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2020-08-21      Comments : 0

Ever since the pandemic has hit our economic system, working remotely has become a necessity for many of us. If you think that working remotely is as easy as a pie, then you’re wrong. Managing your office works along with other distractions is not an easy task. It's a tough change for everyone, whether you’re an employee, employer or a job seeker.

Technology is the new and emerging reality of employment in the 21st century. Everything has moved from on-premises to cloud services now. More remote workers are expected to enter the workforce soon. Even when this is all over, remote working will still continue with its own benefits and challenges.

Although with some practice, it is possible to become a successful remote worker. Let's guide you how to make this transition easier.

1. Organize your schedule:
As you are working from home, you have the freedom to choose how you work. You don't have to sit on a certain desk and wear formals; instead you can work in your pajamas, holding a cup of coffee and sit on your comfortable seat.

You can set up your own schedule. Try which work setup works best for you and stick to it, unless you get tired and bored.

Think about where in your home you'll work. Think about your chair and desk. Are they comfortable? A good work setup can make you more productive.

Ensure your working place is different from where you relax. Don't sit on your couch if that is where you go and watch television. This might tempt you not to work.

Try working from different places, such as a co-working space or a coffee shop, and see whether you're more or less productive.

2. Stick to the Working hours
Fix a time for you work. If you are an early riser, you can work all day; if you're a night owl, then stay up late night to get your work done. Check what time of the day you find it easy to do certain tasks. Some prefer to do their creative work in the morning, when they're most awake and alert and their administrative work in the afternoon or during the evening. So, develop your schedule accordingly. Try with different break times and work intervals.

It's important that you stick to your working hours, or else you might end up overworked. By doing so, you will get some time to relax by the end of the day.

Make sure your family is aware of your working hours. Tell them you are not available in those working hours.

3. Use Props
Try wearing anything that makes you feel that you are at work. This way you can trick the brain into thinking that it is time for work and not to relax. For example, wear a certain pair of shoes, shirt or something else and your body will get used to the fact that you wear it only when you work, and so when you are not wearing it, your brain will know it is time for you to relax.

4. Say "No" to Notifications
It's common that when our phone beeps we tend to respond to it immediately. This is the easiest way to get distracted from work.

But, this can make difficult for you to balance between work and life. Therefore, turn off your notifications during your working hours unless it's work-related.

It's better to tell your co-workers that you're going to turn off your notifications during work hours. And you can tell them that if there's a real emergency, then they can contact you directly on the phone. This deed of yours will be considered as a source of accountability and your co-worker will know that you take your work seriously.

5. Prepare for Your Meetings
• Choose the right tools
• Choose the relevant and appropriate tools required for your meetings.

You can select one among the three choices:
1.Videoconferencing. Used when presenting a project to a large number of people by a screen or flip chart. Here, attention is focused on the presenter.
2.Web conferencing. Here the participants are provided with a link beforehand. They only have to click on it at the scheduled time to connect via a platform to join the meeting.
3.Group call. This is easy to organize and doesn't require any specific equipment or an external server. This is the ideal type of meeting for discussing a project.

• Prepare beforehand
Choose a date and time that suits everyone. Think about the space that is calm and noise free where you will hold the meeting. Check that your webcam, your speaker, and so on, is working well. List down the topics that need to be discussed.

• Have a plan B
Have a plan B ready, in case of any internet issues, webcam or speaker problems.

• Focus on the Call
Do not get distracted while you're on a call. Try to focus solely on the call at-hand. Take notes if you need to.

• Everyone Should Be Remote
Remote meetings can be difficult if half of the team is in the office and the other half is working from home. If you're attending a remote call with multiple participants, ask everyone to dial in. Tell the office team to call in from multiple rooms or conference rooms. This avoids side discussions.

• Pen it down
Take notes of what's happened in a meeting. Write down the main points you've learned, including any action items. Feel free to share these notes with anyone else who was on the call.

Remote workers might misunderstand something someone has said. So, you should take down more notes than usual.

Don't be afraid to repeat, to make sure everyone understands.

Ask people if they need any clarifications before moving onto the next task.

6. Share your emotions
Tell your team how you're feeling. Don't forget to take into account your emotions. You should share what is going well and what is not. Reach out to your team when you need help. Better to ask for help than be stuck on a task and get stressed.

7. Be accountable and stay visible
When you're working in an office, management makes sure that you're working. This will show them that you were productive throughout the day. But while working remotely, there's no one to see your accountability.

As a remote worker, try to make yourself as visible as you can so that people know what you're working on. It will help keep you accountable, and you are more likely to finish your job. Also, being visible will make it easier for other people to assign you with new tasks. Create some source of accountability that helps you to get back to your work in case you're distracted.

• Set Time Blocks to finish off your work.
• Use Your Calendar and label what task you will complete during that time.
• Commit publicly about your task to be completed.
• Use To-Do Lists to help you streamline your work.
• Check-in With Your Team

8. Send daily standup messages
Let your team and your boss know what you're working on. It will help your co-workers to know who to reach out to if they need to talk about anything.

Be responsive when someone sends you a message. If you're working on an important task and need to focus, tell them you will get back to them soon.

The faster you respond, the more visible you are. This doesn't mean that you should be available all the time, but rather that you're willing to jump in to answer messages whenever you have the time.

9. Communicate Clearly and Effectively
While communicating with your team, make sure you share all of the information your team needs.
Tools such as Google Docs and Dropbox Paper allow people to work on the document at the same time, write comments, and make can make any changes. If you have a shared task you want to work on, synchronous tools will ease your job.

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10. Health is wealth
It can be difficult to balance your work and life when you're working remotely.

When you're working in an office, you'll be out in the nature. But it's not the same when you're working from home. You must've developed certain routine while going to the office, like gym or going to the coffee shop. So, make sure you take some time out of your work and enjoy your relax time.

Aim to get outside for a walk (unless going out is prohibited) or perform some other exercise. Taking breaks away from work makes you energetic and more creative when you get back to work.

Stay hydrated. Set up a timer to remind you to drink water at certain times of the day.

11. Make Time to Socialize
In addition to being unhealthy, loneliness can also damage your social relationships. When you are in an office, you interact with many people. However, it's difficult for the remote workers do so.

Make use of your week off to socialize. Interact with people other than your team mates. Don't spend all of your time inside working alone. Attend Local Events such as conference or a game night, which makes you happier.

Conclusion:
Enjoy this change! Work from home jobs became more popular method of working. You are one of the thousands of lucky workers who have a job, amid this COVID-19 pandemic. Count your virtual blessings. Take into account the tips we have covered in this guide. Stay Safe, Stay Productive!