We can all struggle with working remotely. There can be many distractions and other things that we feel that we need to do. Many of us can’t sit still in our living rooms or our kitchens without seeing something that needs mending or tidying.
So, when it comes to working from home, we want to find the best working practices that not only stop us from procrastinating but help our overall working experience become smoother and easier to manage.
The 1st Step
A good starting point is to stick to the basics. This means looking at what’s around you. The easiest way that you can get your mind into the correct mode for working is to create a space that you need to work to set up, and which you can then take down at the end of the day. This will replace the ‘commute’ sector of your workday and help you transition healthily into work and home time.
Another thing you can do is set your desk out as you would at work. Having these familiar elements will help your brain focus on the work that needs doing, and not necessarily whatever else is around you.
Also, what you could do is implement the rules that are applied in your workplace. If no phones are allowed out in the office, make sure yours is in the next room across and on silent except for emergencies. Dress as you would in a work setting and take similar breaks, and eat what you might normally have for lunch to make things as normal and as close to your regular working day as possible.
Use Tools
When it comes to working remotely, you also need to find the best collaboration tools to help your teamwork in the best way possible. This might be using tools such as Microsoft Teams (a common choice as many companies already use Mircosoft products), or even a Microsoft Teams competitor, which may be a more cost-effective tool to use for a similar experience. When it comes to using team collaboration tools you need to find something that is reliable and easy to use, and you need to find the best ones for you.
If you are at home with a family member, you need to maintain strict rules with them when it comes to working. Let them be clear on your working times. If you work in an office space, it will be easier for them to avoid you by not coming in the room, but if you are working in a kitchen or other open living space this can be difficult.
You need to ensure that members of the family are aware of certain things, such as the times of conference calls, when it is alright to disturb your work, and when they cannot.
Lastly, you must always remember to sign off at the end of the day. This should be a relatively easy process, especially when you have worked in a way that you have found a good routine to get you in the best mindset for work.