While we're now spending more time in offices again with our teams, working remotely from home is still more prevalent than it was in pre-covid times. It’s important to be aware of the potential pitfalls including increased social isolation, burnout, disengagement, and reliance on social media for connection.
There are a number of things you can do to stay productive, creative and motivated, for those times when working from home.
Set up a proper workstation
- Ensure you have the technology you need to do your job properly, for example a good internet connection, reliable laptop, good sized screens/monitors.
- Make sure your workspace is ergonomically right for you - invest in a good quality work desk and chair. There are plenty of online resources to help you set up your workstation for comfort and safety.
- Create a morning routine. Set an alarm to wake up at the same time every day (don’t be tempted to hit snooze!)
- Have a healthy breakfast.
- Use natural as opposed to artificial light in your workspace if possible.
Communication
- Effective communication is crucial when working remotely.
- Be proactive with communication, create check-in meetings with team members at least weekly to connect on goals, projects, daily tasks.
- Be positive, promote achievements, celebrate milestones.
- It is better to over-communicate as a remote worker than to under-communicate.
- Socialise - with friends or family or other work colleagues nearby. This can help reduce the loneliness some remote workers face, and the negative impact it can have on your physical and mental health.
Self-care
- Set a log-off time. Even though it may not always be possible to stick to due to deadlines, try to keep to the routine of a regular work “shut down.”
- Maintain regular work hours, plan your day/week and schedule blocks of time for specific tasks to assist with time management.
- Take short breaks periodically. This is important to give your brain some down time and get back on task with renewed focus.
- Implement an exercise routine and make time to do hobbies or activities you enjoy. These things help maintain a good work-life balance.
Set ground rules with yourself and others
- If you’re working from home, ensure that others sharing your space are aware of your working hours and commitments to avoid unwanted interruptions.
- It’s easy to get distracted when working from home, by things like household chores, or checking social media on your phone – but this can lead to a loss of work productivity. Set aside a specific time for these things outside of your working hours.
End of day routine
- Review and acknowledge what you’ve achieved that day.
- Prepare a to-do list for the next day.
- Shut down your laptop and leave your workstation or area.
- Change into non-work clothing, to shift yourself out of work-mode.
- Hang out with friends, family, and loved ones!
Wherever your organisation prefers you to work from, it’s important to ensure that your wellbeing needs are being met as well as the needs of the business. Many workers and employers find a mix of remote working and being on-site works best (hybrid). It’s about finding the balance that works for everyone.
