If you need to meet with a client or colleague, consider meeting up at a coffee shop or restaurant.

I hope these tips can help you become a pro when it comes to working from home. Just remember, not everything works the same for everyone, you just have to find what works best for you! If you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out! We’re your one-stop-shop for all things marketing AND effectively working from home!