Remote work tips and best practices
1. Communicate clearly and frequently
Communication is key for any team, but especially for remote teams. Since you can't rely on face-to-face interactions or body language cues, you need to communicate more explicitly and effectively with your colleagues and managers. Some ways to improve your communication are:
- Use the right tools for the right purpose. For example, use video conferencing for meetings, chat tools for quick questions, and email for formal updates.
- Set clear expectations and boundaries. For example, communicate your working hours, availability, response time, and preferred communication channels.
- Give and ask for feedback regularly. For example, share your progress, achievements, challenges, and goals with your manager and team members, and ask for their input and support.
- Stay connected on a personal level. For example, use video calls whenever possible, conduct virtual happy hours and coffee breaks, create a team-wide chat room to share personal stories and jokes, and try some remote-friendly team-building activities.
2. Create a comfortable and ergonomic workspace
Working remotely doesn't mean working from your bed or couch. You need to create a dedicated space for working that is comfortable, ergonomic, and free of distractions. Some ways to improve your workspace are:
- Choose a location that has natural light, good ventilation, and low noise level.
- Invest in a good chair, desk, monitor, keyboard, mouse, headset, and webcam.
- Adjust your posture, screen height, keyboard position, and lighting to avoid eye strain, neck pain, back pain, and other health issues.
- Keep your workspace tidy and organized.
3. Establish a consistent and realistic routine
Working remotely gives you more control over your schedule, but it also requires more discipline and self-management. You need to establish a consistent and realistic routine that helps you stay focused, motivated, and productive. Some ways to improve your routine are:
- Set a regular wake-up time and bedtime.
- Plan your workday ahead of time and prioritize your tasks.
- Schedule breaks throughout the day to stretch, eat healthy snacks, drink water, exercise, or meditate.
- Avoid multitasking and limit distractions such as social media, phone calls, or household chores.
- Track your time and progress using tools such as Trello or Jira.
4. Balance your work and personal life
One of the biggest challenges of remote work is finding the right balance between your work and personal life. Working remotely can blur the boundaries between the two domains and lead to overwork or burnout. You need to set clear boundaries and respect them. Some ways to improve your work-life balance are:
- Define your working hours and stick to them.
- Turn off your notifications and devices when you're done working.
- Communicate your availability and expectations to your family members or roommates.
- Create a ritual to mark the end of your workday such as closing your laptop, changing your clothes, or going for a walk.
- Make time for hobbies, social activities, self-care, and relaxation.
