For some, working remotely is convenient, and enjoyable. Depending on your lifestyle and personality type, working from home can be a great way to balance your home and work life. It can also be a great way to be able to earn a living while also spending more time with family.
However, for some, it may be difficult, even if it is a beneficial arrangement overall. At times, it may be hard to balance both work and home duties, and if you aren’t used to working from home, it might be normal to experience some struggles, especially in the beginning.
While it can be difficult at times, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t things you can do to get more out of your experience working from home.
8 Tips For Working Remotely
From taking new approaches to the way that you set your schedule to learning how to minimize common distractors, there are lots of simple and straightforward steps that you can take to help make sure that you are getting the most out of your experience while working remotely.
1. Set a Schedule
One of the most important things that you can do for yourself when you are either working from home or in another remote location is to set a schedule for yourself.
One of the benefits of remote work is that you can be more flexible with your schedule. However, if you don’t stick to a schedule at all you may find it more difficult to complete even basic tasks on time.
Most importantly, you need to have a morning routine to get your day started off properly. For many, if they can start the day properly, it is much easier to stay on task for the rest of the day. Additionally, the schedule that you set for yourself can depend on a few different factors from the deadlines that you may have to meet to the schedule of others in your home.
While it might not always be easy to stick to a tight schedule, the more that you can complete the same tasks around the same time each day, the easier it will be for you to be productive and meet professional deadlines.
2. Use Tools That Will Make a Difference
If you are working in a hybrid workplace then the tools that you use will often make a difference in your working experience.
From organizational software to higher speed internet, there are lots of things that can make your job easier, and reduce some of the stress that may come with working from home. When you are working with the right tools, you can often work more efficiently, and make sure that your work is done more accurately, too.
Having the ability to work faster and more accurately can help you to stay on top of what you need to, and will often give your work a more professional edge.
The kind of tools that you will need can vary depending on a variety of factors, from the type of work you do, to how you prefer to work. While the kinds of tools that you will get the most out of can vary, the reality is that using new kinds of tools and technologies can be helpful no matter what you are trying to accomplish.
3. Take Your Work Seriously
Along with using the right tools, if you want to get the most out of your experience working remotely, then you need to be sure that you are taking your work just as seriously as if you were in a public workspace.
Some may get laxer about how they approach their work once they are doing it from home, in part because of the more relaxed setting. While this is understandable, this can lead to a poorer quality of work.
By taking time to regularly check in with yourself and assess the progress you are making with your work, you can help ensure that you are maintaining high levels of quality in the tasks that you do.
4. Take Regular Breaks
In addition to sticking to a regular schedule and making sure that you keep up with doing quality work, it is also important to make sure that you are taking regular breaks throughout the day.
When you are working remotely, being able to focus is important. What some don’t realize is that it can be just as dangerous to not take enough breaks as it can be to take too many. If you are too mentally strained, your quality of work can go down significantly, and you may get less accomplished even if you are spending lots of time focused on your tasks.
If you don’t give yourself time to slow down and mentally recharge, you may find it more and more difficult to focus and put the right amount of effort into your work. Additionally, doing things like taking a short walk or finding another way to stay physically active can be a great way to refresh and energize yourself, especially when your work is sedentary.
Beyond that, taking an extra break when you are working on something particularly difficult can be beneficial, as having some time away from a hard task can help you to look at it with new eyes when you return to it.
5. Minimize Distractions
When working from home, it is likely that you will face more distractions than you would in the workplace. Even though you may like being at home because you can spend more time with pets and family, they can also be distracting at times, as well.
By doing things like creating a workspace in a part of the home where there is less activity or setting designated times that you are not to be disturbed, you can help minimize distractions while you work. In some cases, it may even make sense to mould your schedule around that of another person in your home, so that you won’t be distracting each other.
Even though this may not feel easy to do, taking steps to reduce distractions when possible is key when it comes to getting work done, and appearing professional when speaking to others on the phone or in a video call.
6. Make Your Own Space
The space you have to work in can have a significant impact on the work that you do. When you have a space that is designated specifically for work, it can make it easier for you to focus on the task at hand when you enter that space.
Not only is it important for you to make sure that you have your own workspace, but it is also essential to make sure that you are keeping it tidy and organized. A well-organized space can help you work more efficiently and can give you a more professional appearance in the event that you need to appear in a video meeting.
7. Dress To Impress
Just as making your own space is important, so is making sure that you are dressing in a way that helps you to feel both comfortable and motivated. Even though it is understandable to want to do your work in pyjamas when you are working at home, it could make it more difficult for you to get into work mode.
Additionally, if you ever need to be available on a video call on short notice, dressing too casually could cause you to seem less professional. By making sure that you are always wearing something that would be both comfortable and work-appropriate, you can help ensure that you are in the right gear to get work done.
8. Keep In Touch
Although some may love that they don’t have to spend as much time socializing when they are working remotely, there are many who might miss the social aspects of work, and the ability to connect with their coworkers easily.
For those who enjoy the social aspects of work, being at home may not only put a damper on their mood, but it could end up having a significant negative impact on their mental health in the long run. Because of this, it is important to make sure that you are finding ways to stay connected with your coworkers.
High quality messaging systems can be great for this, as can making a point to keep up an email correspondence with your coworkers. While it may not be the same as in-person conversations, finding even little ways to keep in touch can help boost your mood and help you do better work, too.
Is working remotely a good idea?
There are many who may prefer working from home and might find that it is great for balancing their work and home life. There are others, though, who may struggle to strike the right balance, and remain professional while working from home.
Even though working from home can sometimes be a struggle, that doesn’t mean that it has to be difficult or unpleasant. There can be many different ways to get more out of your experience working remotely, and to make sure that you are maintaining high professional standards, as well.
Paisley Hansen is a mother of three and a small business owner. She spends her time caring for her children and taking her business to the next level. When she’s not busy working or taking care of her kids, you can find her at the gym or curl up with a good book.
