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As flexibility increases, many companies are outsourcing and turning to these independent contractors to fill a variety of positions. The percentage of professional jobs in North America that will be remote by the end of 2022.
You’ll also encounter unique challenges as you try to do your job remotely, which can vary greatly depending on the type of work you do. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the same people you would usually turn to for help—even if you’re not in the same building as them. You don’t want to get too immersed and forget that you’re at work altogether. If you’re someone who’s susceptible to getting distracted every time you get a news alert, turn your notifications off during the workday, too. Right now, one of the biggest distractions is the news.
Improved technology, low overhead costs, and the 2020 global pandemic have encouraged businesses of all sizes and in a variety of fields to create more work-from-home opportunities. For employers, working from home can boost productivity, reduce turnover, and lower organizational costs, while employees enjoy perks like flexibility and the lack of a commute. Jennifer L. Cook is an expert in personal finance and health, and a ghostwriter and editor of consumer books. She has 15+ years of experience as an executive editor or editor-in-chief. An English literature graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz, she also writes for Bottom Line Personal, Consumer Reports, and Prevention. When you have to leave your desk to find supplies or files, you waste time and get distracted easily, Kanarek says. “Never underestimate the gravitational pull of the fridge and your comfy bed,” says Kelly McCausey, a blogger, podcaster and online business coach.
Most important is telling your team specifically how you want them to communicate with you now that they can’t pop into your office or run into you in the halls. Should they call, email, text, IM, Skype, Slack, Zoom, WebEx, WeChat? Talk to family members or roommates about the hours you are working from home and the ground rules during those hours. Assume that anything that can interrupt you will interrupt you — like a UPS delivery during a critical negotiation call or a dog barking in the background of a client video chat. Be as proactive as you can about avoiding these kinds of incidents.
Save binge-watching your favorite shows for the weekend. With the right food to keep energy levels high and sound sleep to refresh your body and mind, you can make a success of working from home. An unhealthy diet can affect productivity and drain energy. When I switched to a healthier diet, it made me function better and get the most from my routine.
There are strict limits to what can be claimed as deductions or credits on your return. You can deduct valid work-related expenses, but only the percentage used for your work. The same goes for office supplies, telephone bills, and utilities. A barking dog or a jackhammer outside your window may disappear with noise-canceling headphones. Arranging your schedule around your children’s and spouse’s schedule also helps to ensure you get the dedicated time you need for your work.
Working from home can also feel like being at a casino — you can get so caught up in your activity, in a relaxing environment, that you lose complete track of time. “Breaks, like making and eating lunch, can recharge you to do better work. Don’t assume you need to be working 100% of the time while you’re home to be more productive.” He continues, “It’s easy to get distracted by the many things that have to be done around the house during the day.” Below, I’ve compiled many great work-at-home tips and tricks from some of my awesome coworkers. Working from home is awesome, right up until the cat throws up on your computer. And your neighbor, who you can only assume is building a time machine, starts firing up all sorts of power tools and noisy machinery across the street.
The more you connect with others at your company, the more integrated with that company you become. Your supervisor may require you to be logged on to your computer at a certain time each day, perform a certain number of tasks or submit progress reports. Make sure you comply with whatever work-from-home requirements there are and stay committed to the same work ethic you had when you worked in an office. If for some reason https://remotemode.net/ your Wi-Fi isn’t reliable, you can always connect directly to your modem with an Ethernet cable. You’ll also want to have a back-up plan in place, in case you can’t connect to your home’s internet. If you have unlimited cell phone data, you can simply link up to your phone’s hotspot. Alternatively, you can head to a local coffee shop and take advantage of their Wi-Fi — once social distancing is no longer needed.
Don’t be afraid to let check-in meetings be as short as they need to be. Sometimes a five-minute conversation is all it takes to stay connected. How many times a day do you take a break to connect with your colleagues, share information, or just get away from your desk?
Kanarek says if you’re not taken seriously, it’s important to let friends and family know that although you’re working from home, you’re still working. And if you’re feeling lonely or unmotivated, work from a coffee shop or a restaurant a few hours a week.
Start each day by writing down what you need to achieve and then track your progress. Pay attention to how long tasks take you and start adjusting your daily goals to match your current rhythm. Report progress on work tasks to your supervisor and colleagues as requested or necessary. It’s best if you can designate a separate room for quiet and privacy while doing work. However, if that’s not possible, try to set up an area that is used only for work and as removed from distractions as possible. Also, during video meetings, the other participants can see everything in view of the camera so take that into consideration of how you set up your workspace.
The COVID-19 pandemic led companies to evaluate remote and hybrid work options. Kanarek suggests you designate a specific place for a home office–and store all work-related files, reference materials and supplies there.
Read in detail about the difference between working from home and working remotely, as we have had extended experience with both setups. Our favorite end-of-day activity is researching travel guides for our next trip, or checking out new cafes in Brooklyn to hang out in during the coming weekend. If you were home alone all day working from home, you may want to get caught up on ‘what everyone’s doing.’ Take the time after the day is done to catch up on all your media.
It might be a sign-off on a business messaging app, an evening dog walk, or an at-home yoga class. Something as simple as shutting down your computer and turning on a favorite podcast will do. Whatever you choose, do it consistently to mark the end of working hours. A routine can be more powerful than a clock at helping you get started each day. What in your morning routine indicates you’re about to start work? It might be making a cup of coffee before you tackle your to-do list.
When you are learning how to work from home, try to check in with your coworkers at least a couple of times per week, whether by email, phone, video call, social media, or even in person. If you’re struggling to remember to take breaks, set a timer or alarm on your phone. You can also block off some time on your calendar to grab lunch or take a walk to let your co-workers know you’re unavailable. Taking these breaks will help you stay focused, be productive, and not feel so stir-crazy when the end of the day rolls around. More than ever you will be measured on output, not how many hours you sat at your desk.
Every person is different when it comes to when and how best work is performed. To improve remote working skills, understanding what times of day and what period of the week foster the most productivity can be vital when it comes to configuring a personal work schedule. Some people are more energetic and focused in the mornings, while others perform best later in the afternoon. By tracking when you feel your best and worst, your most productive and least motivated, you can use that data to find more success. Prolonged isolation can lead to weakened productivity and motivation. So if you don’t have a job that requires face-time with others on a daily basis, you need to put in the extra effort to stay connected.
Do whatever you can to keep things aligned with your existing company culture. Even though working remotely does drastically change interactions since you’re no longer together in person, you can still make sure that the little things you did in the office continue. These little things help reduce feelings of isolation and anxiety. If you normally catch up with colleagues in person before a big meeting, do the same before dialing in to a group conference call when everyone is remote. If you normally chat with your admin assistant first thing in the morning, do the same remotely by IM.
Remote companies often have a budget for learning and skills training. If your organization doesn’t, ask if they might add it. When you’re how to work from home successfully not in an office with your fellow employees, you might miss out on training and skills development courses that are taught in person.
For those who have recently started a new job remotely or are gearing up for their first day online, CNBC Make It spoke with FlexJobs career coach Toni Frana on how you can put your best foot forward. Meeting your co-workers and figuring out office politics is even more challenging in a remote environment where it’s just you and your computer screen. According to new research from TINYpulse, employees hired during the coronavirus pandemic tend to form weaker bonds with their colleagues and engage less with their organization’s mission and values.
Eileen and her colleagues at Delegate Solutions are a fully remote team assisting clients like me with strategic and consultative administrative support. Many organizations have asked employees to work remotely during the coronavirus outbreak. If you’ve never worked from home, this can be a challenge. Besides, just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean that no one from work will see you.
One quick Google search is enough to reveal the most important among remote work best practices — and that’s sticking to a regular schedule, similar to the one you had in the office. Working during regular hours is essential because work-life balance is the first thing that goes out the window if you’re not careful with remote work. But there’s something about face-to-face meetings that can’t be replaced. When your coworkers are scattered and working from home, it’s important to still cultivate personal connection opportunities such as video calls. If you aren’t sure when you’re most productive, track your work a journal for two weeks. Note what you accomplished every morning and afternoon, and how easy or hard the work felt. This can help you see patterns and hone in on your most productive time of day.