HAVING TROUBLE ADJUSTING TO WORKING REMOTELY?

Read more for some tips that may be helpful in your transition.

As someone who has worked remotely from home for 12+ years, I feel I have an easier time during this pandemic than many people who are transitioning for the first time. Moving from working in a busy office to your own space is definitely a huge change. Not only do you have to have more discipline and remain focused, you are also losing the social aspect of the office environment. This is now being coupled with social distancing, overall making it even more of challenge for those new to this paradigm. I hope some of these tips that I have learned might be helpful.

First, look on the bright side, there are many benefits to working from home like comfy clothing, the ability to adjust your schedule and set your own pace and rhythm, plus you get to pick all the decor and furniture. In addition, you can save money on all those lunches out and stock your fridge and pantry with healthy food options, accessible whenever you want it. You can also schedule times to break up the workday, like a short work-out, a walk, some playtime with the kids, (furry or otherwise) or a creative coffee break, such as picking up an instrument, journaling etc. I find these pauses often increase my productivity and focus upon return.

The key to making your own schedule is to make sure that you are still delivering the most high quality work possible. Make sure to be on time and fully present for any calls and meetings, as well as keeping up your productivity and hitting deadlines. Everyone's flow is different, some people are morning people, some are night people, some do better with frequent breaks, and others with carving out a longer block of time in order to stay focused on a task. Experiment with different schedules and find what works for you and what insures you present your best self.

Make sure to maintain professionalism in all your communication and presentations. If you are video conferencing treat it just as you would a face to face meeting. I actually like to dress nicely, at least from the waist up 🙃 and even put on a little make-up for virtual meetings. Make sure your sound and video is set correctly and you have a good internet connection. For external noise issues use some headphones. If you are hosting meetings, use a professional app like Zoom, and as the host be there a few minutes early so you can admit everyone to the meeting and not have them waiting around. Finally make sure your background is appropriate, you don't want your attendees looking into your bathroom or dirty kitchen! My cat sometimes likes to join my meetings, so if that's not appropriate to your audience, put the pet elsewhere during this time.

Create a dedicated office space, find a spot in your home where you can set your self up comfortably and have all your tools available to get your work done effectively. If you live with other people its ideal to have a separate private room or area and let them know during your "work" time you prefer not be disturbed if it's not urgent. That way you won't be pulled in a million directions and get distracted (well you still might get distracted sometimes), but it can help you minimize interruptions . Most important, invest in a good office chair, trust me I learned this one the hard way, your back will thank you! I also suggest keeping your desk free of too much clutter, that will also keep you more focused. Of course if the mood strikes you, feel free to move around to a couch or comfy chair in another part of the house for some variety!

Hope some of these tips are helpful in adjusting to working from home! I bet once you get used to the flexibility and freedom of working from home, you may not even want to return to an office environment. And who knows after we are through this, maybe more companies will let people have the option. Do you have any other tricks you use? If so please share in the comments.

Of course if you find yourself in need of expert remote help with your marketing and/or managing your team, please don't hesitate to reach out, Revolutionary Consulting is here for you.

I found the picture below, this my new dream office right down to the forest view!