Today, more and more people are working remotely from co-working spaces or working from home.
Everyone who works remotely has to figure out where to work, how to work, what tools they need and how to create boundaries between work and personal life. We've put together a list of "6 Tips for Working From Home" to help you quickly and efficiently adapt to working remotely.
1. Create a Dedicated Office Space
Everyone who works remotely needs a dedicated space to work, think, video chat and take meetings. Converting an extra bedroom, creating a space in your basement or using a corner in your living room is a great way to have somewhere consistent to work from on a weekly basis.
2. Maintain Regular Hours
One of the benefits of working remotely is flexibility, and that flexibility allows you to adapt or extend your day to accommodate someone else's time zone or personal matters. Just like creating a dedicated office space to separate your work life and personal life, creating and sticking to a dedicated work schedule will also ensure your aren't merging and blurring the line between your personal life and work life.
3. Have The Proper Tools
Often times working remotely or working from home means using a laptop. For a lot of people, a smaller screen or trackpad may not be sufficient, so be sure to ask your employer to provide you with the tools you need to be as efficient and effective as you can while working remotely. This may mean an External Display, Keyboard or Mouse or Communication Headset. Whatever your job requires in a physical office space, be sure to have those same tools when you are remote.
4. Communication Is Key
Every employer and employee will need to stay in constant communication with one another. You'll no longer be able to 'pop in their office' or walk to fellow co-workers desk to ask a question, share something or hold a meeting. Making sure your employer has invested in software for e-mail, messaging and video chatting is vital; as well as a Communication Headset or pair of Headphones with a Microphone for every employee who interacts with one another virtually.
5. Socialize With Co-Workers
Being disconnected from your fellow co-workers can be difficult because you can't convey the same emotion, concern or gratitude through an email the way you can in a real life interaction. Making sure you're asking how their day is, sharing a fun piece of content and otherwise keeping a social relationship with them will go a long way.
6. End Your Day With A Routine
When working in a physical location, often times your day ends with you closing up shop, getting in your car, putting some music on and driving home. When working from home, it can be difficult to form an 'end of day' routine because... well, you're already home. Create a habit that signals it's time to shut down. Shutting down your computer, going for a run, taking a walk, doing yoga, playing a video game - create a habit you can do most days that you can look forward to that signals your work day is over.
