Working remotely means you can do your job anywhere you want. However, you still need structure if you’re going to get any meaningful work done. Here are a few tips that can help you create a work structure when working away from the office.
Establish a Morning Routine
A good morning routine is what can set your day off to a productive start. This will prep your brain, getting it ready for the day ahead and what tasks need to be completed. You can do this in any number of ways, but here are some suggestions:
- Get up early and take a few minutes to orient yourself (avoid looking at your phone when doing this).
- Look at the list of things you need to accomplish that day (prepare the list the night before); you can use a task manager like Asana to help you organise your tasks.
- Take a bath, get dressed, eat breakfast, or do other morning activities that prepare you for the day ahead.
- Recite any daily affirmations you have to give yourself a positive attitude that will last the entire day.
Set Your Works Hours
Determine when you’ll start working and what time you’ll stop based on the amount of work you have to complete. However, it should be within regular office hours. Keep the hours consistent so that you’re able to find a rhythm that your mind and body can get used to.
Let your boss and peers know the hours you’ll be available for work. That way, once you knock-off, they know that they’ll not be able to reach you past a certain time. And if they do contact you past working hours, it has to be an emergency.
Organise Your Workspace
You need to create the right environment if you’re working remotely. Pick a room or space that you can designate as the work area if you’re working from home. Ideally, this will be a place with little-to-no distractions and where people around you know not to disturb you when you’re in it.
Furthermore, ensure that the workspace has everything you need to be productive. The most important thing is to keep it clutter-free. That means it should be clean and organised (everything should be in its place).
Check-In With Your Peers and Boss
You can schedule regular check-ins with your workmates and boss to add more structure to your day when working remotely. This will make you more productive, so you have something positive to report during those meetings. You can check-in through email, zoom meetings or Skype messages – whatever works for you and everyone else.
Stay Focused
One of the biggest challenges of working remotely is to minimise distractions. Throughout the day, we get many notifications demanding our attention. It is easy to lose track of time when you change tabs and visit social media. Before you know it, it’s hours later, and you’ve been on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
There’s nothing wrong with taking a few minutes out of your workday to socialise. However, you need to do it strategically. During work hours, disable all notifications while scheduling times to check your favourite social media sites. Set a timer during your social media visits and immediately get back to work when the alarm goes off.
Schedule Time for Breaks
While working, remember to take frequent breaks. Giving yourself a breather is a good way to avoid burnout, as you can use this time to recharge and refocus.
During this time, you can do anything you like. For example, since you’re not going to be moving around a lot while working, you can take this time to achieve your fitness goals. Perhaps this will be a good time to use the Wobble Stool stay active Exercise Office Chair. It can help you get in some exercise without impacting your productivity.
Knock Off at the End of the Day
When working remotely, it is easy to find that your workdays are getting longer and longer since it is hard to knock off when you’re already at home. When the day is over, wrap things up and leave your work area. However, make sure you leave it in an organised state, ready for tomorrow.
Other things you can do include:
- Make a list of what you need to accomplish the next day
- Tell your peers and boss that you’ve knocked off
- Sign out of all work-related online accounts, such as Asana and Slack
- Pat yourself on the back for a productive day
Now You're Ready to Work from Home
When you’re not physically going to the office, the onus is on you to be as productive as you can be. That means doing everything from having a consistent morning routine to creating an organised workspace and staying focused to sticking to your knock off time. By following the suggestions above, you can create an effective work structure when working remotely,
