Working from home offers a new way of working for many professionals. Advancements in technology, mean it’s easier than ever to manage a remote workforce. Resulting in us now see seeing more and more companies offering flexible working options. Suggesting, that the traditional 9-5 office culture is no longer as prevalent as it once was.
1. Find your space
Where will you work most efficiently from home? If you live with other people consider where the quietest space will be and create a work area that best replicates your office environment. Find a spot with strong wifi, a clutter-free desk (or table) and set up everything you’ll need for a typical working day.
2. Clear yourself from distractions
Remove all distractions. Physical distractions take time away from your working day, harm your focus and pull you away from what you should actually be doing. This also includes online distractions; social media, the latest news articles and the games you play… can all wait until the end of the day.
To keep potential disruptions at bay, find a place to work at home that’s set away from day-to-day life. Avoid working in spaces such as the kitchen or living room, as often these are the most sociable places within a home.
Don’t let everyday ‘home’ tasks bog you down. Your workload is the priority, not how many household chores you can get done that day.
3. Treat it like any other working day
It’s just another day. You may be working from home but your job remains the same. To keep things similar, create a schedule for the week and a to-do list for the day. By doing so, you can keep track of your tasks and visibly see what needs to be done, whether you’re at home or in the office.
One of the key benefits of working from home is that you can begin your work day earlier. There are no commuting times, so the time you’d usually spend in the car or on public transport, you can invest wisely into being more productive at home.
Top Tip: When you get dressed and ready for the day you can completely transform your mindset. You’ll feel more ‘work ready’ and this helps to distinguish between work and home life.
4. Keep communication a priority
Effective communication is a must for all remote workers. There are plenty of cloud-based team collaboration platforms, that enable a free flow of conversation as well as task discussion and delegation. When an organisation relies on these for team meetings and management, they can really bring together a remote workforce.
Or for those working independently, such as freelancers and the self-employed, it’s important you make yourself readily available via phone and email. Depending on how prompt you are in your response it has the potential to make all the difference in your work and client relationships.
5. Take breaks
It’s probably not the best idea to wake up 5 minutes before you’re due to start work, open up your laptop and get going. This is because you’re not in the right frame of mind to instantly start work. Get up earlier, have breakfast, get ready and then sit down before the work day starts. You’ll find this is far more effective in focus and motivation.
Many people feel the pressure to work without breaks. When they’re working from home, there’s less structure to their work day than a typical office environment, so it’s easy to bypass a break. But taking time away from your desk can help refresh your mind and increase productivity. Make this a priority. Take your lunch, have a tea break, get up and stretch your legs because it’s beneficial to align your day’s structure with a typical office working day.
How often do you work from home? What are your best tips? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter @BubbleJobs