All across the globe, workers are experiencing some difficult times.
Some businesses are either laying off employees, closing down, or failing to survive. Others are still open, but only require workers to come to work only if it is absolutely necessary. Then, there are the businesses that continue to employ people and allow them to work remotely.
Things will change regardless of the existing situation. It’s possible that the way we shake people’s hands will soon become obsolete. Without a doubt, hanging out in busy venues such as shopping malls, concert halls, and movie theatres will be viewed differently.
Millions of employees, many of whom have never worked outside the office before, began working remotely in just a couple of weeks of entering 2020. While the abrupt shift to remote work was and continues to be difficult for organisations, many employees appreciated the break from their typical 9-5 physical office routines.
People throughout the world are now working from their homes rather than from physical offices. For the most part, remote work has opened up fresh perspectives on work, life, and how to approach each day. Even after the world is no longer facing a pandemic, the majority of the people working remotely would want to continue doing so, in some way. People can spend more time doing what they want to do when they work from home. Employees can now focus on their families instead of spending hours commuting, without having to give up their jobs. Consequently, employees acquire a higher sense of personal productivity and increased work performance. For people with a disability or a chronic disease, remote work opens up more possibilities like never before.
Working remotely, whether for yourself or for a company, will become the norm in the future. The difficulty is that many of us are unfamiliar with it, and it will be a difficult shift for most people unless you have a good strategy in place.
Getting Ready to Work – Remotely
Shifting to remote work can be quite tricky, but if you follow these tips, we can guarantee you a smooth transition into the world of remote work.
- Wear a proper outfit
Dress properly and appropriately. Working remotely does not mean that you should appear to work in your pyjamas. If you’re not going to shower, at least dress in something similar to what you’d wear to work. You’ll feel motivated and ready to take charge of your day if you dress appropriately.
- Create a work area for yourself
Assign a proper workspace in your home. Working on your couch while watching daytime television will not work. Let’s face it, ‘being focused’ isn’t going to happen in this situation. At work, most of us have a desk, cubicle, or office. Having something similar can help you transition from ‘being at work’ to ‘working remotely.’ The more you can imitate this, the more successful you’ll be.
Make a ‘workspace’ out of a modest portion of your home. Treat every day as if it were your first day at work. You’ll have to assign a place, away from the television and with ample lighting and ventilation, to set up your work desk so that you can focus totally on your work.
- Remove all sources of distraction
Yes, the television is included. If you’re distracted, you’re not totally involved in what you’re doing. If you’re not totally engaged, you’re not getting the most out of your time. And, guess what, your boss is taking notice. Avoid working in front of the television, which is likely to be the most distracting factor for most people. Get a sound machine or turn on the radio or television in the next room if you need some background noise.
If you have a family, make sure they understand that your job hours are just that: work hours. You must establish ground rules with the family – this may be difficult for them to understand at first, but they will adjust.
- Set an example
Working from home should not be used as an excuse to slack off or reduce your productivity. If you work for a company that allows you to do so, appreciate the opportunity. There are far too many folks we know who do not have that privilege. As a result, lead by example. Set a goal to be as productive as you were at work, if not more so. As a result, you will gain your employer’s trust.
- Take your breaks
Burnout is a real issue, no matter how often we preach “work hard, work smart.” You won’t be able to perform at your best if you don’t take care of yourself not only physically, but also mentally. As a result, we encourage taking breaks throughout the day. With that stated, if you are given fifteen minutes to work, don’t waste them.
Working for 55 minutes and then taking a five-minute break has also shown to be effective in the past. This will provide you with the needed work intervals to keep yourself productive and effective.
Finally, when it comes to breaks, choose your activities carefully. While a brisk walk, a healthy snack, and meditation are all wonderful strategies to keep your mind sharp, others, such as mindless television or video games, might take you off your game.
- Internet access through a hardwire
Everyone enjoys using Wi-Fi. It has greatly simplified our life. But don’t bank on it if you have to give a presentation in front of a group of people. It’s likely that the signal will go out at some time during the day. Hardwire up to your modem or router to keep the workflow moving. It may not be the perfect situation depending on where your office is located, but if it is available, make good use of it.
Final words…
While working from home is not a novel concept, we predict that more businesses will begin to experiment with this as they adapt to the “new normal”. You should seriously consider remote work and be prepared to make the shift if the opportunity arises.
Remote work isn’t going away anytime soon. Once this pandemic ends, you can expect that more businesses will follow suit in shifting to remote work. It’s only natural that if COVID-19 strikes again, businesses would like to be better prepared. If you follow these tactics, you will become a role model in your company and become a remote work success story.
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