While working remotely sounds like a dream come true, the reality is that it is more difficult than many of us anticipate. Having to physically get ready and go to work during the week helps put us in the mentality to accomplish tasks. In order to be both effective and efficient, you have to establish some rules and guidelines for yourself.
Here are some things you can do to help set yourself up for success while working remotely.
One of the most important parts of working remotely is maintaining consistency. Having a routine no matter how simplistic or elaborate it is will help you accountable and productive! Without having a plan or goals set for yourself, it will be difficult to keep yourself from creating bad habits. Your routine will keep you accountable and make your life so much easier!
Setting your alarm and waking up at the same time each day helps build good habits and establishes a strong start to each day. While you will certainly be tempted to sleep in and start your work whenever you choose, you can do yourself a favor by waking up at a reasonable hour. The later you start, the later you will finish. No one wants to be doing work around or after dinner time! There will be some mornings you will be more exhausted than others, so feel free to sleep in an extra fifteen minutes or so if you need it.
There is no perfect way to start your day, but with a little time and experimentation, you can find a ritual that works for you! Wake up, take your time drinking your morning coffee or tea, and grab a bite to eat before sitting in front of your computer to start work. Accomplishing small tasks first thing in the morning helps increase your overall productivity during the day. Even something as small as making your bed after you wake up can make a big difference!
Even if you can control your work hours, you should still try to stick as closely to your usual office hours as possible! While no one enjoys working early in the morning, keeping this schedule will continue to keep your mind in the work mentality during normal work hours. At some point, you will most likely have to return to your office and it will be difficult to adjust if you worked a different or unusual schedule while at home.
This is absolutely essential! Without sleep, you will not be able to do your work as efficiently or effectively as you could. As much as we might like to watch a few more episodes of that new show we are binge-watching on Netflix or Hulu, we will appreciate having a few more hours of sleep rather than knowing what happens to that one character. Try having an established bedtime to ensure you are setting yourself up to get a good night’s rest to be well-rested for the upcoming day!
While finishing some tasks on a Saturday may be unavoidable, try to finish all of your work during the week or on the days you usually work in-person. There will be some days you may not want to do anything at all, but you will be more motivated to accomplish everything for a few days of relaxation than taking those days off during the week. You need the weekend to recharge and relax!
If you find yourself lacking motivation, or unable to concentrate, try setting multiple goals for yourself throughout the day. Reading through a long document? Pick a page number to reach by lunchtime. Some tasks might feel daunting, but breaking them down into smaller, more manageable pieces makes it much easier to reach the end goal!
The ability to complete your work remotely comes with many freedoms, including choosing where you physically sit to accomplish it. While sitting on your bed or couch might be comfortable, it can encourage your mind to relax and wander instead of focusing on the tasks you need to complete. Additionally, by bringing your work to physical places of rest and relaxation, your ability to unwind and sleep in those places will be prohibited. Sit at a desk, or a table with a real chair and get to work!
Have you already grown tired of your designated workspace? Switching things up can help increase your productivity! Whether it is as simple as moving to a different chair, or room in your home or working inside a coffee shop, you cannot go wrong with breaking the mold to add something new to your routine.
Sometimes when we become busy, distracted, or stressed, we forget to take care of ourselves! Carve out time in your schedule for food! While you may not have the time to cook something elaborate, simply making the effort to take care of yourself will help you feel better and increase your ability to concentrate!
It sounds silly, but rewarding yourself with a few minutes of rest throughout the day can help you continue to be productive! Sometimes we need something motivating us to accomplish tasks. For some people, they will work hard so they can go for a coffee run while others look forward to finishing an episode of their favorite show. Whatever your motivation is, make sure you reward yourself when you actually reach your goal!
No one wants to cook when they come home after a long day at work and the last thing they want to worry about is meal prepping for lunch the following day. Now that you are working remotely, you can make whatever you like! You might want to try new recipes with your new-found energy or you may cave and eat your old favorites. Take advantage of the fact you will not have to worry about your co-workers complaining about how your food tastes or smells and cook whatever your heart wants!
Spending too much time sitting down staring at a screen is not good for your eyes, body, or mind! Make sure to take some breaks to rest your eyes, stand up, and stretch. If you are feeling up for it, going on a short walk to get some fresh air and sunlight!
This is perhaps one of the most important things to keep in mind when working remotely. If you have been working for far too long, or are starting to get frustrated, it might be a sign it is time to stop for the day!
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