In March 2020, many employees around the world were forced to work from home. While the majority of employees reported that remote work was a positive experience overall, it comes with its drawbacks. If you are one of the many remote workers who has decided to continue working from home, these tips will help you make the most of your remote work.
1. Maintain regular hours.
A more flexible schedule is one of the biggest appeals of working remotely. But failing to stick to a regular schedule can actually undermine work-life balance and decrease your productivity. While you definitely don’t have to adhere to a traditional 9 to 5 schedule unless required by your employer, it’s best to designate working hours and stick to them. Not only will this help your brain form the pattern of being productive and ready to work during a particular window of time, but practically, it will make it easier for the rest of your team to know when to contact you, streamlining the collaboration process.
2. Create a dedicated workspace.
On a similar note, it is essential to ensure that you have a place solely for working. Even small changes to set your workspace apart from the rest of your home will signal to your brain that it’s time to work, which will help you increase your productivity, maintain motivation, and uphold a healthy balance between your personal and professional lives.
Some ways that you can do this include:
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Set up a new desk to work at, and don’t use it for anything other than work.
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Hook your laptop up to an external monitor when it’s time to work.
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Use a separate device for work and personal use.
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If you don’t have access to multiple devices, create separate user accounts for work and personal use.
3. Prepare for household distractions.
Although working from home is appealing to many employees because of the freedom that working from home provides. On the other hand, your home is likely to have many more distractions than a traditional in-person office environment. If you have children studying from home, or a significant other or roommate who is also working from home, be sure to set ground rules with everyone at home so that you don’t have to step away from your work unnecessarily.
4. Communicate constantly.
In addition to communicating with the people you share your home with, you should communicate constantly with your coworkers, team members, and clients. Make sure that everyone knows when your working hours are, particularly if they differ from the standard 9 to 5 (or if you are in a different timezone than all or part of your team), notify everyone of any times you may be out of the office during your hours, and communicate when you are finished with important tasks so that everyone is on the same page.
5. Know when to take a break.
Regardless of what kind of office you work in, it is important to take regular breaks. Research has found that taking regular breaks throughout the day reduces overall stress and reduces the need for a long period of recovery at the end of the day. Additionally, a break at lunchtime involving full detachment from work has been found to increase levels of energy and decrease exhaustion. Other benefits of taking breaks include increased productivity, improved mood, and faster stress recovery.
When you’re working from home, it is even more important to take breaks to ensure that you aren’t falling into the trap of working 24/7 just because your work is available to you. This habit is unhealthy and can lead to burnout in no time at all.
An Alternative to Remote Work
While the freedom and flexibility of remote work appeal to many employees, remote work is far from the perfect solution to the problems of the modern traditional workplace.
Coworking is a form of flexible workplace that combines the flexibility of remote work with the ability to collaborate and stay focused associated with working in a traditional office. Additionally, coworking is less expensive than a traditional office lease, provides unique networking opportunities, and offers a range of amenities, including:
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High-speed internet access
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24/7 keycard access
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Convenient parking
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High-tech conference room access
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Event hall access
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Video production facility access
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Printing service access
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Member discounts
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Onsite community/administrative staff
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Cleaning services
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Premium furniture
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Networking events
About Venture X Dallas by the Galleria
At Venture X, located in Addison, North Dallas near Galleria, we are more than an office space, we are a large community in 24,000 square feet of contemporary boutique-style workspace. Don’t be limited by your suite, work from our private booths and open spaces or from any of our Venture X locations, including the 10 in Dallas. Schedule a free tour today.
Sources:
https://thewellbeingthesis.org.uk/foundations-for-success/importance-of-taking-breaks-and-having-other-interests/