Effective Tips for Working Remotely
As an IT company, we’ve had our fair share of dealing with viruses, but this one is unique.
Wherever you go today, everyone is talking about the Corona virus (COVID-19). With the growing threat of coronavirus hitting the world and Vietnam’s full force, shifting to work remotely from home is one of the ways DataHouse Asia could do to prevent the virus from the team.
Working remotely
The beauty of remote work is the freedom and flexibility it provides you with. Working remotely essentially means that you are not required to come to a traditional office daily and work from there. You can choose your place of work – a coffee shop, a co-working space, or even your own home office.
Working remotely also gives you the added benefit of not having to rush to the office early in the morning. You do not get constantly distracted at work by office chit chats. This increases productivity manifold and also allows you to work in a healthy environment of your choice.
Here are some tips to get the most out of the days you’re not in the office
1. Find a workspace
Have a designated space to do your work. Turn a spare room into an office. If space is limited, find a desk or table that’s specifically for your work. A designated workspace matters for a few reasons.
When your home is your office, it can be whatever you want it to be. But it needs to be a place of work. Setting your workspace apart from your home space allows you to better delineate the two, and lets your brain know when it needs to be in work mode or home mode.
If you’ve got the room, then setting up your own office is ideal, but even if not, take a corner of a room just for work, where you go to do that and only that. Then the rest of the home is for rest.
2. Plan ahead the night before.
Give your day some structure and make a schedule for the day ahead. An hour-by-hour schedule each evening that includes your priorities and when you’ll work on them.
You could also schedule breaks. For example, after writing an article for two hours, you might need to take a 15-minute break. Taking breaks is an important part of managing your energy throughout the day. Leaving your home or apartment for a bit and taking a walk is a great way to boost your energy levels for the afternoon ahead.
Tool: A pen and paper. Though you could use any of the online task management apps or tools, often it’s better to have a strategy that works rather than an app. It’s helpful to just have a plain, easy-to-understand version of your schedule written out.
3. Have designated work clothes
It may seem silly to plan an outfit to wear at home, but you’ll avoid the rut of wearing uninspiring hoodies and stretchy pants on repeat.
Maybe you have a handful of “work” t-shirts, which are different from the t-shirts you wear when you’re relaxing on a Saturday afternoon or in the evenings. Having designated “work from home” clothes can get you into the right frame of mind
4. Reduce distractions
Put Your Cell Phone Down
The habit of checking your cell phone is very much like that of checking your email. Simply set it aside in a designated spot and check it only right after checking your email. The rest of the time ignore it so you can concentrate on more important tasks
Get Your Family Onboard
When your kids or spouse are at home while you are trying to work you need to get your family on board. Talk with them about giving you space and time you need to do your work.
Invest in Headphones
A noisy environment is another of the top distractions when you work from home. A pair of headphones can be a lifesaver. Just crank up ocean sounds to better focus on work when you’re in “the zone.” Headphones also work as a great indicator for my family – if they’re on, it means mom is working and shouldn’t be bothered.
5. Over-communicate
The key to being successful in any professional role is communication, but when it comes to remote work it is an even more important asset. Since you’re no longer a few desks down from your coworkers or your manager, it’s your job to schedule 1:1 check-in meetings with them on a weekly basis to connect on your goals, upcoming projects and daily tasks.
Make sure to advocate for yourself and clearly state the progress you’ve made in the past week, which goals you’ve surpassed and which projects you’ve led. When you’re not in the office, it can be difficult for your manager to keep your work top-of-mind, so don’t be afraid to bring important milestones up on your own.
Take care!