With the COVID 19 outbreak, remote work is not a choice but has become more like a compulsion for most industries. As of 2021, 16% of the companies around the world are entirely remote. While these numbers are rising rapidly, tech remains one of the key industries associated with remote working. So, if you are someone experiencing a remote work transition, all these facts point towards the reality that you are not alone.
Creative work like designing indeed becomes challenging when you work from home. Designing is entirely visual, entails creative teamwork, and demands immense closeness and cooperation. In the beginning, daily schedule management, online meetings, and presentations can take a toll on your brain. For some people, presenting their design insights is as nerve-wracking as asking for a raise! But, with some adjustments and tweaks, you can embrace the work-life balance that remote work has to offer. This article will teach you how to avoid work-from-home blunders and cherish the flexibility of remote work.
1) Prep first
Not all the clichés are nonsensical; believing in ‘the first impression is the last impression’ can yield you some excellent results. Meeting impressions and relationships with your employer can impact the decisions taken for you. So, to save the day, do your background research to demonstrate that you are on the same wavelength. Developing a business case to present to your employer and being ready for all expected questions is an excellent way to show how you keep up with your professional behavior.
2) Don’t underestimate the power of remote working
When you win the chance to work remotely, taking it for granted is one grave mistake. Remember, your employer will always feel working in the office is the best way to drive productivity. So you should, from time to time, reinforce your employer’s faith in remote working through actions and words. Dig deep into how you can serve to be valuable for the company and let your employer know how remote working saves their money and enhances your productivity. It will reflect your work consciousness and may gain you some brownie points!
3) Establish common ground to exchange information
When you work from the office, you exchange information verbally. So, switching to remote work may make the flow of information a bit challenging. Setting a common ground to assign tasks and exchange information can save you from disturbing your fellow workers every now and then. You can use task trackers as your simple and transparent information space. There are a lot of task managers out there that help organize and assign tasks seamlessly.
4) Create calendars and time constraints
Setting calendars is essential to outline tasks and events. As remote work already requires detailed time planning, using calendars and setting deadlines can help effectively manage time. In addition, planners and calendars stimulate positive pressure on you to identify problems and solve them efficiently during remote work.
5) Exchange ideas
In your office, you get several chances to chat and discuss your ideas with colleagues. It not only offers you correction and validation but also drives a sense of confidence. It’s beneficial to let that stay consistent as it reflects your interest and attentiveness in your work life. So, during remote work, try to chat with messengers, write emails and communicate verbally as much as possible to exchange your thoughts for ongoing work.
6) Set group norms for remote working
A stable and productive working system is important during remote work. Uniform rules for a team keep, “but I thought we planned something else” at bay! Determining boundaries and setting rules will harness equality in the team and discard confusion.
7) Video calls are vital!
When you can look at the expressions of your colleagues, it generates discipline and control during conversations. Video calls are significantly essential for this exact reason! Using the medium of video will allow you to observe how carefully your fellow employees listen to you. Video calls make you seen and heard, which is why they are great for extensive and successful remote work experience.
8) Develop healthy work rituals
No, working from home does not mean starting your day with the laptop in your bed! Not developing healthy work rituals can slash your productivity like crazy. You can adopt any healthy work rituals that work for you. For instance, for some people, it’s starting their day off by reading, and for others, it’s running. Choose what’s best for you to start your work with a calm and fresh mind.
9) Your workspace shouldn’t be cozy
Working from home can make people too comfortable with no office chatter and no colleague bumping on the desk. It can make you feel secure and cozy, so you need to be mindful of your productivity and work environment. Ensure your home workspace is off limits for your family. Try keeping your personal life away as much as possible from the workspace so that it is solely dedicated to your work.
10) “Hang out” with your co-workers
Seeing your coworkers outside work can help with work from home burnout. Hanging out with them can make way for trust-building and a break from work. While in the office, managers plan meet-ups and game events; during remote work, you get a chance to personalize socializing with your colleagues.
While in the beginning, it may be slightly challenging, work from home can be profitable if you play your cards right. It can improve your organization and professional skills along with offering you a headspace boost to learn new ways of working. Remote work also enhances your socializing skills and allows you to be creative as you strive to know your coworkers better and have fun with them. Just ensure you maintain basic work discipline, foster collaboration, and prevent miscommunication so that you can build a healthy space and relationship with your professional life.