Are you getting done all that you need to get done? Does your mind wander and suddenly you find yourself emptying the dishwasher? Your lack of routine in your new normal of ‘working remotely’, while sounding good at the time, is proving more difficult than you initially thought.
There’ is a lot of information out there currently about effective ways, tools and apps to help make life easier while working remotely. One of the biggest tests we have found is creating and sticking to a routine (just as you would have when working in the office) and once you have this in place then it will make it easier for everything else to follow.
Challenges you face working from home will vary from person to person and household to household. You may have young children who command your attention and don’t quite understand why you can’t play with them. Or, you may not have a dedicated space or separate office in your house so you have to work from the couch, dining room table or breakfast bar. The washing needs to be done, the carpet needs to be vacuumed and the floors need to be mopped. Dragging yourself straight out of bed to your home office setup may not be working for you so that extra half hour or so in bed may not be worth it. The answer to all these challenges is to create a routine – it’s that simple.
A routine will get your mind and body ready for the day ahead, will provide you structure and make you more productive. When you go to work at the office you have a routine which probably looks something like this: alarm goes off, get out of bed and shower, breakfast (or not), travel to work, make a coffee when you get there, log on and tackle emails, get up for a quick stretch, make some phone calls etc and so on. Well guess what – adopting a routine can also work for you while working remotely.
Set the scene – get up at the same time every day, have breakfast or coffee, wake-up properly, read the paper or hang a load of washing. Do everything you normally would before you start your working day. Take the breaks you normally would but don’t get distracted by the pile of washing that needs hanging or the kids’ toys strewn across the floor. If you do have kids at home that need some attention, ensure you get them into a routine as well. They are not used to having you around, so this is just as hard for them as it is for you. Get them up at the same time every day, set some activities, chores and schedule breaks and have lunch together so you’re not completely ignoring each other.
When your working day draws to a close what would you normally do – go home of course. Given you are already there, sign out and turn your computer off. If you are lucky enough to have your own office close the door, you are done for the day. Do whatever it is that marks the end of the working day for you – it may be taking the dog for a walk, doing a workout or pouring a glass of wine.
Having a routine is hugely important when working remotely. It will help to set boundaries, get your mind in the right head-space, helps with planning and overall being more productive. Give it a go, and hopefully it will help you to be more productive but at the end of the day remember that these are particularly trying times for us all – everyone is doing there best, including you so be kind to yourself.
We hope that our tips are able to help you somewhat – if there is anything you would like to discuss or even just for a chat please feel free to call us on 04 2329199 or leave your details below and we will be in touch.
