I remember landing my first remote work and getting all excited just because…who doesn’t want to make cool cash from the comfort of a remote workplace? Little did I know that it took so much more deliberateness than I could have guessed. It was really an E shock you? moment for me.
I’m not even going to bore you with how I got burnt out from working round the clock. Good thing I know better now.
In this post, I’ll let you in on 10 best practices for working remotely so you don’t fall into some remote work traps. So sit back, relax, and learn.
10 BEST PRACTICES FOR A REMOTE WORKPLACE
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Get To Know Your Working Style
Do you work best in silence? Are you more productive in the morning or evening? Figure out what works for you, really. That’s the beauty of remote employment: you get to work when you want, whenever you want.
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Set Up A Workspace
You don’t exactly need a home office, but having a private, peaceful location to work in is essential. If possible, keep your workspace distinct from your personal spaces and use it exclusively for work. You can also consider using any nice co-working space near you.
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Get Good Internet Supply
The last thing you want is some slow internet connection slowing down the rate of your work. If you are working in a co-working space, you probably already have this figured out, but if not you need to set up reliable internet access. Moving as close as possible to your Wi-Fi router can also help since distant devices tend to draw on bandwidth.
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Minimize Distractions
You could invest in a good pair of noise-canceling headphones so that you can work anywhere, regardless of background noise. This is extremely handy if you have a noisy dog or even a noisy neighbor.
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Keep Your Working Desk Organized
Yes, yes, no one will most likely see your desk. But guess who will? YOU! A crowded work surface not only reduces your productivity but also wastes time. Organize your offline files and keep everything work-related within reach so you don’t waste time looking for information.
Wait a moment. Let’s take a step back. Before your work desk’s organized, you want to make sure that you got the right desk. If it’s too high, your shoulders will remain elevated throughout the day causing strain, pain, and neck troubles. Working at a desk that is too low, on the other hand, forces you to stretch your neck too far down, generating unneeded and perhaps uncomfortable strains. So, please get a desk or table that’s the right height for you. You should also consider your chair in this regard.
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Turn On The Music
Your remote job does not have to be boring. Make your work more enjoyable by playing your favorite song in the background. Classic or instrumental music is the way to go when you need to concentrate on more demanding activities.
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Do Your Job Near A Window
Set up your workspace near a window for your eyes’ sake. To avoid eye strain from blue light-emitting screens and devices, you’ll be able to gaze away from your job and off into the distance. It’s also beneficial to spend time near a window because seeing what’s going on outside stimulates your mind. It also helps to get fresh air into your workspace.
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Take Breaks
It’s fine to take a break and go outside every now and then to break up your workday and switch up your surroundings. When working at a computer, it’s important you get up and walk every hour or so to keep your blood flowing and avoid the sedentary lifestyle that comes with remote work. Moving your eyes away from the screen on a frequent basis, even if it’s only for 10-20 seconds, is also beneficial.
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Set Ground Rules With Your Folks
This is important if you don’t stay alone. That you are at home does not mean you are available at all times. Establish ground rules, and discuss quiet periods and your work meeting times with people you live with, even if they are your parents. You don’t want your mum shouting your name when you are in a virtual meeting with your mic on.
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Prioritize Social Interactions
We don’t want you dying of loneliness. So, please, schedule some time to connect with the outside world. A lunch date, video call with a friend, or an exercise class outside your home won’t hurt.
BOTTOM LINE
Remote work is the future. Know this and know peace.
Please do yourself a favor by incorporating these best practices once you begin working remotely. And if you are already on the job, it is not too late to pick these practices up. Let’s raise a glass to slaying in the remote workforce.
Y’know I always love to hear from you. Did I miss out on any best practices that are working for you? Let me know in the comments!
By the way, have you read the post on 20 work tools for remote work teams? You really should