We have prepared tips from our co-workers on how to efficiently organize your day while working remotely.
- Make your workspace comfortable. Pay special attention to lighting and don’t forget to air the room. Don’t work where you rest. If you have only one table, then try to temporarily remove everything that can distract you from the work.
- Stick to your usual daily schedule. Wake up and go to bed at the same time — this will let you relax and recover. If you used to work in office 10 to 7, follow the same schedule while at home. Disrupted biorhythm leads to unnecessary stress, and erratic schedules blur the boundaries between work and rest.
- Take regular breaks. A short rest makes it possible to recharge and clear your head.
- Follow morning rituals. Our co-worker shared this life hack: “When I arrived at the office, I had a fresh cup of coffee and talked with my colleagues. Now I make coffee at home and have a video-call with the team – this helps me stay on the same wavelength with them”.
- Observe daily habits. Switch to your office clothing, comb your hair. If you wear makeup for days in the office, do the same while at home. This gives the brain a signal about the beginning of the working day. To switch to home mode, you may also come up with a trigger, for example, change back into your home clothes or turn off your computer.
- Limit distracting sounds: disable social media notifications, switch off the TV, or put on your headphones if your neighbors give you a hard time.
- Plan your day. Our co-worker told us her planning system: “Every morning I create a to-do list for the day, which includes both work tasks and home chores and prioritize them. It helps me to complete my work on time and not to feel like I wasted my time.” Breaking your assignments into small tasks allows you to better plan your day.
- Discuss your schedule with your family. In particular, tell them about your calls or important reports you have to prepare, so they don’t disturb you while you are working on a critical task.
- Doing a little bit of exercise wouldn’t hurt. Someday we will have to go outside, and when that moment comes you’d better fit through those narrow doorways!