9 Tips for a Productive Remote Work Day
Amidst the global spread of covid-19, it’s safe to say we are in a season filled with uncertainty. And with this season comes new challenges for businesses, and perhaps none more pressing than the shift towards remote working. Whether we like it or not, this will be the new normal for the near future. The key is how will you create a system that allows your people to thrive in a season of rapid change?
The isolation your team will experience goes against our human DNA of being in relationship with others and if not managed will exacerbate the stress, anxiety and fear that is present in these uncharted waters. By being intentional with our remote office work days we can protect and strengthen our fitness, agility and focus.
Research has shown time and time again that human beings are creatures of habit, and that even the smallest psychological cues like getting dressed properly, telling someone about your day or changing the location of where you sit can have drastic effects on our minds and bodies. That is why working from home, or somewhere other than your regular office can sometimes be challenging for many people. Your brain has been programmed to filter certain spaces, times and atmospheres in terms of either work, rest or play.
Therefore, a healthy and balanced remote working experience needs to have a start and a finish, just like any other day of working at the office. Remote working requires a routine that looks like your normal work day.
To help you and you team, we have compiled a list of tips and strategies to help you stay focused and productive while working remotely. While some of these may seem a little old school, we are confident that they will help you approach your work day in a way that will make your organization stronger, individually and together as we move to the recovery phase of covid-19.
1. Start your day by “going to work.” Get ready like you always do, maybe a little more casually, and then actually say to yourself or whoever else is listening; “I’m off to work”.
2. This is a good season to have a little old school to go along with your online task management programs. When you “arrive” at work, take out your master, hand written, task list and your blank “tasks for today” list. Go ahead and build your “tasks for today” list. This can help you be more grounded and focused.
3. Check - in online with your team through the selected platform you are using:
a. Say hi to the team and share 2 wins you had from the day before; one for yourself, family, friends and one for the organization.
b. Make sure you read all the wins from your teammates and if appropriate offer 1 or 2 comments on them.
c. If you are going to be “out of the office” for a period of time, let the team know. If someone is looking for you, they can’t just go down the hall to see you in this season. This becomes critical to avoid creating any latent conflict or anxiety. It also ensures we recognize the importance of different and additional priorities that this current season has created. Taking care of a child's needs, caring for someone with a positive test, picking up supplies etc. This also helps us protect the team, our creativity, and the best “day to day operations” we can achieve in this season.
4. Take care of the tasks assigned for the morning and at as close to regular time as possible, take a break and go to your “Break Box.” Separate physically from your “office” or the workstation and enjoy. Your Break Box contains some of your favorite snacks, perhaps a crossword or Sudoku book, a meditation book, a novel you are reading, maybe even a yo-yo, Rubik’s cube or some other fun and mind challenging activity. This is a process to help normalize the day and keep your mental fitness and agility sharp!
5. Come back after your break and update your “Today Task List” and dig back into your tasks.
6. Ideally, you will have your lunch fully separated from your “office” and with someone else in your home or a friend or workmate online with audio and video (Facetime, Google Hangouts, Zoom). The need for human connection is significantly pronounced during this time, even for you introverts. When there is stress and anxiety manifesting from external sources, it is essential to know we are not alone. This helps resolve or at least reduce stress levels. If we aren't intentional with our external human connections in this season, we will find we tire more quickly, lose focus, and arguably weaken (as we know stress does) our immune system.
7. Enjoy an afternoon of tasks that ideally include either or both voice and video connections. Take a break and break out the Break Box!
8. Formally end your day; go through your office cleaning protocol, update your Today Task List, write down your personal and organizational win. There is one more win I suggest you capture; the one thing you want to share with your spouse/significant other/close friend that is just for them.
9. Announce to yourself that you are “heading home” and off you go to share that special win and have a great evening!
Like I said, in this hyper digital age we are living in, some of these tips may seem a little outdated. However, it’s important during this season that you have as much concrete practices as possible as the majority of work connection you have will come from a screen. We hope you got some great takeaways from this article to help you stay focused during this season.
For those leaders who are serious about growth and making a positive impact in their spheres and would like some help with that, you can reach out to Michael Walker for a complimentary 45minute coaching conversation. You can reach Coach Mike at michael@capstonecoaching.ca We look forward to helping you achieve your desired success!
