The concept of working from home might be new to some, while others were already introduced to it due to the nature of their work. However, the Coronavirus has pushed many companies to consider applying remote working with their employees. This has put pressure on those who need to become more familiar with the criteria behind working from home.
According to a study in the UAE, more than 60% of employees are open to working from home full-time. Moving to expand our circle of study to cover the MENA region, a survey done by the Bayt.com site showed that almost three-quarters of employees preferred jobs that allowed them to work from home. This indicates that people during the lockdown enjoyed such work experience, and some declared that their productivity level has increased and improved.
As marketing and branding agencies seek creative solutions to recover from crises such as Corona, Aimstyle has put much effort into adapting to the new situation. The team followed specific steps to maximize the work's proficiency while working remotely.
Here Are Tips to Follow That Will Help You to Manage to Work Remotely:
Your old work routine will not fit if you work from home, but it can be adjusted. You should design a morning routine to get you in the mood to start working. For example, if you were used to waking up, jogging for half an hour, showering then getting dressed, you don't need to abandon such habits; stick to them! Working from home doesn't mean you need to start working as soon as you wake up. It is all about how you manage your time at home.
Defining your working hours is crucial; if you prefer something other than nine to five working hours, abide by what suits you best. What's most important is that you deliver the required tasks on time.
The key here is to know how to manage your routine that would boost your productivity along with your potential energy.
One more important thing is managing your to-do list. In other words, prioritize your tasks according to their importance. Working from home means that you can work only for some days. What's important is that you stay within the deadline assigned for each task or project. However, consider assigning breaks during your working hours. Each one of us needs a break to recharge. 10 to 15-minute intervals are short breaks that help increase your productivity. Consider taking lunch breaks in addition to outdoor holidays, such as going for a short walk.
- Have an Ideal Working Spot
If you are willing to make the experience of working remotely an effective one, you should allocate space for work. A separate room dedicated to work is an advantage, but this might be challenging sometimes. Instead, you can allocate a certain desk or table for work purposes only. You would also need a quiet spot with great lighting and internet access.
Moreover, avoid working from bed; you will probably fall asleep. Try to have an offline office-like environment at home to get yourself in the mood to conduct your work effectively with fewer distractions and noise.
Distractions can be tempting at home, especially when having your family around. A normal employee who commutes to work every day early in the morning perceives the word "home" as a place to rest after a long day. However, this has been the norm for decades. Employees were introduced to the concept of permanently working from home after the pandemic of the Coronavirus emerged. Thus, we must minimize this perception's effect while conducting work remotely.
However it is okay to do your laundry during the breaks, but it is not okay to clean up the house since this can be energy-draining, distracting, and time-wasting. Moreover, a family can be a huge source of distractions. It is advised to set ground rules with those who share your home. For example, if you were working in the living room, you can negotiate to have quiet times during online meetings.
Face-to-face communication can clear any misunderstanding regarding any situation. Working remotely can help the easy flow of communication and lead to misunderstandings or miscommunication between employees. Thus, it is important to keep things clear, communicate how you conduct assignments and how you convey tasks or changes to your team. Feel free to ask for help from those you usually contact in the office.
Deal with things in the easiest way possible, and don't put limits where they shouldn't be. If you used to communicate some work-related issues to someone from your team or colleagues, do it! Working from home means you can call or have a virtual meeting to solve a specific issue.
It is optional to stick to sending emails or text messages only.
What matters most is you conduct your work properly and adequately communicate related issues with the right people. Another thing to consider is over-communicating, which means sharing everything with everyone. For example, say so when you finish a specific task or are busy working on a particular project.
Refrain from assuming that your team or boss knows what you are doing simply because direct face-to-face communication isn't present while working remotely.
When you are working remotely, it is hard to attend training sessions that are conducted in the office. Not to forget that training that your company's training offers may be paused for a while due to the pandemic. Be sure to enroll in a certain course or training before your boss can enroll you in a certain course or activity.
Take a step forward and initiate the learning process. Working remotely can give you much time to work on yourself, develop your skills and enhance your working abilities. Play it smart; suggest certain online training to your boss. This will reflect the value you are trying to add to the company that you are working in.
When there is an online meeting, it is professional to show up, don't miss it! It is as important as face-to-face meetings. Nonetheless, employees might not take it seriously or even put the needed effort to make it work. Online meetings can be energy-draining since you must stay behind your computer for a certain period. But at the same time, it saves you the cost of commuting to work.
Interpersonal communication is important between team members, so remember to have your camera on. Be ready, get dressed before the meeting, and conduct it in a quiet place away from any noise. After all, it is important to give your work the right effort and be professional.
Working from home doesn't mean you need to stick around your laptop all day. You have a personal life and space that you need to work on. Call it a day when you're done according to the working schedule. Please don't assume that it is okay to work all day, all under the title of working remotely.
Working on your life balance might seem blurry while working from home since you do all your personal and work-related activities in one place.
That's why employees complain that working from home can be energy and time-draining sometimes. But guess what?! It is all under your control.
You decide how your day will go, neither your boss nor your family.