Working from home has become the reality for many workers around the globe.
If your company has decided to make telework a long-term or permanent situation, there are many things you can do to help make the transition smooth.
1. Use the proper communication tools.
Howard Sublett, co-CEO and chief product owner at Scrum Alliance, said you should invest in the necessary tools for asynchronous communication. He said businesses need to find the online tools and software that will allow their employees to stay connected and get insights into various projects in real time.
2. Only hold video meetings with a clear purpose.
One of the most common remote work complaints is video call fatigue – also referred to as “Zoom burnout.” To avoid this problem, try to limit your video meetings, and make sure every meeting has a defined purpose and agenda that is shared with everyone involved with the call.
3. Have a dedicated workspace.
Going from commuting to an office to walking a few steps from the bedroom to the kitchen is a difficult transition. The best way to trick your mind into thinking you have entered a workspace is to create a true working environment as best you can – even if it’s just a computer monitor on your kitchen table or a desk in your bedroom corner. Only use that space for work, and walk away from it when your work is done for the day.
4. Create boundaries between your work and personal life.
Another common complaint from remote employees is the difficulty of drawing boundaries between work and home life – after all, work is now home. Blurred lines between work and home life can lead to burnout, so do your best to create firm working hours and stick to them. Communicate your boundaries to family members and co-workers, and commit yourself to walking away from work when your day ends.
5. Overcommunicate.
When you’re used to communicating in person with team members, it can be difficult to move that same level of communication to a digital format. Significant nuance and nonverbal communication are lost when communication is virtual, which can cause rifts when something is assumed or tone is misread. Commit to overcommunicating and making things as clear as possible, and avoid assumptions.
6. Set a schedule.
The structure of your day is a lot more flexible with a remote job, so it might be helpful to create a schedule that you follow each day. “Have a plan and use your time wisely,” said Lucy Reyes, a full-time blogger. “Working from home can make you much more productive and enable you to get more things done at home. However, the opposite can happen as well, so make a plan around how your time will be used so you can stay successful and productive all around.”
Source: business.com