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While the pandemic now seems like a distant memory, one of the good things to come out of is the fact that many businesses were introduced to the benefits of working from home. While beforehand, many companies felt tasks needed to be done in-house, being forced away from the office was a great opportunity to showcase just how things can be done. Many are now still able to work from home and reap the benefits of this. While it can be a great thing, some people might find that their productivity wanes or that they don’t speak to colleagues as much as they should or would if they were in a physical office. If you’re working remotely and looking to be more productive, we have put together some top tips that are sure to help in no time at all.
What are some benefits of working from home?
There are a host of benefits to working from home and we have listed some of them here:
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People now have a better work-life balance. Without the need for a commute, many are able to enjoy the benefits of spending more time with their family and making the most of their time in the day.
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It can save money for employees. Commutes can be very expensive, whether spending money on a train or bus fare, or having to pay for petrol it all adds up. Without the need for a commute, this can save individuals a lot of money each month.
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It is more cost-effective for employers too. Employers are no longer having to spend as much money on office space – many companies have actually stopped the lease on rented buildings or sold their offices. With this, they also save on the costs of electricity, heating and the other costs of running a building.
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People are away from distractions. Working in an office can be great, but when people are surrounded by their colleagues, it can be easy to get distracted, speak to others, and not get as much work done.
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It’s better for the environment. With fewer people driving into the office, this can help to reduce emissions and is better for the environment. The benefits of working from home can have a much larger scale impact than you might expect.
What are some top tips for working remotely?
Working remotely is great as we’ve established above, but if you are someone that finds it a bit of a struggle sometimes, there are things you can do to make it that bit easier. Here we have rounded up some top tips that should help you in no time at all.
Ask if you can do hybrid working
If you have been working remotely for a while and are finding that it’s just not working as well as you would like, you could speak to your employer about hybrid working. This would be when you work from the office some of the time, then remotely the rest of the time. You would have your desk setup in the office and can either use your own laptop, or for convenience and to save costs, could look into a laptop rental if you are only going to need it a few days a week or when away on conferences and events. This hybrid way of working means both you and your employer can gain the benefits of working remotely and in the office and can mean a lot more work gets done.
Find a co-working space to work in
If you work from home but don’t have a very inspiring space, it can really impede on your progress in the day. It might be that you have other people in your household working from home and therefore get distracted, or it could be that you don’t have a proper space to work. When you find this happening, why not look into a coworking space to work from instead? There are a host of coworking spaces on offer, including those like WeWork which offer flexible spaces to get your tasks done in. If you don’t want to pay for a coworking space, you could just head to your local library or a coffee shop. Check beforehand if there are enough plug points and Wifi, then you are good to go!
Ensure you regularly check in with your colleagues
When you work from an office, you are constantly surrounded by coworkers who you can speak to, bounce ideas off and just have general chats with. When you work from home, this social aspect is taken away and you can find it harder to collaborate and work together. Because of this, make sure you regularly check in with them. You can do this via phone, message or email and it can really benefit the way both of you work. Not only is regular communication vital for when you have projects that you need to get done, but can also aid with the mental health of you and your colleagues. Not speaking to others can cause a higher level of anxiety and stress so it’s important you see that others on your team are doing alright.
Have a designated workspace
It’s vital that you have a designated space to get your work done in order to be as productive as you can. If you are working from home, it can be tempting to just set up on your dining room table, but you’ll find having to clear your family clutter away a real pain and that you are not in the right mental space to switch into work mode. Add onto this the chance of people constantly walking in, talking to you and distracting you and you will find it very hard to get anything done. This is why it’s so important to have a space solely for work and that everyone else knows this too. You could have an office in a room in your house, or you could even put up a structure in your garden to use as an office. Ensure it’s set up with all you could need, has plenty of light and is somewhere you can use to work, then shut away at the end of the day. This will help you to be productive but also have a good work life balance.
Make sure to take time out to clear your head
When you are working from home it can be very easy to just sit at your desk and not get up and about. Without everyone around you taking breaks at lunchtime or for coffee, you could find yourself grabbing something quick at lunchtime before heading back to your desk and continuing to work. If you do this, it will soon lead to burnout and you will find that you actually get less done than if you were to take some time off between your 9-5. It could be that you go for a walk at lunch time to get out of the house, or that you head to a coffee shop part way through the day just to break up your day a bit. These are small changes but can really make a difference in how well you work.
Set a daily routine that you can stick to
As touched upon above, without others around you sticking to a routine, it can be difficult for you to have a set structure too. You might find you start to get up late, work through your lunch break and work longer hours into the night. Without a rigidity to your day, it can lead to unhealthy habits and you find yourself much more stressed out about your work and what it is that you have to do. To combat this, set yourself a set work routine whereby you get up at a certain time each day, you dress as if you are going to work (or at least change out of your pyjamas!) and make yourself look presentable. Give yourself set breaks and ensure you stick to the hours you are meant to work.
Ensure your work equipment is set up to optimize your health
When you work in an office, chances are that your boss has ensured your equipment is set up for your health and safety. When working from home you want to take equal care of yourself. Make sure your chair and desk are ergonomic and can protect your back and that your screen has anti-glare. Look at all the things you need to know about making a desk space safe and optimised to avoid you being in pain.
These are just a few top tips for working remotely that are sure to help you be more productive. Whether you are already doing some of these tips and just want to try a couple of others, or if you are new to working from home and want to ensure your productivity doesn’t wane, they’re sure to help. Alternatively, have you been working remotely for a while? If so, what are some top tips that you find help you to do your best at this time? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you!
