Working remotely is a challenge that many more of us have had to face in 2020. While it was initially a temporary measure due to the Coronavirus pandemic, many businesses plan to remain fully remote for the foreseeable future. Though this has been great for a majority of us, it has also presented many challenges that can be overcome with small changes to our daily routine. In this article, we will be providing you with a list of 10 best practices that you should stick to when working remotely.
Don’t Forget Meeting Etiquette
When working remotely it is all too easy to get distracted during a meeting and not be as responsive as you would be should you all be sitting in the same room. However, this could be remedied by spending the time to focus on your meeting etiquette. To do this, it is vital that you have your camera on and that you are responsive as possible, this will go a long way.
Stick To Your Routine
When working from home it is also easy to completely forget your daily routine and fall into bad habits. By being aware of these habits and implementing a daily routine filled with workouts and mental stimulation outside of work, you’ll reap the benefits of this both inside and out of office hours
Maintain Communication
Effective communication is one of the many challenges that a majority of those working from home have faced this year. With everyone rushed off of their feet with tasks and other work to complete, it can seem like an impossible task to get hold of people. Therefore, taking time to plan meetings and using applications such as Microsoft Teams to drop in can aid in eliminating this issue moving forwards.
Secure Online Passwords
With everyone working from home, all passwords for company software must be regularly changed and kept as secure as possible. By implementing two step authentications and ensuring you’re in full control of your business cloud storage solutions, you will ensure maximum security for the business whilst still allowing the required access to staff when required.
Set Clear Boundaries Between Work and Home
In addition to making surer you have a routine; it is important to make sure that your working and home environment are completely separate. This will make working from home enjoyable and allow you to get the work and home life balance just right. If you are living and working in a small space this can be challenging, but making the effort to place a laptop in a drawer or create another physical divide can help greatly.
Make Time For Socialising Outside Of Work
Though it is difficult to socialise outside of work at this current moment, there are several fun Friday after-work activities that you can do as a team or even involve everyone in the business. Whether this is a Zoom quiz or Friday evening drinks to celebrate a successful week, this is a great way of bringing everyone together.
Make Sure You’re Visible To Colleagues
It is easy for you to get swept up in the work you’re completing when your calendar is jam-packed. However, by being as responsive as possible and active in several chats across the business, you are showing your bosses that you are productive and making sure that you are at the forefront of their minds.
Build Healthy Habits
Throughout your time working from home, it may be tempting to wear comfortable clothes every day and order take away for both lunch and dinner, however, this should be avoided. Not only can this have a huge impact on your mental health, but it can also lead to weight gain and other health issues that could otherwise be avoided. By eating healthily and making sure you get enough sleep, working from home becomes much easier.
Schedule Everything In Your Calendar
To make sure that you stick to your daily routine and are not overworking yourself, your work calendar is your new best friend. Not only does it allow you to be organised and get everything done during the day, it allows for your boss and team members to see what you have scheduled in and make collaborative working easier.
Be Active On Company Social Media
The final best practice from working from home is being as active on company social media as possible. This will not only keep you in the loop, but it allows for another channel of effective communication with your colleagues outside of the office environment.
Whether you have only been working remotely throughout 2020 or you have been working remotely for many years, there are many best practices and little tips that you can implement to make it as easy as possible moving forwards.
