New to remote working? Here are six hacks to help you transition
Working from home can be a difficult transition if you’re used to working in a busy office environment.
A lack of colleagues, an abundance of distractions and too many enticing snacks, can all be a bit overwhelming at first. As can the absence of a workday structure, and visible manager.
If you’re just embarking in the world of remote work, having a few simple life hacks can make all the difference and set you up for future success. Here are six to get you started.
1) Set a routine
If you’re diving headfirst into work without a solid routine, you may find yourself burning out very quickly.
It can be hard to maintain motivation if you wake up every morning without a plan for the day ahead. That’s why crafting a daily routine is so important.
Luckily, getting into the habit of planning your time efficiently is easy to do. Before you go to bed, set aside a few minutes to think about what you want to accomplish the next day. Giving yourself huge tasks to complete can make you feel stressed and frustrated.
Setting smaller achievable goals can be more beneficial and help you maintain motivation for a longer period of time. Be sure to tick off your goals as you fulfil them. Having a physical representation of your achievements can really aid in forming a positive attitude towards work.
2) Create a defined workspace
When working from home, it can be tempting to sit in bed all day staring at your computer screen, but this isn’t a good choice for your body or your mind. Apart from the many back problems this can lead to, scientists also believe this to be a very inefficient and damaging way to work.
You need to ensure your workspace and relaxing space are separate, this is why creating a dedicated workspace is an essential step to success. Start by setting up a work desk or, if you don’t have the space, maybe let the family know that the kitchen table is now your new office. Perhaps try investing in a high-quality chair as no one does their best work when they’re uncomfortable.
Having everything in one place means that at the end of a busy day, you can leave it all behind and relax in bed without worrying about work.
3) Get dressed for your working day
When you first start working remotely, you may wake up in the morning and feel like staying in your pyjamas all day. This can be an enticing prospect at first, but waking up and getting dressed for the day ahead can be an important step in your routine.
Making sure you’re dressed for success can help maintain a level of professionalism and keep you focused on the workday ahead. Wear what makes you feel confident and you’ll soon see the benefits of increased productivity.
4) Schedule down time
You may find yourself working into the small hours of the morning and feeling tired and unmotivated the morning after. The key to working from home is to know when to call it a day.
Try to schedule downtime into your daily routine. As you would if you worked in an office, give yourself normal working hours and try not to work outside of these.
You may feel like work is a priority, but no meaningful work can be done if you’re tired and stressed, that’s why learning to unwind is so important for prolonged productivity.
5) Not enough sleep
If you struggle to get some shut-eye, it may also be wise to purchase something nice to sleep on as creating good sleep habits is closely linked to maintaining good work habits.
Often, an old or uncomfortable mattress is directly responsible for ruining our sleep night after night. If yours is old, why not replace it with a comfortable memory foam mattress?
6) Make healthy choices
We’ve all been there: you’ve got a tight deadline and you feel like you just don’t have time, so instead of taking a couple of minutes to make yourself a healthy meal, you take a trip to the cupboard and eat some crisps or biscuits instead.
While this may be tempting, making sure you’re looking after yourself will afford huge benefits to your work life. Of course, diet is important, but it is also paramount that you’re getting enough sleep and exercise. Schedule out some time in your day to do some exercise, whether that’s a casual stroll or some hardcore HIIT training.
Working remotely can be tough but by putting these hacks into action you’re sure to see results in no time and be working better than ever.
Photo by Allie Smith
