Whether you work remotely most of the time or are just starting to adapt to this new normal, what you do before and after the workday will have a lasting effect. Here’s my advice on how to set yourself up for success.
Consistency is the foundation for turning a good idea into a good habit and making your workday more enjoyable. So I’ve rolled some daily tasks into rituals that help boost my productivity. For example, the night before, I set up my coffee pot to start an hour before I log on in the morning and I get my clothes ready, as well. Even though my co-workers don’t see more than my face, I feel more productive when I dress the part. These are just a couple of “future you” examples, but there are many small things you can do to prep yourself and your environment for a productive day.
You might not be able to sit with your coworkers at lunch, but don’t forget, distance doesn’t mean isolation. Get into the habit of reaching out now and then to connect and keep relationships going. Dropping a “Hey, how’s it going?” or a “Did you see this finished project?” doesn’t take a lot of time and it might be a nice break for your co-worker.
Shooting over an email or message certainly works, but there is nothing like seeing someone face to face, even if it’s digital. So, get into the habit of using video calls as a way to stay in touch and to keep your connections strong. The bottom line here isn’t how you connect with others, but rather that you get into the habit of making the time for them.
Sometimes people get caught up in their work. When that happens, it’s not uncommon for the line between personal life and work life to blur. But when you start to notice that happening, you can take a step back and set up healthy habits that will help push that line back into focus.
- Set a time to “log off” at the end of the day. I use calendar notifications as my reminder, but the idea here isn’t necessarily to stop all production at the drop of a dime. Rather, I take a second to pause. This allows me to assess what needs to get done for the day and what can wait for tomorrow. Pressing pause also gives me a moment to get up, stretch, and pull my eyes away from the screen. Getting into the habit of mentally logging off at the end of the day helps me keep balance in my work and personal life.
- Maintain your environment. When I schedule time throughout the day to maintain my environment, tasks that I usually like to push off and “save for later” become a non-issue. I use small windows of time to take the dog out, water my plants, or empty the dishwasher. Although they’re short, these brief moments give me a break to clear my head and stretch. The key is to get into the habit of doing tasks that don’t require much brainpower as a way to regain your focus and help you be productive not only in work but outside work as well.
Working remotely can seem like a task in itself, but it doesn’t have to be. These easy habits can be incorporated throughout your day without much thought, culminating in making remote work a success as well as more enjoyable.
Photo by Simon Abrams on Unsplash.
