Remote work is not always that great, despite how it might appear on paper. It is true that some people are finding it more convenient to continue working from their home, but the same does not apply to everyone.
The pandemic forced employers to adjust their approach to running things, and managing employees who are not around is a challenge. It becomes even harder when someone neglects their duties because there is no supervision.
One of the reasons behind this neglect is the lack of motivation because it is too difficult to concentrate when you are at home. If a place we associate with leisure suddenly becomes our office, it is natural that we are less inclined to work.
That said, it is still necessary to carry on as if everything was normal. You still need to do your job despite working from home. To help with that, here are some recommendations that should make remote work more manageable.
Eliminate Distractions
Let’s start with distractions. It is true that working in a regular office also comes with some problems, such as having coworkers distract you. However, the general focus is still on the tasks at hand when you are at the office.
At home, the situation is a bit different. There are other people, noisy neighbors, and distractions like your fridge, shortcuts to video games on a computer’s desktop or a gaming console behind you, and a bookshelf, to name a few.
Dealing with people might be manageable. You can talk to them and explain that you are working from home. If they are reasonable, they will understand.
Resisting the temptations through sheer will could be too difficult, though. If so, trick yourself into avoiding these and other distractions. For example, if you do not want to procrastinate by playing video games, delete shortcuts from the desktop or hide a console from your eyesight. And if these things do not work, you still have the option to create a dedicated work location.
Have a Dedicated Work Location
Having a space that you use for nothing but work is a solid piece of advice that should work in your favor. Even if it is not a separate room that you turn into an office but a desk that you dedicate to work, the effort is worth it.
Once you sit down, you will know that you should be working instead of doing other things. A psychological trick like this will take some time to take effect, but once you get into the rhythm and focus on your work while sitting in a dedicated space, you will notice improvements.
Create a Strict Schedule
A strict schedule is harder to follow when you have no supervision. Your lunch breaks might occur not really at an appropriate lunch hour, you might spend more time in bed in the mornings, and you might go to bed later.
Lacking discipline builds bad habits. Ideally, you should stick to a similar schedule that you had before the pandemic. Take a lunch break when you should, wake up and go to sleep at a reasonable hour, and finish your work as you would back at the office. Doing so will help you enjoy the time you save, not having to commute to work.
Make Work Comfortable Where You Can
Perhaps your office had various perks, such as air conditioning? If so, working at home during summer is not a great experience when it gets too hot. You should make things as comfortable for yourself as you can. If you need an AC for your home, get it.
And if you need something else, you should also consider getting it. Who knows, perhaps your employer would be willing to purchase these things for you?
Keep in Touch With Others
Communication among coworkers should be even more important when working remotely. Lack of communication, or rather overcommunication, leads to errors that are more likely to occur when employers are not under the same roof.
Thanks to available tools at your disposal, such as a smartphone, computer, and communication platforms, staying in touch with others should not be an issue.
However, make sure that your device has a functioning microphone so that you can avoid potential obstacles communicating with your colleagues.
Reward Yourself
The last bit of advice is pretty straightforward. It helps when you know that there is something good waiting for you at the end of the day after you finish work. For example, you could be interested in watching the latest episode of your favorite TV show or playing a new video game.
Saving these rewards for after will make the experience more enjoyable because you will not have to worry about work matters dragging you down.
