4 Ways to Make the Most of Working Remotely
Working remotely – either from home or through constant travel – might be the ideal setup for some people, however, for others might cause some anxiety and displacement from a traditional office setting. As online positions become more prevalent and communication software continues to improve there is less and less of a need to have employees working from a set location and allows for companies to save a bit of extra money on office rent. Seeing as remote work seems to be where the future of many companies is headed, below are a few ways that you can make the most of this transition if it initially concerns you.
1. Separate Your Work Space From Your Home Space
The most trying aspect of working from home is the inability to separate your work mindset from your home mindset. After a few months of working from the couch, bed, or kitchen table you might notice the inability to fully engage with your work because the lack of spatial boundaries signifying when it’s work time and when it’s time to relax. This can lead to increased procrastination and less focus while trying to complete important projects or hit specific due dates.A simple way to combat this is by designating a specific space in your home to your office and avoid working from anywhere else except there. This will train your mind to recognize that once you sit down at your desk, it is time to focus on work and when you sit in the kitchen it is time to take your lunch break and unwind for a bit. Creating a clear division between work and home, both physically and mentally, will better help you target your energy more appropriately throughout the day and make it easier to feel accomplished.
2. Store Your Data Securely
Ensuring that you are storing your data correctly and securely throughout the day as you work on projects will alleviate some stress in case of a computer malfunction or accidental deletion. This is also important if you are working with a client’s confidential information and don’t want it to be lost or leaked without their consent. A data room is a more practical alternative for USB sticks or external hard drives for professionals trying to secure their information and control who has access to it. Your clients can rest at ease knowing that you have the power to implement complex permission settings on any information uploaded into the room and the ability to disable print and download so that only a selected few can use the information. Furthermore, a VDR allows you to take your work anywhere with you, which is especially helpful for anyone working remotely or constantly on the go.
Effective data security is critical; we need to protect sensitive data from applications by providing them with best practices to keep data organization secure and prevent data loss.
3. Stay Connected
Without a steady amount of communication with your colleagues and management team it can feel quite isolating to work from home. You want to stay as connected as possible to ensure that you are meeting the needs of your clients as well as your teammates and complete your projects to the best of your abilities. In this day and age, it’s incredibly easy to find a communication software that works for you, so use that to your advantage and maintain regularly scheduled online meetings so that you and everyone in your department are on the same page. This is vital for receiving necessary feedback on your work and expressing any thoughts or concerns you may have on certain projects going forward.
4. Know When To Shut Off
When working from home it is easy to lose sight of the importance of distinguishing work time from down time and the effects can be extremely detrimental to your mental and physical well-being. In order to make the most of working remotely and feeling in control of your focus and productivity, then make sure you are setting up regular work hours for yourself that you can adhere to throughout the day like any regular office job. By doing this you will know when it’s appropriate to shut off for the day and let your mind relax to take on the rest of the week.