Adapting to the remote format
The main wave of transition to remote work came during the pandemic years. Back then, office employees did not have the opportunity to adapt to the new reality or to get recommendations from colleagues who had already made the transition from offline to online. Now, the transition to telecommuting is a conscious step that you can prepare for.
It is possible to adapt to the remote format in just a few weeks. There are several big advantages of working online: a comfortable workplace, scheduled meetings, a structured daily routine, and lower stress levels. Yet there are some rules to follow if you want to adapt quickly and effectively:
- Show patience and initiative. Ask questions, be proactive.
- Ask if there is some special software that is needed in your job.
- Set goals for the initial period and discuss the performance criteria with your manager.
- For the first month, it is appropriate to remind coworkers who you are and what your position is.
- Call more often and set up online meetings. This will help you to understand how the team communicates and to fit in quickly.
A home office that works
The absence of a strict boss and a flexible schedule may seem like a dream, but in reality, with freedom comes responsibility. The workflow, daily routine, and productivity of a remote worker depend entirely on them.
Breaking deadlines is a blow to reputation, watching TV series during working hours means sleepless nights, silence in work chats means feeling lonely and disconnected from the team. That’s why it’s so important to follow a few rules for organizing your workflow:
- Create a schedule for the day and follow it. Do not wake up at noon, only to start working closer to lunch: you will not have time to finish the daily tasks, which will lead to burnout due to the forced extension of the working day.
- It is better to plan the day in notes. For this purpose, a good old notepad will do. Alternatively, you can use a phone app, such as Notes, Simplenote, or Google Keep, for example.
- Keep in touch with colleagues. Ideally, a manager should organize regular offline or online meetings, but if communication with others depends on you, don’t pass on an extra zoom conference or a real-life conversation.
- Keep your physical condition in mind. Exercising, walking outdoors, and eating right will keep you healthy and energized for work.
- Utilize co-working spaces / take care of your workspace. As trivial as it may sound, you won’t be able to stay productive or handle a demanding position from a kitchen corner. A home office is the office you’re used to, only right there in one of your rooms. Secure good furniture, appliances and lighting for it.
- Define the boundaries of the home office. Organizing a cozy work corner is not enough. Don’t let household chores into your workspace. Dividing the territory into home/work areas will get rid of hours of procrastination and eternal busyness. The reverse formula also works: you shouldn’t make spreadsheets or call clients while lying in bed.
How not to get distracted
The workspace is ready, the day is structured, corporate programs are installed. And yet you can’t get your thoughts together, your hand keeps reaching for the TV remote. Good thing is, science can actually help with this issue. First of all, the brain should be prepared for the remote working day.
The mood is created with the help of rituals that signal: now I will work. To do this, separate home and work, wash up, brush your teeth and get ready for the (home) office. You should not start working while still in bed, such an action will be perceived as one of the household chores, so it will be difficult for the brain to concentrate.
In practice, the formula for successful remote work is different for everyone. For some people it is not difficult to organize the day and work from their bedroom; for others, the very fact of being at home does not allow them to focus on work tasks. Still, everyone can learn to work remotely.
Create an image of a boss within your mind. One who is pleasant to you, but who will check you at the end of each working day. He or she will ask you if you have done everything in time, what difficulties have manifested themselves, etc.
Conclusion
The growing popularity and technical ease of working from home has divided specialists into two major camps: some don’t want to get back to the office, while others are afraid to let the productivity go down. Experienced remote workers assure that the quality of work will not suffer if you properly organize your day and yourself. If you follow the tips presented above, you will be able to create for yourself some really comfortable working conditions in a home office.
The only thing you’ll have to pay really close attention to, regardless of how used you get to the remote work, is the condition of your devices. You’ll need them constantly, and you’ll need them at their best. At the first sign of a malfunction shown by your laptops or phones, contact reliable specialists like the team at www.smartaddiction.com. With quality repairs performed by experts, your devices will serve you well and last for a long time!