Remote working is not a new form of work. The software and equipment that makes remote working possible have been around for some time. However, for most people, working from home was a privilege, not the norm. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, the landscape underwent a rapid and radical transformation. Health and safety are the primary concerns today. Working and learning take place at home now. Even testing has evolved with a convenient PCR test at home. But there are still challenges to address.
4 Useful Organizing Tips When Working from Home
Being responsible during a pandemic applies to both employers and employees. That does not, however, remain restricted to isolating or distancing. It also includes employees doing their best to perform well even when working remotely. Of course, everyone who has worked from home understands its challenges and how they differ from the conventional workplace. And by far, the biggest problem remote workforces encounter is organizing themselves effectively. Luckily, these 5 tips can help you accomplish far more when working from home:
Build a Routine and Stick to It
Having a daily routine is one of the best ways to keep yourself organized and on track when working from home. A daily routine can take many shapes and forms. But its purpose should always be self-motivation and self-accountability. A morning ritual like a quiet cup of coffee, a yoga session, or even your favorite morning tunes should signal the start of your day. And you need to hold yourself accountable when you fail to heed that signal.
Similarly, regulating your meal breaks, phone breaks, or even a short walk should signal various parts of your day. With managers and supervisors absent, it is up to you to make sure you manage your tasks and workflows effectively. A routine can help you do just that!
Remove or Restrict Distractions
There is no shortage of distractions during work these days. A push message for a flash sale could hijack your attention. A phone call from a friend or loved one could derail your productivity. Even something simple like a child crying or a pet making a mess can be distracting. Of course, removing distractions like kids or pets is often impossible. But you can still curtail your social media time on your smartphone.
Similarly, you can resist watching a movie or TV show while working. You can even set and reinforce boundaries with family members or other people you co-habit with. Remote work is as important as being on-premises. Therefore, the people around you should respect your work hours and do everything possible to avoid disrupting them.
Leverage Online Communication Tools
Digital platforms and tools have been in use since the business world adopted the internet. With the global shift to remote working, the utility of these platforms has increased substantially. Since most remote workers cannot collaborate or communicate in person, using the right tools and platforms becomes essential.
Poor communication and collaboration can lead to delays, inefficiencies, and errors. But with the right mix of communication and collaboration tools, you can work closely with your team on tasks. Moreover, most purpose-built platforms reflect real-time changes and even allow multiple users to work on the same task. In many ways, this visibility and cohesion can prove far more effective than the average workplace.
Plan Your Day/Week in Advance
Very few people stumble into success. Success, especially in the business world, usually involves a lot of effort and hard work. Efficient and effective planning can ensure that all of that effort delivers tangible results. Applying this approach to your work-from-home routine can yield measurable improvements to how you manage your tasks and deliverables. Take a few minutes at the start of each day or week to plan it out. Assign priorities to tasks and projects, so you’re usually ahead of schedule on them. This can help you manage multiple tasks and workflows in parallel.
The right plan will take time, so don’t be afraid to adjust and improve on what you already do. When done right, your planning could help you deliver considerably more output than you already do.
