Tips for Working from Home
Those who works remotely have to figure out when to work, where to work, and how to create boundaries between work and personal life. Here are 7 tips for leading a better, more productive remote-working life, based on my experience and what I've learned from others.
1. Create and Maintain Routines. Set a schedule, and stick to it. Keep a morning and evening routine, whatever works for you. Your body and brain will thank you.
2. Set Ground Rules With the People in Your Space Set clear boundaries and rules with other people in your home- and that includes kids and pets. Just because you are there doesn’t mean you are there, ya know?
3. Schedule Breaks A lunch hour and two 15-minute breaks seems to be the standard for full-time US employees. Take them. (Bonus points if you get out of the house!) Your body needs to move.
4. Keep a Dedicated Office Space and Phone Number In a perfect world, remote employees would have their own office, 2 computers, and two phones (one for work, one for personal.) But not everyone has a separate office in their home, and two computers and phones isn't always realistic. Instead, create a separate user account for work and personal use, and set up a phone number that you only use for calls with colleagues and clients. Google Voice or a Skype numbers are free.
5. Socialize With Coworkers Loneliness, disconnect, and isolation are common problems in remote work life! Even if you're highly introverted and don't like socializing we are meant to be near each other. We need face time. Schedule a weekly walk with a friend, or better yet- join a coworking community! :)
6. Take Advantage of Your Perks Do something just because you work from home and you can! Make it something you enjoy. Working remotely comes with unique perks. Without a commute, take advantage of your found time. You deserve it.
7. Don't Be Too Hard on Yourself Everyone lets their attention drift sometimes. If you find yourself working one minute and find yourself reading about working remotely, don't reprimand yourself too harshly. Balance productivity with self-care, otherwise, you risk burning out.