Tips for Working Remotely

Having spent most of my years as a digital marketing consultant working remotely, I want to share some tips that have helped me remain productive with my company and my clients.

1 – I dress for work before touching my laptop - This helps put me in a refreshed mood and a work mindset. I do not like running around, cleaning up and finding what to wear when I suddenly have an impromptu video call meeting.

2 – I created a dedicated work zone - It helps reduce family distractions. They know once seated at my desk, am as unavailable as though I went to the office. Avoid the temptation of working from the bed or couch, it can encourage a distraction from family and even your pet if you have one. If you have kids, engaging them with activities they find interesting can help give you that extra hour you need to get your work done.

3 – Structure your day the same way you would your normal office workday - Maintain the same sign in, lunch break and sign out time. This eliminates the possibility of carrying out your Saturday routines on a Monday morning.

4 – Still restrict your internet usage to off-work hours - Unlike at the office, no one monitors your internet usage, you will be tempted to spend more time on social sites. Remember you have tasks to be accomplished and only use those as a reward for completing the day’s task.

5 – Replicate office chit chats – from time to time, call friends and colleagues that also work remotely. Have those water cooler conversations. It helps reduce boredom on both ends.

6 – I always confirm all my notifications are working correctly – I don’t want to be late in responding to requests and contributing to important discussions. In distributed teams, you can easily be seen as not prioritizing work and engaging in non-work related duties if you take too long to reply to emails and office chats.

7 – Give updates on your work progress often - It helps give your superiors the notion that you are working. And that working from home has not reduced your productivity in any way. This might make them consider allowing you to work one or two days from home weekly after this pandemic is over. ??

8 – Clear Communication - Be very clear with your thoughts in team conversations. Use voice notes and video calls where texting can not adequately express your thoughts and gestures. Chat apps like WhatsApp, Slack and Zoom can help achieve this.

8 – Protect the company’s private information – Try to be as discreet as possible when working with sensitive company information. They should be kept away from family and friends. Avoid accessing company portals with any device not issued to you by your company, and also accessing it using public wifi to avoid data compromise and theft.

10 – Relax and enjoy learning this new skill – Working from home is a whole new way of living. It is a skill that requires time to master. To remain productive while working from home requires a certain level of self-discipline and a special interest in the job. Not everyone wants to work from home, and as such, managers should understand that their employee might need some time to adjust to this impromptu requirement from them.

- AD

#management #futurism #productivity #gettingthingsdone

I will love to know what you do to remain productive working remotely!

Let me know in the comment section below. ??