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With SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus, showing no sign of going away anytime soon, our world needs to adapt and accommodate the multiple recommendations and restrictions given by the authorities in an effort to keep everybody safe.
As a safety measure, multiple companies have decided to shift from having a physical presence of the employees in the office to working remotely, each and everybody from their own home. The LadderWP team has also been working from home for the past few months so we all got to experience first-hand the trials and tribulations of good and bad internet connection, of having kids or pets demand attention in the middle of a meeting, of waking up just in time for that morning call or, and you too can admit this, lying about wearing pants.
Here are some effective remote work productivity tips to help you navigate this transition smoothly.
1. A good routine keeps you more focused than you can imagine
As cliche as it sounds, the first and most important is to try to keep a healthy routine. Being cooped up in the house for days and days on end does not fare well for anybody. That is why holding on to a few essential steps each day can help keep your mind healthy and sane (as sane as one could be in a pandemic). Waking up at the same hour, changing your clothes (even if it is just from your night pyjamas to your day pyjama) and getting that cup of coffee as you used to at work could boost your productivity even just a bit. A daily calendar could help you set things up and it may help you and your other colleagues working remotely be more in sync with the responsibilities each of you have as a team
2. Live here, work there
You know the feeling when you get home from work and you are just glad to have your own, private space, away from all the hustle? Even if it is not quite the real thing, having a space dedicated to work and only work can again help to concentrate on the tasks at hand. Afterwards, when the work hours are done, the rest of the house can be a sanctuary, a place that has no ties to work and the stress that comes with it.
3. Far apart, but never alone
Social distancing is in, being socially distant is not. Loneliness can creep up behind your back really quick when working alone. And even though at first it might feel good to be able to concentrate without distractions, sooner or later you do start to miss that coffee break with your colleagues, the gossip here and there, or sometimes, just simply having someone around that could ask for help. We believe that video calls and meetings, although awkward at times, do make a difference in the sense that they preserve the idea of community around and of work. Do not be afraid to have your voice heard and be present.
4. Do not overwork yourself
You are at home, you have everything you need, you can work hours on end without feeling the same strain that you would when working at the office, you just want to get ahead with your tasks. Still, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Moving from a generalized culture of burnout, taking things slowly day by day during these trying times (let us not forget that we are still in a pandemic) could be shocking at first. Keeping to your work hours and not overworking yourself can be the best thing to do right now.
These habits are key remote work productivity tips that can help you stay on track.
But let’s not forget the context we are in. There are days when you just are unable, when you cannot do any sort of productive work. There are still days when the stress of it all just becomes too much. And it is okay. The fact that we still need to be just as productive when there is a world crisis going on outside is senseless and it disregards completely our mental health, the one thing that should matter above everything else.So it’s okay, tomorrow is another day and you can try again.
What are your tips on working remotely?