The coronavirus pandemic has forced many of us to work from home. If you’re new to the work-from-home lifestyle because of the coronavirus or you’ve managed to find a remote-based job you‘ll need to change some of your habits and routines. Everyone who works remotely has to work out when, where, and how to work productively and in a healthy manner.
Here are 7 tips for leading a more productive remote working life and maintaining a healthy work-life balance, written by Nexstand‘s very own Callum Boaden.
1. Maintain regular hours
One of the biggest perks of working remotely is that your work schedule can be flexible. If you prefer to start at the crack of dawn or have a few more hours to sleep in, you can. Ultimately you get to decide the hours that you want to work. Setting a schedule and sticking to it will make it easier for you to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
2. Have a dedicated office space
If you’ve got a spare room in your home to use as an office then go for it. But for many, this is not a feasible option. Working at your dining room table is a logical choice, however, it can be inconvenient to have to clean it up and put things away every time you want to use it for other things. Figure out a place where you can have a dedicated desk used only for work.
3. Leave home
If it is safe to do so, consider going outside of your home and working from another location. Find a coffee shop with wifi or a coworking space to spend a few hours of the day. Even if you just step outside and work from your porch or balcony, a change of scenery can do wonders for your productivity.
4. Pay attention to ergonomics
It can be easy to overlook ergonomics when you’re working from a remote location. For many remote workers, a laptop will be their primary computer. To avoid hunching over your laptop screen, which can cause back, neck and shoulder pain, consider investing in a laptop stand. This will raise your screen to eye level so you can correct your posture and work in comfort.
5. Take regular breaks
Make sure you schedule in some regular breaks where you get up from your desk and move around. Stand up and get a coffee, take a short walk around or move from one location to another. If you have difficulty remembering to take breaks, set a timer to remind yourself. The Pomodoro Technique is a great way to schedule breaks into your day.
6. Socialize with colleagues
Working remotely can cause loneliness and isolation. Look for ways to socialize with your colleagues so you can stay connected with each other. One of the main ways people socialize at work when working from home is using a messaging app like Slack. It’s a great way to stay in contact with colleagues to discuss work and talk about common interests outside of work.
7. Plan your week ahead of time
Looking at your to-do list at the beginning of the week and planning out what you’ll get done is a great way to stay on top of your work. Figuring out when your meetings are, when you’ll have uninterrupted blocks of time for getting work done, and when you have personal and social obligations can make your week way less stressful.
Written by Callum Boaden from Nexstand
To learn about Nexstand, head to nexstand.io