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In today’s world this is a topic that more and more people are having to acclimatise to and is a trend that looks like it is here to stay.
Remote working can seem very appealing and definitely has benefits both for the employee and the company when done right, but it isn’t without its pit falls… So, here are some tips from Foundations Executive Search to help you make the most of the opportunity and still thrive within your industry.
Getting out the house before you start your workday
This is a great way to energise and prepare for the day ahead while also maximising the benefits of remote working.
One of the main reasons people like the idea of working from home is the idea of making the most of the extra time rather than being stuck in traffic or on an overcrowded train during the commute, but it is all too easy to end up not leaving the house and feeling trapped. By going for a run or a walk first thing then coming home and getting ready for work it will separate your private life and work time and still gets your steps in and enjoying more of your local surroundings.
Dress for work
This has been a big one for me personally – having worked remotely for a number of years I have learnt that feeling like you are dressed for work helps put you in the right mindset and stay focused.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to be ‘suited and booted’ like you may be when heading into the city, but wearing something that you can be seen in on camera is a good way to look at it (even when you haven’t got a morning of zoom meetings or an office Google hangout booked in). The more you can do to partition in your mind the time for work and the rest of life at home the better you become at remote working efficiently.
Make sure you have a dedicated workspace
This again is all about creating the right atmosphere and mindset. Choose a space and remove any distractions. Working in front of the TV or in your bedroom may seem appealing, but it is one of the biggest mistakes people make. Many have tried it but you will see the people who really excel when working remotely always have a dedicated workspace and remove distractions so they can focus on the work in front of them and find their flow.
This isn’t to say you need a dedicated office or study, it could be your kitchen table or on the sofa, but making sure it is well-lit, tidy, and free from distraction will make you sure you stay focused and time-efficient.
Get good at communicating
To successfully work from home, you still need to be plugged in to what is going on with the rest of your team and able to work well together. Some of the biggest decisions or creative ideas come from bouncing ideas off those around you, getting other people’s input and even the micro-expressions in reaction to an idea that has been floated or in response to a question.
There has been a boom in tech that work well to fill this gap and aiding businesses ranging from the popular zoom meetings and google hangouts, to ever more reliable VOIP tech and even things like voice notes in encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal. So, make sure you aren’t isolating yourself and get engaged with your team.
Be strict with your work time
Structure your day – take the time to organise your calendar and set out your objectives for the week and tasks for the day and revisit them at the end of each day. This will help you evaluate your own performance and there are no important jobs you have forgotten about.
For me, I like to eat the proverbial frog every morning. Look at you list for the day and get the worst one out of the way first thing, this will stop you putting it off, procrastinating, and make you feel a lot better for the rest of the day knowing it is off your plate.
Go home
Just as important as getting in the right mindset and having the space to focus on work, it is important to remember to turn off and ‘not bring your work home with you’ so to speak. This can be making sure you take a lunch break to closing your laptop down at the end of the day and having a drink with your partner. Make sure you don’t let your work overtake the rest of your time and take time to relax, this will stop you burning out or feeling trapped by your work.
By following all of these points you should find it easy to stay on top of everything in the office, work efficiently, boost your productivity, and really make the most of remote working.
At Foundations Executive Search, we use all of these tools ourselves and know they will help you find your flow and realise that working remotely can give you all that extra time to get out there and really enjoy the things you love.
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