The Covid-19 pandemic forced companies of all shapes and sizes to come up with home working solutions. The nature of some businesses and some roles made it easier than others. Individuals’ own tendencies towards introversion or extroversion also came into play in terms of how positive (or otherwise) they found the remote working experience.
According to recent data from All Things Hair, 52% of people feel that working remotely has a positive effect on their overall wellbeing, while 21% feel it has a negative impact. If you’re one of those who is struggling with working from home, is it time you tried resetting your approach? Starting afresh with new habits and a new mindset could turn the experience into something more positive. With that in mind, here are some top tips to help you reframe the whole remote working experience
Identify your pain points
What is it that you don’t like about working from home? Do you miss the sense of social connection? Do you find it hard to motivate yourself? Understanding why you don’t enjoy the experience is the first step towards making the right changes, so write a list of what it is that you’re struggling with, then use that as the basis of your plan to make things better.
Up your social game
If it’s a lack of camaraderie that you’re struggling with, you’re certainly not alone. Why not reach out to your fellow remote workers and organize some daily virtual get togethers? A daily morning coffee where you all catch up for half an hour (with work strictly off the agenda!) could do wonders for your motivation – and that of your colleagues. The same goes for a regular lunchtime call or a debrief at the end of the day.
Yes, it takes a little effort to organize it, and the first couple of sessions might feel a bit stilted, but once it becomes routine those regular catchups can work wonders when it comes to making you feel more connected. And with everyone feeling more positive – and thus likely being more productive – there should be plenty to keep your bosses happy. Just be sure to invite them along – bosses can feel isolated too.
Rework your schedule
Working from home can mean a major time saving if you’re cutting out a long commute. This means you can flex and juggle your time in new ways. So if you’re nodding off at your desk by 2.30 pm, leave work for an hour or two and do something you enjoy. Then make up the time at the start or end of the day. Keep your boss in the loop and your colleagues informed about your availability, of course, but don’t feel you have to stick rigidly to the same hours as you did in the office. That’s not in the spirit of remote working.
Reward yourself
If you’re struggling with motivation and procrastination, play with ways to increase your focus. How about doing 30-minute bursts of work followed by micro-rewards? What about alternating sitting at your desk with spending time working from the garden, the park or a local coffee shop? Or simply standing while using your laptop instead of sitting?
Ultimately, the power to change is in your hands. Use it wisely!
