We’ve been talking about remote work for some time now since the spread of COVID-19. However, we realize that working in an office for years and being forced into remote work is a huge transition and one that can be tough to make. So, to kick off our new April Blog Series: How to Deal with Changes at Work - We want to really focus on this transition and give you the best tips and tricks moving forward to make your home office....or couch, efficient and most importantly, successful.

Claim a Work Space- Check out this great quote from our previous blog all about your work from home strategy: “Whether you have a home office or a private room -something has to be that space for you to go to every morning. Mark your territory - Claim your space.” It’s so true! Additionally, here’s another great quote: “If you’re used to going into an office each day, the separation between work and home is physical, and you want to try to recreate that as much as possible with a designated physical workspace at home. You may scoff at the idea of a separate room for a home office if, like me, you live in a small apartment. I’m writing this in the room that is my office, kitchen, living room, and dining room all in one. Your workspace doesn’t have to be its own room—in my apartment, it’s a corner—but it should feel as separate from the rest of your home as possible.” You must be able to lay claim to some part of the house. Whether it’s the living room, your desk, an extra bedroom - Something! By designating a place to work, you’re then able to have a destination in the morning, even if it’s 10-20 paces from your bed...It counts and keeps for some normalcy.

Manage Your Time- When you work from home no one is there to check in on you or make sure you’re on task. While this may be awesome for some...for others it can really take them down a negative path of distractions. By setting time blocking up on your calendar or planner you’re able to give yourself time per task throughout the day and keep everything organized. It also gives you goals and keeps you accountable. Not a bad idea when you’re working totally remotely, right?

Stay Connected- This may easily be overlooked but stay connected with your team or your friends at work. A simple daily check-in is so important to keep that camaraderie and teamwork alive. Keep an open line of communication! Say hello, check in on those you care about. Others are certainly struggling with you too so it’s nice to have that commonality amongst you! Here’s a great quote: “One undeniable loss is the social, casual "water cooler" conversation that connects us to people — if you're not used to that loss, full-time remote work can feel isolating. To fill the gap, some co-workers are scheduling online social time to have conversations with no agenda. Use Slack chats and things like that if you miss real-time interaction.” (npr.org).

Become Familiar with Technology- When you work remote, everything is digital. Video chatting, emailing, messaging, social media, and more. Whether you’re technologically savvy or not...Now’s the time to get there. Whether you’re new to video chatting technology, new to social media, new to messaging systems such as Slack - You have to get on board to find success. This technological importance and innovative softwares and systems are going to be what gets you communicating, connected, and ultimately allows for collaboration. So, it’s time to brush up on your skills!

Take a Walk- Not really work related but finding time during the day to breathe fresh air is so important! Whether you take a walk (safely), sit out on your back porch, or just take a drive with the windows down - fresh air is so important for your mental health and productivity too. By being able to get fresh air, think about other things aside from work, and even wave and smile to a neighbor or two - you can really get back on track and focus from there on out! Treat yourself!

How has your transition to remote work been? We want to hear about your experience thus far!