2020 – the year most of the world began working from home. Remote working comes with lots of things to take into account when designing your daily and weekly schedule, ranging from how you work, to your responsibilities to team and customers as well as those at home with you.
You also need to consider what personal projects you would like to do. Perhaps there is a project that you have not had time for in the past or a skill that you have not had the opportunity to learn. Now could be a perfect time.
With a decade of remote working experience behind us, we’re excited to share our tips and hard-won lessons to give you a snapshot of a healthy, productive work from home environment, to help you conquer the world.
1. Make Your Own Office Space
Having an area dedicated to work will give you a place to be productive and avoid distractions. You might have to rearrange your living room, put up a curtain to separate spaces or even convert your garage but with a little creativity, and perhaps some elbow grease, you can make a functional office space.
If there aren’t rooms to spare, still have a space specifically for work. This can be anything from a desk to a corner of your dining room table so you can keep everything organised and can be in the zone when you sit down.
2. Upgrade Your IT Systems
Now may be the time to upgrade your technology and systems, or implement new ones. Use this quiet time to research alternative options to better suit your business needs now and into the future. Many of us are probably using the same systems set up 8 years ago. Some business might not have a CRM or project management tool in place or an effective way to share information between team members and clients.
Spend some time going through your email marketing list, looking at ways to upgrade your phone systems so you can answer the phone from anywhere, and examining ways for your team to have effective online meetings.
If your current systems are still working for you, great! But if there are additional features you are looking for to help streamline and automate your business, now is the time to make the move.
3. Learn Something New
One of the best ways to use your spare time over the next few months is to learn a new skill. Some of the most successful people in the world are those who are continuously learning.
There are countless valuable skills you can learn in your spare time that will improve your life both personally and professionally.
Even if you spend only 30 minutes a day on a new activity, you will have added something valuable to your life in just a few short weeks.
4. Communicate Expectations
With workplaces and education facilities all moving remote, your home may have a lot more activity during the day than usual so it’s important to communicate and discuss the expectations with the other people in your home
They should understand that just because you’re home doesn’t mean you’re not at work. Ask not to be bothered, for quiet during phone calls, and let them know times when you are having a break.
Especially during this time, those you’re living with should be more than happy to cooperate. If others in your house need to work too, maybe you could set up a rota system for using different “workspaces” around the house, so that if some people don’t have desks, you all get to use one sometimes.
5. Maintain a schedule
If you take away anything from this post, it’s this: maintain a schedule.
While it may seem like a good idea to sleep in, don’t. Sleeping in will disrupt your body clock which will make you feel sluggish and unmotivated. Try to get up close to your usual rising time and shower, eat, or workout before work begins. By using the extra time to accomplish things early in the morning, you will make the rest of your day much easier.
6. Dress for Success
Dressing casually is one of the biggest perks of working from home.
There’s nothing wrong with sitting around in your PJs if that’s what helps you feel comfy and get stuff done. However, if you’re finding it hard to focus, or have a video conference, consider dressing up a bit. Wearing your nice “work” clothes can help put you in the right frame of mind.
7. Don’t Forget to Clock Out
When your office is at home, it is very tempting to work unwarranted overtime so, when you are done for the day, be done for the day. Avoid using your office space for recreation. Put away papers, books, anything that reminds you of work.
Use all the time you are saving on travelling to and from the office to spend time with the family, start a new project or do something you enjoy.
8. Get Moving
You’ve heard of the adverse effects of sitting at your desk all day. Sitting at home all day isn’t any better. Get moving as often as you can. COVID-19 might be preventing you from going to the gym, buy it is not stopping you from exercising and being active.
Reward yourself with short walks outside (while practising social distancing), or do sit-ups, lunges, and other exercises indoors or in your backyard. Not only will exercising give you a much needed break from all the work you’re doing, but it will also leave you refreshed and ready to accomplish more.
9. Stick to your regular diet
When working at home it is easy to fall into unhealthy habits. While it may be effortless to pop to your kitchen for a snack or another coffee, hold yourself accountable and stick to your regular diet. Try preparing healthy meals and lunches in advance, just as you would if you were going into the office, so you have them ready when you need them
When you snack, opt for light, energy-rich options, and don’t forget to stay hydrated.
Conquer The World From Home in 2020
Now that many of us are working remotely, life will look a little bit different for the next few months. By embracing this trend, you can push your business to new heights and access talent that may be out of your reach due to locational reasons. Figure out what works best for you and your team. Sometimes the answer is clear, but other times you might need some advice from other people who are in the same boat.
Customer success is one of our values, and we take it seriously. We want our customers to succeed and will do what we can to support you to do that. If you would like any help, guidance or advice on the information above, or want someone to chat too, please get in touch.