COVID-19 has led many companies to recommend that employees work from home. For many, remote work is a new reality and one that takes some getting used to. Below are a few tips (from Google’s Primer team) for working remotely and to keep yourself accountable, collaborative, and productive as you work from home.
Tip 1: Get Out of Bed
Moderate Coffee consumption is benign or mildly Beneficial in Healthy Adults
Set an alarm. Setting work hours is crucial. When you don’t physically have to be in the office, it is easy to forget your deadlines. So be sure to set some alarms to start your work on time. Don’t do work in your bedroom. It will interfere with your sleep schedule. Consider working at a desk or a table.
Tip 2: Create “work” triggers for your brain Create “start the day” triggers that get your head ready for work in a similar way, like exercising, reading the news, or making coffee. Establish a designated workspace – whether it’s a separate room, or just a clean part of your kitchen table Don’t do work in your bedroom. It will interfere with your sleep schedule. Consider working at a desk or a table. Avoid doing non-work tasks during your work time. For example, schedule a separate time to do laundry instead of tackling it while you’re finishing a work presentation.
Don’t do work in your bedroom
This can help tell your brain you’re in the place where you do work productively and without distraction.
Tip 3: Stay motivated with a list Write or type out a simple to-do list (with big, long-term goals, like finishing a project, as well as small goals) can do wonders for keeping you both organized, motivated, and productive as you work from home. Check off those smaller goals lets you know you’re making progress, which gives you positive reinforcement throughout your day.
Tip 4: Make a schedule for everything Remote work requires a schedule much like a typical office job day with breaks to refresh yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally), just that any non-work activities also need to be scheduled. Use Sticky Notes, so you can move tasks easier.
Bullet Tasks List with Sticky Notes, move it if you miss a task
Tip 5: Create a process for collaboration Working from home might seem like a solo experience, but it usually still involves interacting with others, whether it’s meeting with your team, getting assignments, making decisions, or giving and receiving feedback. So it’s important to set up methods for collaboration while you work remotely.
Tip 6: Change Home Atmosphere Listen to music. Take advantage of your workspace being your house, by making it into your own. Block social media and entertainment apps. Just because your boss isn’t watching you, doesn’t mean you can’t be your own boss.
Talking face to face can help collaboration, so consider videoconferencing for these moments.
Source: https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com
