Tips on Working Remotely

For those who are new to working remotely and finding it difficult to spend so much time in the home office, here are a few tips and suggestions from the Smonik team:

• Set reasonable goals for the day. Between getting your work done and completing all those home improvements now that you have extra time on your hands, be reasonable about what you can actually accomplish.
• Take breaks. Working from home can be great but there’s no watercooler to walk to and it can be easy to work all day without a break. Breaks recharge your creativity and your mental clarity, so take a 5- or ten-minute break every 1.5 to 2 hours. It’ll keep your work quality focused.
• Make your work visible in some way so others know your contributions. Bounce ideas off folks. Be a contributor. Reach out on messaging software, the phone, or a video call and collaborate. Find out what others are working on and what they are seeing. Have a reason to call on them and don’t waste their time.
• Set “push” days or even “push” weeks. Don’t get into a rut. Set a few days a week where you set extra goals for completion. Make those targets hard to hit and give it your all. Work hard. Get things done. Push.
• Don’t over-schedule yourself. Leave room in your schedule so you can adapt. You and your organization are likely responding to dynamic events for your business and room in your schedule allows you to complete unforecasted tasks or handle that overflow that inevitably results.
• Set time limits on checking email and current events. Keep up on relevant happenings but don’t get swept up and don’t become a spectator. If you must deal with an emergency, then deal with it.
• If you are working inside and quarantined, go outside periodically! Get some fresh air and some sunshine.
• Change up your free time. Plant a garden. Organize your closet. Paint a room in the house. Do some video yoga. Don’t let your routine become dull.
• You won’t feel like you’ve won every single day. Some days the important thing is simply finishing the race. On those days, recharge yourself, recover your perspective and your energy, and set your eye toward some of those scheduled “push” days! That is winning.Please let us know if there’s anything Smonik can do to assist you.