Remote Work Tips
It's been three, four, a million weeks now of quarantinis and stay-at-home-garitas, and the novelty is starting to fade. Sure, pants are optional but the news that the coming few weeks will be the worst yet, plus the lack of face-to-face camaraderie is enough to get even the most introverted IT guy down.
I've worked remotely for over five years and I have this thing figured out. I’ve been down all the paths one can take while living the #WFH life, and I’ve learned to utilize it as the ultimate work/life balance ticket, and the greatest asset to getting better work done.
Here are my tips:
⚡ Communication is everything! As with everything in life, right? t’s easy when you’re remote to feel like you’re in a bubble; the lack of social interaction is the hardest aspect of remote life for most people. The solution: Over-communicate when you’re working remotely! Initially, it may seem like a hassle to ping, or even gasp call (yeah, we’ll get to that) your coworker for a few questions on an assignment. But those questions would happen naturally in person, and they often lead to clarification and a better end result, so ask!! Often, and with video.
⚡ Yep, VIDEO should be on for all of your meetings - even the quick ones. Things can get lost without seeing someone face-to-face, because not all communication is written/verbal. By turning on your video camera, you will have clearer, more efficient conversations. It can be scary at first, but get a cute plant for the wall behind you and make eye contact by looking at your camera. Also, if you musttt, Zoom does offer a ‘touch up’ feature.
⚡I sound like Michael Scott no matter which way I say this, so here it goes. To tackle socialization lulls, schedule “water cooler” or coffee dates, virtually. Set aside 15-minutes, grab a cup of coffee and meet with a coworker to not talk about work. Shoes optional.
⚡Plan out your day! It can be easy (and sometimes, helpful) to get distracted while working from home but by planning on your day in detail, you can keep yourself on track. To do this, I make a list of everything I need to accomplish that week. Then, I break my google calendar or my traditional calendar into hour chunks and fill in everything I need to do that is custom to that week, plus everything I do already (email, etc.) This allows me to have a reference if I get off track, and also means I don’t spend my entire day lost in my email inbox. Each thing has a place and time!
⚡Take advantage! Throw in that laundry, maybe run the dishwasher? For me, being able to walk away from my desk and throw the ball for my dogs, or pace my garden means that I work longer, more inspired hours. So take advantage of the best part of remote life by using your extra time to connect back to what makes you happy.
Have any questions? I’m no expert but I am always happy to help! Leave me a comment below.