For many industries, working remotely is becoming more common. A Gallup study found that in 2016, 43 percent of American workers spent at least some of their workweek in a remote location, and that number is expected to grow in the future. While working remotely has its benefits and promotes higher employee satisfaction, it also can present unique challenges for professionals. Here’s how to stay plugged in to work from a remote location.
Take more short breaks. As a diligent professional, you want to make sure you accomplish all of your tasks during your remote workdays. But working on your own can mean you get so enthralled in your projects that you forget to take breaks. Taking breaks to stretch your legs, to go for a short walk or just to get a glass of water and a protein bar helps blood flow to your brain, which in turn boosts your productivity.
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Feel guilty taking breaks? You know if you are taking advantage of your employer’s time, and you don’t want to abuse the fact that you are working remotely. However, your employer doesn’t expect you to stay seated at your chair the entire time you are on the clock. Keep in mind that when working at a regular office you probably take a few scheduled breaks plus lunch during the day, and you may also take a few minutes to chat with your co-workers from time to time. If you find it’s hard to remember to take breaks, set reminders for yourself on your phone.
Change up your location. When working remotely you most likely have the freedom to work wherever, as long as you have your computer and a strong internet connection. To keep your days from becoming monotonous, especially if your remote office is your home, go elsewhere every once in a while. For example, spend a morning at your favorite coffee shop or take your computer and sit out on your porch when the weather is nice. Varying your location, when possible, boosts your creativity and keeps you active.
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Set goals for yourself. When you work remotely, it generally means you are able to do your assignments individually. While your superiors no doubt give you a list of tasks to accomplish, it can be difficult to stay on track and motivated. To combat that feeling, take some time before you dive into your task list to prioritize and set goals. By setting achievable goals for yourself, it can make your work environment more fun and engaging.
For example, determine the most important task of the day or week and track the methods you use to accomplish it. The next time something similar comes along, set the goal of using a different technique. Try to break personal records, perhaps finishing certain tasks in a set amount of time, or try to create something new instead of using your standard templates. This will also help to not only keep your skill set sharp, but to enhance it.
Keep your workspace clean and organized. This can be a challenge, especially if you work from home. While you may have a set space for your home office, it could also double as the laundry room or the place for your arts and crafts projects during non-work hours. Not keeping your workspace tidy and neat can make it a challenge to feel focused and keep track of what tasks are for your job and what tasks are personal.
It may not always be practical to tidy up every day, especially if you are working on an intricate work project or a crafts project over the weekend. However, as you complete your tasks, tidy up and put away what you no longer need. Then, at the end of each day, spend five minutes straightening up your space.
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Stick to your schedule. Working remotely means there are a lot more opportunities to feel distracted, from taking care of your kids, to walking the dog, to your housework to personal tasks.
To keep from getting sidetracked by everything there is to do at home, it’s important to have a schedule. Your employer may provide you with scheduled hours while you are working remotely, or you may have the freedom to set your own schedule. In either case, respecting your work schedule every day will help you to stay focused on the tasks at hand to get things done.
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5 Simple Tips to Working Remotely originally appeared on usnews.com
