How can you develop a remote work routine that works for you?

Identify the times you're the most productive and have the least distractions. For me, this is early morning when most are still sleeping, including my kids LOL. I always prioritize my day and tackle the hardest tasks when I have the highest energy levels.

*Establish specific working hours that align with your peak productivity and adhere to them consistently *Dedicate a workspace free from distractions. * Get dressed as if you were going to the office which can help shift your mindset into work mode and increase productivity. * Create a to-do list. * Schedule short breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge. Like short walks, stretching exercises, or simply stepping away from our workspace for a few minutes. * Stay connected with colleagues and managers through regular messages, and emails. * Need to balance between work and personal life * Practice healthy eating, and sufficient sleep to maintain overall well-being and productivity.

It's important to have a work from home routine, so that you can be focused on what you have to do: -establish a dedicated workspace; -start your day by setting clear goals; -prioritize your tasks; -minimize distractions; -take regular breaks; -reflect and adjust - analyze what works for you and what needs changes; -if you feel that you are losing focus, do an action that helps you refocus (e.g. look out the window).

Take a few minutes to review what you've accomplished during the day. Note any tasks that are completed, progress made, or items to carry forward. Reflect on challenges faced and how you overcame them. This helps in continuous improvement.Outline the top priorities for the next day. Having a clear plan when you start the next morning can boost productivity. Physically and mentally shut down your workspace. Close tabs, tidy up your desk, and turn off work-related notifications.

I remember when I first started working from home I felt a need to be "online" or "present" at all times as I didn't want anyone to think I was not working. This was all self imposed as I never had a manager question my where abouts etc because they were always focused on the output. But for me there was a pressure that you did not feel when working from the office, where you would take a break to chat with colleagues or make a cup or tea/coffee. So clearly defining hours, making sure you carve out time for breaks really helps set a routine without unnecessary pressure.

I recommend time blocking using your calendar to plan and give structure to the day, I also find combining this with something similar to the Pomodoro Technique, where I work solidly on a task for 45 mins then take a 5 or 10 minute break (either check emails, get up and get a drink or simple 5 minute breathing exercises looking out of the window), and then go back to the task really helps stay focused and motivated.

I can definitely confirm that the Eisenhower matrix works great for planning and prioritizing your tasks! Another creative way that helps me is using Mind-Mapping techniques. A Mind-Map should follow these steps: - place in the middle of a paper the title of the project you are working on and make a circle around it - start drawing separate lines from the circle inside for each category of tasks (you will get a sun more or less) - each ray should then extend with additional separate lines for each specific task For example, if you think about launching a new product, the center of your sun will be the name of the product. The main rays can be Target audience, Marketing, Budget, Logistics.. Then you complete and prioritize all related tasks.

Maximize your day by planning ahead. Create a daily to-do list, ideally the night before, incorporating work tasks, personal errands, and side projects. Prioritize your top three tasks using methods like the ABC or Eisenhower Matrix, and schedule them in your calendar. This approach focuses your day and helps manage distractions and stress. Be realistic with your commitments, and allow flexibility for unexpected changes. A well-structured to-do list enhances productivity and control over your daily activities.

Effectively plan your tasks and priorities to establish a successful remote work routine. Utilize tools like calendars, planners, to-do lists, or project management systems for organization. Break down tasks into manageable steps, assigning time frames and priority levels. Consider frameworks like the Eisenhower matrix to categorize tasks based on urgency and importance. This strategic approach enhances focus, organization, and motivation, fostering productivity in a remote work setting.

Hey there!. I use clickup application to plan my activities. They are divided in: - Monthly, weekly and daily activities. - Urgent, High, normal and low priorities - Deadlines (dates) Structure and planning help to avoid losing energy in small decisions. You can receive a boost of motivation every time you complete a task. Review all your progress at the end of the day and celebrate it

Having a clearly defined "work space" helps ensure work doesn't spill into every part of your home. You want to be able to clear that distinction. Its also important to remember that while that sofa or couch is comfortable in the short term, using it long term as your working space is not the best for your body. Even though we have amazing built in backgrounds now on Zoom and Teams etc, having a little space that works well for video calls doesnt hurt!

Once you have a chosen workspace, spend time decluttering your space. Clutter interferes with our productivity and creativity so reduce that 'noise' and distraction and create a simple space that enhances your energy.

It's important to have a dedicated workspace for a multitude of reasons - it means you can be focused and organised; you can separate work and home life; it stops work spilling over into home life.

People working from home should definitely have a dedicated workspace. Many of us work in the same room as our bed, in the living room, or at the dining table. This reduces both our motivation for work and our focus. Since these areas are used for different purposes, you can't achieve the desired efficiency. You should designate a room or a corner of the house as a workspace and design its ergonomics accordingly. When you're working, nothing unrelated to work should come to mind.

Craft a comfortable and productive remote workspace to enhance your work routine. Choose a quiet, well-lit, and ergonomic setting, minimizing distractions and supporting well-being. Personalize your workspace with necessary tools like a quality chair, desk, laptop stand, monitor, keyboard, mouse, headset, webcam, printer, scanner, or whiteboard. Tailoring your environment to your preferences improves performance and overall work satisfaction, contributing to a successful remote work experience.

Here are suggestions: ? Choose a dedicated room or area to work where you can focus and be productive. ?? Ensure you have good lighting to avoid eye strain and boost your mood. ?? Add some greenery or personal accessories to enhance the atmosphere to being connected to your work. ?? Find a quiet spot to minimize distractions and maintain concentration. ?? Invest in a comfortable and supportive chair to promote good posture and prevent discomfort. ?? Consider using aromatherapy to create a productive and uplifting environment. ?? If you have pets, carve out a cozy space for them to relax nearby. Remember, work can be intense, but having a well-designed workspace can make all the difference in your emotional well-being and productivity. ?

Establish a communication and collaboration system: Effective communication is key to successful remote work. Determine which tools and platforms you will use to stay connected with colleagues, such as email, instant messaging, video conferencing, or project management software. Establish clear protocols for communication, including response times and preferred methods of contact, to ensure smooth collaboration and coordination with your team.

Unfortunately, remote work can sometimes undermine team cohesion. Constant communication is crucial for increasing cohesion. To enhance interaction, you can schedule at least 2 weekly meetings with your team members proactively. In one meeting, focus solely on work-related topics, while in the other, discuss purely social and non-work-related matters to foster sharing.

Harness the opportunities that come with working from home and take regular comfort breaks. Stretching, meditation and lots of hydration take just a few minutes but replenish our energy in order to sustain productivity and maintain our health and wellbeing.

Establish a morning routine to signal the start of the workday. Incorporate activities like meditation, yoga, or a short walk. Starting your day off right would keep you energetic and focused throughout the day.

Remote work offers such an opportunity to define what work/life harmony means to you. It empowers you to create your own schedule to prioritize work and yourself. It also helps you identify the time of day that you're most productive and the time when your energy dips. Weaving in breaks and self-care activities help you to re-charge yourself throughout the day rather than at the end of it when you're in an office. Some things that I've done are morning walks/workouts, taking meetings outside, meditation, journaling, listening to music, coffee breaks, and standing work/sitting work to break it up.

- Prepare your own ritual before your work day to have the correct mindset. - Make short breaks every hour, your body needs movement and your mind relax. - Check your levels of energy and concentration every 3 hours. - Drink water and eat snacks.

Incorporate breaks and self-care activities: It's important to take regular breaks throughout the day to rest, recharge, and maintain your well-being. Schedule short breaks between tasks to stretch, hydrate, or engage in relaxation techniques. Additionally, make time for self-care activities that promote physical and mental health, such as exercise, mindfulness, or hobbies. Prioritizing breaks and self-care helps prevent burnout, boosts productivity, and enhances overall job satisfaction.

This is often neglected part but can make a dramatic difference. Have a monthly routine for evaluation of your environment and work efficiency with the right questions for yourself, honest answers, and a plan for changes. For instance: - what makes you efficient working remotely? what does not? - what helps you to fulfill your daily goals? - what work model do you feel comfortable in? Full remote? Hybrid? - What do you miss? Which activities would you like to have more of? - evaluate the impact on different areas of life 1. Movement, exercise, and rest; 2. Nutrition; 3. Personal and professional dev.; 4. Physical environment; 5. Family, relationships, and communication; 6. Spirituality; 7. Mind-Body connection

Review and adjust your routine: Periodically review your remote work routine to assess what's working well and what could be improved. Reflect on your productivity levels, work-life balance, and overall satisfaction with your routine. Be open to making adjustments as needed, whether it's tweaking your schedule, refining your task management approach, or fine-tuning your workspace setup. Flexibility and adaptability are key to developing a remote work routine that truly works for you.

Sometimes we can focus too hard on creating a perfect remote work routine. But what happens when something happens outside of this routine? What happens if you need to wake up an hour earlier to catch a flight? Or if a major client makes an urgent request? Or if it’s a slow work week? The perfect routine could fall apart and then we struggle to return to it. Or we say that tomorrow we’ll work even harder on managing the same routine! The key to working remotely isn’t about optimising for one routine. It’s being mindful of what routines could suit particular situations, and choosing the best one.

Regularly conduct a calendar audit to review how closely your schedule aligns with what is actually happening. Are your meetings beginning on time and ending on time? Are you working through your scheduled breaks, or are you taking them as scheduled? I have done this myself and helped my clients through this exercise, and it's powerful to see the patterns that develop over time. Remember that because you are a remote employee, it doesn't mean that you have to work "more." Protect your time and honor your calendar.

Everyone is different, has different needs, strenghts & weaknesess, going through different stages of careers and life. Adjust your routine to your advantage!

Don’t be afraid to flex based on what you need. Some days you can plan your day and work the plan while handling emails and interruptions. Those are the typical days. Some days you may have high priority tasks that must be completed and require uninterrupted focus and undivided attention. On these days it’s ok to communicate that to your team, set your messaging app to do not disturb, and decline meetings. Don’t feel like it all must be done while maintaining 100% access to yourself.

Getting dressed every day. I know isn't that one of the pros of working from home that you can work in your pajamas? But whether I put workout clothes on, or sometimes I put on "real" clothes and do my hair and make-up, it to helps me get my mindset ready to "show-up" my best for the day.

Here’s what else to consider: In addition to the above strategies, there are several other factors to consider when developing a remote work routine. Take into account factors such as your individual preferences, personality type, and personal responsibilities. Experiment with different techniques and approaches to find what suits you best. Additionally, stay informed about best practices for remote work and seek support from colleagues, mentors, or resources within your organization. By taking a holistic approach and considering various aspects of remote work, you can create a routine that maximizes your productivity, well-being, and satisfaction.

One of the tools I teach my coaching clients is how to set up the two most important times in the day to build routines that support living and working well. These times are first thing when you wake up and right before you go to bed. We often jump out of bed and dive into work, leaving no time for ourselves or to fill our own cups before trying to pour into others. We can often work late (especially when working remote) and not leave time to step away, come back to ourselves, and wind down so we can get the type of rest we need to fully recharge and take on the next day.