In part one, we discussed the myriad benefits of working remotely: There’s better work-life balance, increased productivity and cost savings for employers. Yet, the question remains, how does this work in practice? It can be easy to get distracted in the comfort of your home, and the loss of in-person connection is a real concern. Below are some tips for making the most of remote work as both an employee and employer.
Staying Productive
It’s tempting to get distracted throughout the day, especially with no coworkers around. Suddenly, a quick check of your phone could turn into hours of getting lost in reels or Facebook statuses. Or maybe a sink full of dishes and a basket of dirty laundry are calling your name. If you find yourself getting distracted by social media or even household chores, we recommend the following tips for staying focused:
- Set up social media timers or locks on apps. If you’re watching one too many TikToks throughout the day, we recommend locking your apps. Smart phone settings give you the option to schedule time away, set time limits or restrict app usage. Consider downloading productivity apps that block social media, such as AppBlock, Freedom: Screen Time Control or ScreenZen — Screen Time Control.
- Schedule your day. This may seem like a given, but it’s easy to let the hours pass by. Block out specific times in your schedule to check and answer emails. Prioritize any projects or tasks that might require input from another team member. Write out all of your deadlines at the beginning of the day. Save smaller tasks for the end of the day, with a focus on larger tasks that require more brain power for the morning.
- Have a morning routine. Working from home offers the wonderful privilege of rolling out of bed and going straight to your computer. Consider not hitting snooze multiple times on your alarm and opting for some time to yourself. Whether it’s five minutes before waking up your household or 30 minutes, give yourself the opportunity to get your bearings before clocking in. Maybe spend the time you would commuting to read, do a quick workout or journal.
- Take breaks. Taking a break might seem counter-productive, but it’s one of the best ways to prevent burnout and stay focused. Every hour, get up and walk around, even if it’s just a lap around your house or apartment. A minimum of 30 minutes of sunlight is recommended each day, so take a five-minute walk around your block or allot time during your lunch to get outside. It’ll give you a much-needed break from your computer, so that you can come back feeling refreshed.
Cultivating Connections
It’s difficult to not have face-to-face interactions with coworkers every day, and it’s easy to misread someone’s tone via email or a message. At Innovative, we use the Slack app to stay connected: We have channels for work-related items, but we also have a “Social” channel filled with media recommendations, life updates or idle observations of the day. On Fridays, we do themed quizzes using Buzzfeed Quiz Party, which helps us get to know each other better and take a break from work. With Slack, we can also set up statuses. Need a deep focus day or are you in a meeting? Use the status feature to let your team know. A channel for schedule updates puts everyone’s sick or vacation time in one place for easy reference. If someone messages you about a task that you can’t currently work on, you can set up a Slack reminder to notify you later.
Another platform we’ve begun using is Asana — an all-in-one tool for keeping track of to-do lists and organizing content. For industries that rely heavily on teamwork, Asana helps keep track of projects with designations for every stage of work and the ability to tag team members when something is ready for them.
Our editing team has monthly meetings to first talk about business items and then end with an activity. We’ve given niche presentations (an editor will present about a topic they have ample knowledge of), made collaborative playlists centered on a specific theme, and played Jack in the Box games or This or That. It’s something to look forward to every month, and it gives us the opportunity to connect virtually.
Several members of our production team also formed a book club in summer 2023. As a member and founder of the club, it’s been the perfect way to get to know my colleagues outside of work. While we don’t always share the same opinions about our selections, I’ve loved getting to hear everyone’s thoughts and spending time figuring out our next read.
Putting It into Practice
Every company and team is different. Maybe team-building activities wouldn’t work for your team, but a group chat for life updates would. Assess the culture of your company — what seems to keep your employees on track? How connected is everyone’s role? Asking these questions can help ensure that remote work is a success for your company.
Jessica Sears is an editor at Innovative Publishing. She can be reached at jessica@innovativepublishing.com.
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