Give yourself a remote chance
Steps to take to successfully work outside of an office
Working remotely definitely has its perks. Between flexibility to work from anywhere (I’m writing this from my hotel room in Paris), less time spent commuting and the ability to set your own hours, it can be rewarding. However, there are drawbacks, including the fight to stay productive.
It’s easy to get distracted or to work odd hours that leave you feeling stressed and worn out. While studies have shown that working from home does contribute to more productive employees, over a period of time that productivity may start to dwindle. Fortunately, I’ve got a few tricks to help you stay focused.
1. Set up your space
Yes, working from home means you can work from your bedroom, the living room couch and/or the kitchen counter. But having various places to work can lead to inconsistent work patterns, leaving you stressed and dreading work. Additionally, working from a couch or bed can cause back or shoulder pain.
A desk and comfortable chair will help you be more efficient. A standing desk worked wonders for me (and my neck and back). I also noticed that keeping my workspace limited to my desk area helped me go from work mode to home mode much easier.
2. Make a schedule and stick to it
As important as it is to have a fixed workspace, it is equally important to have set working hours. Start and end your workday on as much of a schedule as possible. This includes waking up and getting ready as you would if you were going to an office.
Schedule work breaks and lunch times. When I first started working from home, I would either take a long break to cook lunch or be so busy that I’d forget lunch altogether. Neither of these habits were sustainable. I’ve learned to prepare food beforehand and schedule a lunch break. Knowing that I have to stop at a certain time helps me focus on finishing a task.
3. Be organized and keep tools with you
Having the right tools will help with productivity. Notepads and calendars can keep your schedule and to-do lists in order. I carry a planner so I can refer to it when I don’t have access to my computer.
I travel for work a lot, and I always have my planner, my favorite black pen, a sturdy laptop bag and a stress ball that my wife gave me. Having these items gives me the subconscious signal that I’m in business mode.
4. Make time to see other people
This is one of the most important yet overlooked tips. Working from home can be lonely, especially if you don’t interact with others. Setting up times to get away from work can make a massive difference in your worklife balance and help you come up with fresh ideas.
It can be a challenge to stop working and do something leisurely, especially when starting out. I remember telling friends and family that I’d have to skip events because I wanted to work on my website. I ended up isolating myself and nearly burning out. Make it a point to go out and don’t feel guilty about it.
5. Communicate often with colleagues and managers
Remote workers aren’t often granted the same abilities to brainstorm and collaborate the way they would be if they were in an office. Communication is always a good idea but even more so when working from home.
Most of my team works remotely, making communication necessary. I enjoy hearing from them and also trust them to be productive on their own. But these relationships were built through communication.
6. Establish that you are at work to friends, family and others
Work hours need to be respected. A few people have told me that what I’m doing could be put off so I could do something with them. If you can establish boundaries and stick to them, people will come to respect that you can’t be bothered during your work hours.
7. Plan for the day/week/ month and track your time
Only you know your schedule and your abilities to implement some of the aforementioned tips. If you take care of a child or have a schedule that fluctuates often, you know that keeping a routine can be nearly impossible.
Because I am often on the move, I have found that setting out short- and long-term goals makes it easier to balance change (and multiple time zones).
Having a plan and using a time tracker can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses. I started using a time tracker that would take random screenshots as I worked to help me analyze where I was expending most of my effort. I realized I was spending way too much time coming up with ideas for articles so I delegated that task to someone who was better at that.
There is no doubt that you will acquire new skills when working from home. While it isn’t for everyone, if you can stay focused and develop positive habits, you can successfully adapt.