Even if you’ve always dreamed of working remotely, some things are scary from the start. For example, how to set up everything for productive work from home. It is especially true for those who have never dealt with remote work before. With flexible schedules and no hard time or space constraints, it can be challenging to know where to start. And many are baffled by the question: How efficiently can I work from home? Where to begin? How to plan your working day and not lose efficiency?
For any company, switching to remote mode is an opportunity to test a new format of work. Leaders can see the productivity of each specialist, and employees can see if they understand their role and goals in the company correctly. They will need the project management tools to manage work efficiently.
You can be pretty productive at home, and in the office, you can simulate hectic activities with zero results. It all depends on the ability of employees to organize themselves.
But first, let’s take a look at why remote work isn’t the wrong choice.
Pros and cons of remote work
Thanks to modern technology, we can forget about borders and time zones. It is a golden time for new business opportunities. Messengers, social networks have become an integral part of our life: often, people sitting in the same room prefer to send messages rather than communicate in person.
So the benefits are:
- You can look for work all over the world.
- You are saving time and resources.
- You have an opportunity to be close to your family and, at the same time – to work.
- You spend more time on professional growth.
However, working at a distance comes with many risks:
- Harder to control your productivity
- You can miss deadlines
- You may lack live communication with colleagues.
It may be difficult. But if you have chosen the path of working remotely, the tips below will be helpful to you.
1. Create the right mindset
People are used to resting at home, not working. It is essential to observe the work schedule, start work at exactly 8:00 and get up from the table at 17:00. It helps to stay toned. Don’t forget to take a lunch break; nobody canceled it. It is also important not to work in your pajamas and still get out of bed – more efficient work can be achieved while at the desk and in ordinary clothes.
2. Use personal assistant apps
A variety of inexpensive and free smartphone apps offer an easy way to organize your work. Such applications help you schedule appointments, receive reminders about them, manage incoming messages and notifications, keep track of time to complete tasks, and not be distracted by social networks and messengers.
3. Organize tasks and workflow with specially designed tools
When you work remotely, it is difficult for bosses to assess where you are on the assignment. Always use such things as Jira, Trello, and Slack. You will be able to communicate with the management, receive tasks promptly effectively, and the bosses will monitor the execution of tasks and help you understand the workflow. You can also use the custom software development services provided by mlsdev.com to create a tool for your unique needs.
Earlier, TechCrunch surveyed those who work from home. The study revealed that managers want to know that their employees are working towards expected results, and employees want to make sure that their leaders know how hard they work and that they are doing their job.
4. Maintain your calendar
Using technology isn’t the only way to stay organized. Sometimes a reminder should hang in front of your eyes. Sometimes it is convenient to use a wall calendar with photos, a flipchart, or a whiteboard. Use tangible objects that are in front of your eyes all the time.
5. Organize your workplace
It just seems like working in bed is a good decision. It is unlikely that you will be able to organize yourself and work effectively next to the pillow. It is good if you have your table and a comfortable chair. Try to get yourself a cable organizer and hide the cables under your desk. It will help you avoid clutter and help keep you organized while you work.
6. Create a veil of privacy
If you do not have a separate room for work to not interfere with other apartment inhabitants, or so that they do not interfere with you, use fences, screens, or even hang curtains, separating your space for work. If possible, you can also equip a balcony or terrace for your workplace. The most important thing is to have a marked place to work.
7. Keep track of your spending budget
As a home-based employee or contractor, you will need to track costs. Many mobile banking apps and websites include a feature that displays your monthly spending. You can download various smartphone budgeting apps to help you keep track of your weekly and monthly expenses. It helps you better organize your finances or provide reports and receipts for your employer to reimburse. Any software engineering company, even MLSDev, uses such tools.
8. Plan your food
Health should remain a top priority even when working remotely. Sometimes when you’re working from home, grocery shopping after a long day can feel impossible. Plan how you will receive food and supplies. Perhaps organizing a daily delivery of ready-to-eat meals would be a good solution for you. If you cook yourself, schedule notifications and alarms when you need to switch, go to the store, or cook lunch.
9. Safety and security
Working outside the office means that many team members will be connecting to Wi-Fi networks in cafes, coworking centers, and other public places to complete their tasks. Therefore, it is essential to have an information security policy before moving to remote work. Configure VPN for your work and use firewalls, especially if your job involves highly confidential things.
Conclusion
When you approach organizing remote work with creativity, you will notice how it will improve your daily life. Accept remote work as a way of life.
The more convenient remote work solutions you create, the more productive your work from home will be.
Most importantly, you can now get business analysis services and advice on organizing a workplace remotely in particular companies.
Forbes even published an article stating that it is even possible to be a director of remote work in the future to monitor other remote workers.
Experiment and try your own. Not all advice is suitable for everyone at once. However, through trial and error, you will establish your ideal teleworking schedule and feel that there is a certain thrill to it.
