The eight steps to become a successful teleworker

If you are working from a spare bedroom, a separate office, or even your own bedroom, it's essential to make sure that your space is clutter-free and you can focus. Make your workspace as work-friendly as possible. This will also stop you from getting distracted. I do not recommend working from your bed as this needs to be kept separate for your sleep. Your brain will start associating your bed with work. Now that a lot of us are stuck at home, it's vital to keep your rest spaces for exactly that. rest. It's also much better for you in terms of being productive.


Step one: declutter.

If you are working from a spare bedroom, a separate office, or even your own bedroom, it's essential to make sure that your space is clutter-free and you can focus. Make your workspace as work-friendly as possible. This will also stop you from getting distracted. I do not recommend working from your bed as this needs to be kept separate for your sleep. Your brain will start associating your bed with work. Now that a lot of us are stuck at home, it's vital to keep your rest spaces for exactly that. rest. It's also much better for you in terms of being productive.

Step two: get in the right headspace.

To be in work mode, i need to feel like i'm in work mode, and i don't feel like i'm in work mode when i'm in my pajamas. Although you probably don't want to put on a suit, having that routine of having a shower and getting ready for work really does help to mentally prepare for a day of work at home. You need to get yourself in a mindset that work time is for work and unrelated work things need to happen before and after the hours that you have put aside for work time.

Step three: make sure you have the right software.

You need to make sure you've got the right licenses and software that you need to attend meetings digitally. Make sure you check your company policies though - some companies have got stringent guidelines on what you can and can't download onto your work computer.

Personally, my favorite virtual platform is zoom. It is fantastic, and it's free to sign up. There have been some articles about the security issues though, so make sure you do your research. I've got the pro version, which is fabulous, but if you need a quick solution to attend a video meeting, it takes 30 seconds to sign up.

Zoom: video conferencing, web conferencing, webinars, screen sharing

Step four: up your internet.

Typically, home internet isn't as good as what you would get in an office. When i first started working from home, it was one of the first things that i did. If someone else in the house is watching netflix, you don't want to be frustrated by your browser being super slow. Make sure you look at your package and pick something that is right for you.

Step five: you need to take regular breaks.

I use the time that i used to commute to now ease in to my day. I do exercise, i play with my kids, i do some reading, i might do an online course. It's really important to stay off your phone during this time, particularly at the moment as it is so overwhelming and anxiety-inducing - all of the stuff that you need to be clearing your mind from. When you work from home, you do tend to plan your day around meal breaks, and a warning - you may find yourself eating more than you did when you were at the office.

Scheduling proper meal breaks like you would if you're in the office is a great tip here. For me, when i used to work full time in an office, having people stop at my desk for a chat or going into the kitchen to get a coffee as an extrovert, that was a massive energy boost. When you're working at home as an extrovert, it can get pretty lonely. Taking breaks to call a friend to say hello is important. For introverts who are happy not to talk regularly, i still recommend that it's essential to schedule in regular breaks. If you keep up the routine that was similar to what you did when you were going to the office, it will put you in the mindset of a day at work.

Step six: keep using your diary.

Writing a to-do list is okay, but i found that blocking out times in my diary and calendar made me so much more productive at work. It helped me to stay focused on what i needed to be doing in that timeframe. I would block off times to work on specific projects and set reminders for important tasks.

Step seven: eliminate distractions.

I found when i was working from home for some reason, i got so much more easily distracted. Simple tips like turning off the email notifications when you are head down in something makes a huge difference and please, stay off social media, especially at the moment. It is a vortex that can suck you in for hours.

Step eight: avoid loneliness.

Make sure you check in with your friends and your colleagues regularly. Studies showed that people showed signs of actual psychological distress and the highest reason was a sense of isolation. So those quick- hey, how are you going? Calls can go a long way, and you can also use this time to spend working on your networks. Are you connected to everybody you need to be on linkedin? Linkedin is such a great platform at the moment, and you can use that time to make sure that you're building those corporate networks. If you're feeling lonely, if you're feeling isolated, please do reach out to a friend during this crisis.

Ineke mcmahon, director, path to promotion
Ineke mcmahon, director, path to promotion

Ineke mcmahon, director, path to promotion
 

Michel Pinson
About the author - Michel Pinson
Michel Pinson is a Travel enthusiast and Content Creator. Merging passion for education and exploration, he iscommitted to sharing knowledge and inspiring others through captivating educational content. Bringing the world closer together by empowering individuals with global expertise and a sense of wanderlust.



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