In this digital age, it’s easier than ever to work from home. Companies large and small are encouraging their employees to work from home, especially during COVID-19. If you’ve never worked from home, you may be a little nervous at first. “How do I stay on task? How do I prioritize? How do I minimize distraction?”
As a veteran of the “Mobile Worker” mentality, here are some easy tips and tricks to make your Work-From-Home time productive and manageable.
7 Tips for Employees New to Working Remotely
1. Prep your space
Dedicate an area of your home specific for working. Make your space warm and inviting. Ensure this area is free from distraction and has an atmosphere that sparks creativity. Dress it up with photos of your family and things that make you happy. The more you can make your space feel like a peaceful area, the more work you are likely to get done.
2. Schedule time for breaks
If you were at the office, you would probably take time to stretch and walk around, enjoy some watercooler banter, or get a snack. The same rules should apply in your home office. With the decrease in distractions, its also very easy to lose track of time and stay in the zone for too long. Take a break to practice mindfulness, take a walk outside, watch a motivational clip, or even just refill your drink.
3. Meal Prep
I know the thought sounds daunting. Spending hours in the kitchen after work or on the weekend prepping breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, keep in mind, low energy can lead to low productivity. I’ve often found that I get so busy working that I forget to eat. Having nourishing meals already prepped and ready to eat can keep you healthy while working from home. On the flip side, you may find yourself dipping into the snacks a little too much due to their accessibility. Prepping your meals ensures not only are you maintaining portion control, but you’re setting aside designated food for certain parts of the day. This will keep your snacking to a minimum and energy up.
4. Set goals
If you write down a checklist of all the tasks you wish to accomplish during your workday, you should also consider building in rewards at intervals throughout the day. For example, you have three case studies you want to complete, and they each take about two hours to do. After each finished case study, reward yourself with simple things like, an extra cup of coffee, or a 10-minute yoga session. Building in rewards will not only keep you competitive, but will keep you energized.
5. Create a Routine That’s Manageable
Practice waking up early and creating a good routine each day. For example, maybe upon waking up, your daily routine begins with making a cup of coffee. You think about three things you are grateful for. You go outside to walk your dog. Then when 8 AM hits – You check your emails. You start project number one. You eat breakfast. Whatever your morning routine may be, it can lead to increased productivity and success. Follow these simple tips to a better morning and a positive productive day.
6. Rotate your Home Office
Changing up your workspace every few days can keep your energy up and continue the productive momentum you’ve built. If the sun is shining, go outside and work on your deck. Sit in a comfortable chair, work from your couch or at your kitchen table. It can feel good to rotate your home office headquarters. Work wherever you feel most comfortable creating a workspace. The nice thing about remote working is as long as you have wifi, and your work essentials, you can get your job done anywhere.
7. Build in Exercise
On your lunch break, it’s easy to do an at-home workout video, your own yoga session, or go outside and break a sweat. It’s very important to incorporate exercise when you can throughout the day to continue to keep your motivation up, increase your energy, and keep your body healthy. Make sure you at least get up and move around every hour.
Remember when working from home to create productive habits that have you feeling good. When you feel good about your space and have yourself in the best mindset, you’ll be able to continue crushing it at work, regardless of where you’re actually getting the job done from.