While remote work is usually seen as the answer to the \u201cwork-life balance\u201d dilemma we\u2019re all so familiar with, remote work has its own challenges. Structure is absolutely vital for work-from-home employees to thrive. Without it, you probably <\/span>will <\/span><\/i>just sit around in your pajamas and goof off all day. But don\u2019t think your employer won\u2019t catch on.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some work-from-home best practices that deal with how to weave structure into your work-from-home job.<\/span><\/p>\n Productivity all begins with the start of your day. Being remote, you have some freedom as to when those hours begin and end. But if you allow yourself too much leeway, you might find yourself starting work late in the afternoon. That\u2019s fine once in awhile, but it can be difficult to maintain that long-term.<\/span><\/p>\n Create a routine for your mornings. Have a target wake up time and a target work start time. <\/span><\/p>\n Whether your routine includes going out for breakfast, jogging, hitting the gym, or watching the news, having something begin your day <\/span>besides<\/span><\/i> work is a great way to get going. This is part of a reward mentality, where you feel like you\u2019ve already checked something off your list before you even get to your work to-dos.<\/span><\/p>\n Without a morning commute to get you ready to tackle the day, having a clear start time and routine will keep you in track.<\/span><\/p>\n You might be in love with the idea of working from your couch or bed, but that won\u2019t last. To be the most efficient you can be, you need a dedicated workspace where you can avoid distractions.<\/span><\/p>\n Whatever those distractions are, you can tune them out if you have a clean area that you enjoy working from. Otherwise, you\u2019re going to realize just how uncomfortable your couch is. <\/span><\/p>\n While your workspace needs to be distraction-free and clean, don\u2019t create a sterile work environment. Having a home office means you can make it <\/span>homey<\/span><\/i> but still workable. Hang up some posters, buy a mousepad with your favorite sports team on it, and put some stickers on your laptop (if it\u2019s yours and not your company\u2019s). After all, you\u2019re going to spend a lot of time in this office. These little pieces should add up to a workspace you love.<\/span><\/p>\n If you don\u2019t have the room or ability to create a dedicated workspace, we\u2019ll talk about some other options later in this post.<\/span><\/p>\n Tracking your projects is a <\/span>must<\/span><\/i> in a work-from-home world, and one of the most important work-from-home best practices. In a traditional office setting you might be seated with your team and rely on a whiteboard your supervisor keeps up-to-date. In the remote world, it\u2019s on you to stay on task.<\/span><\/p>\n There are plenty of free and subscription-based project management tools out there for you to use. Your company might even have one they are already using where you can track projects and talk to coworkers. Make sure you\u2019re using it as projects are assigned to you. Confirm with coworkers or supervisors that you\u2019re creating projects based on your company\u2019s standards, as some companies have specific titling requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n If your work doesn\u2019t provide a project management tool, find one for yourself. It might even behoove you take the initiative to suggest testing and implementing a tool team-wide. <\/span><\/p>\n Project management tools also create visibility in an environment where it can be difficult to see what everyone is working on. Rather than sift through emails to get the details of an assignment, put all of the information you have in a single place so you can refer to it as you work. Make the most of your time by implementing a project management tool that encourages you to be a better organizer.<\/span><\/p>\n At the beginning of every day, thanks to your project management tool, you should know exactly what it is you need to get done. But what order do you do it in? Prioritization is a necessary skill for remote employees.<\/span><\/p>\n Priorities will change as the day or week goes on, like in any working environment, so you need to be ready change it up on a whim. <\/span><\/p>\n The easiest way to stay on top of your priorities is to work to completion. If you know something needs to get done by a specific date and the rest of your tasks don\u2019t, work on what needs to get done. And work until it\u2019s finished. Working piecemeal is an okay thing to do when the project isn\u2019t time-sensitive. But when your deadline is the end of the week and you\u2019ve already been working on it off and on without a conclusion, that\u2019s a problem.<\/span><\/p>\n This is another opportunity for you to use your project management tool. Assign dates in the tool, and star certain items that are more important than others. It will create a visual map for yourself. This way, if you have two projects due the same day and one of them is highlighted, you know to get that one done first.<\/span><\/p>\n You will likely have time scheduled throughout the week for meetings where you can talk to coworkers and supervisors. However, you should make it a part of your day to reach out. Say hi, let them know what you\u2019re working on, and speak up if you have questions. What\u2019s really important here is not allowing yourself to be forgotten. <\/span><\/p>\n It can be difficult to work remotely since there isn\u2019t constant communication with coworkers. In a traditional office, it happens without even trying. However, with a remote position, if you never speak up, they\u2019ll forget you\u2019re there until they need you. Stay engaged throughout the day and form bonds with your coworkers. When this is ingrained as part of your schedule, it becomes easier to accomplish.<\/span><\/p>\n There is something exhausting about working in an office. Being tied to a desk means losing some of your freedom. Since you\u2019re always available to your co-workers in-person, you can be pulled into a meeting just because. It also means co-workers can come to your desk and talk for 30 minutes (or your cubemate) when you would much prefer to get work done.<\/span><\/p>\n A lot of these distractions are eliminated when you work from home. Working remotely usually means you attend the meetings that make sense for you to attend. You have the freedom to get up and leave your office for an hour without answering to anyone (within reason). And you chat with your co-workers when you have time. That office gossip tends to dissipate, too.<\/span><\/p>\n But new distractions appear when you work from home: kids, pets, things in your house that need fixing. You might not be able to escape these things, even from your dedicated workspace. So you need a way to recognize these distractions and combat them.<\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t feel that you need to work through distractions if it\u2019s too frustrating. It doesn\u2019t help if you feel like you\u2019re accomplishing nothing. You might consider plugging in your headphones and listening to some relaxing music. Take a mental break if you need one. Refresh, regroup, and tackle the problem later on. Switch gears if you\u2019re able to in the meantime, or step away from the desk.<\/span><\/p>\n Take an ice cream break. You deserve it.<\/span><\/p>\n One of the benefits of working remotely is that you can change your schedule when you have to. If you need to run to the grocery store after a meeting, do it. Work around that flexibility, but never at the expense of clients or co-workers. Bring your phone and respond to emails while you\u2019re out in case you\u2019re needed. <\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t be afraid to own your day. This is why we work remotely. Things need to get done outside of the office. As long as you complete your assignments and you\u2019re working a full week, your employer shouldn\u2019t mind what schedule you build for yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n So while you have those target start times and to-do lists, don\u2019t be so rigid with them. <\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re anything like me, you\u2019ll need to leave your house every once in awhile. Get a subscription to a coworking space if you <\/span>really<\/span><\/i> miss that human interaction while you\u2019re working. You have a few options from <\/span>ShareDesk<\/a>, <\/span>NextSpace<\/a> in California, <\/span>Coworkrs<\/a> in New York City, and local coworking spaces unique to your area. If you live close to a city, there is bound to be at least one coworking space nearby. This is especially important for those of you who don\u2019t have a dedicated workspace (yet).<\/span><\/p>\nConsistent wake-up time<\/b><\/h2>\n
A dedicated workspace<\/b><\/h2>\n
Project management tool<\/b><\/h2>\n
Prioritize<\/b><\/h2>\n
Communicate with coworkers<\/b><\/h2>\n
Don\u2019t be controlled by distractions<\/b><\/h2>\n
Build flexibility into your schedule<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"work-from-home](\"https:\/\/demandzen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Blog-WFH-Best-Practices.png\")
<\/a><\/h2>\nGet out of the office once a week <\/b><\/h2>\n