Written by: Dan Shaver, Regional Director at Aquionics
When I sit down to read an interesting article, I often find myself coming across common phrases that prompt the question “I wonder where that expression came from?” Today, the word ‘remote’ did it for me. Remote meetings. Remote employees. Remote productivity. Interesting that some synonyms for the word remote are isolated, inaccessible, and secluded. No wonder it’s a challenge for so many of us if we define our work environment like that!
Perhaps it’s time for a new word?? I’ll leave that to your imagination but in the meantime, I have compiled my top three tips that have helped me work towards improving my productivity as a remote employee. These may seem intuitive to those that are familiar with remote work, but remember there are many that are new to the concept of a home office and need all the advice and guidance they can get:
1. Start your day right.
What is your morning routine? Do you have one? There is power in routines and, whether you’re a morning person or not, starting your day with some basics can help break the mental barrier of transitioning from home mode to work mode. Even if your commute is only down the hall, you will be surprised by the power of getting ready for the day like you normally would for the office and making that “commute” part of your routine. Get dressed, make a coffee, make an action list for the day!
2. Take breaks!
Frequent breaks are part of a healthy home office environment. Get up and go outside for a 10-minute walk or even just a stroll around the house to break the monotony of sitting at your desk. Grab a drink of water, call a friend, let the dog out, run a quick errand, do something…anything. Guess what? You didn’t miss anything in the time you were gone, so don’t feel guilty.
3. Your office environment is important.
Take a step back and look at your work environment. Where are you sitting? How are you positioned at your desk? How is your lighting? If you need something to make your home office more efficient and ergonomic, speak up and ask your company. I’m willing to bet they will help.
It's in everyone’s power to be productive even while working ‘remote’ and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Find what works best for you, share your experiences with others, and most importantly speak up when you need help.
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