Even before the pandemic, more companies were offering flexible working options. Now itโs a reality for most of us. Katie Mellor of KM Virtual Office offers some advice…
These exceptional circumstances may have forced us to work from home, but I believe itโs a positive way to work. And I have some advice on how to make sure youโre mastering it productively.
Benefits
There are lots of benefits to working remotely. You donโt have a commute and if youโre setting your own routine then you have total flexibility away from the rigidity of a strict 9-5.
Working remotely opens up opportunities in terms of not being limited by your location. From hugely reduced stress levels, to feeling more comfortable in your environment and noticing increased productivity, if youโre happy in your work space then youโre going to be happier in your job โ and better at it.
Your Work Space
There are some key tools you will need in order to successfully work remotely.
It goes without saying that youโll need a designated place to work where your brain can officially switch into โworkโ mode and out of โhomeโ mode. In an ideal world, youโd have your own office, but if that isnโt possible, set a space in your home which is quiet and organised.
Try and ensure you have somewhere to file paperwork, collate all โworkโ related items and keep anything related to your job in once place. Itโs important to keep your โworkโ time and activities within this area, and not spread throughout your house, as you need to ensure thereโs a cut off between your home life and your work life.
Boundaries and Distractions
It all sounds pretty freeing, but it does take some micro management to keep a solid line between your work life and your home life.
There is a lot to be said for โleaving workโ at the end of the day, and if youโre working from your own home, itโs important to strike a balance. It will take some self-control to make sure you clock off when you should, and certainly if you have your computer nearby, the temptation to go and check emails or tackle outstanding tasks will be easy to give in to sometimes โ you need to be disciplined and ensure you โleaveโ.
Itโs super important to know what your distractions are too. If dirty dishes are going to bug you, make sure theyโre done the night before.
Routine
Setting a routine is actually more important than ever when youโre working remotely or working for yourself, as without a proper structure, you can end up procrastinating, wasting time or feeling overwhelmed.
We recommend setting out planned hours for your day and utilising apps or lists that can help with organisation.
The joy of remote working is that you can set your own routine, but it can be easy to go the other way and get caught up in tasks without stopping.
We suggest always getting up for some fresh air at regular intervals and taking a short break for lunch to clear your mind.
