If there’s ever been a need for remote work tips to help you get through the day, it’s now. We at 100Ninjas have always been a successful fully remote business, so we know a thing or two about how to stay super productive on a daily basis.
Working remotely does take some getting used to. It’s not easy to just switch from real time human interaction to viewing your colleagues and families through a screen. This won’t last forever. But in the meantime, here’s a few remote work tips to help you stay on-point and maximize your time during this isolation period.
Up and at ‘em
When working from home, it’s easy to fall into a more relaxed regime and let your standards slip. Why not start your morning with a short black coffee to kickstart your metabolism. Then maybe try something like a 7-minute Fat Burning Routine? This will help to kickstart your day the right way and ensure you don’t neglect the exercise that can ‘accidentally’ slip through the cracks. After you’ve completed your mini workout, it really doesn’t hurt to have a shower and put some ‘work’ clothes on. Sounds crazy, we know! In all seriousness though, it’s really easy to turn your PJs into a ‘day suit’. Try and get some other things done before you crack open the laptop. Before you know it, it’s 5pm and you haven’t gotten dressed all day.
Create a Dedicated Workspace
You may be here for a while, so why not set yourself up with a calming workspace with some room to maneuver. Add some plants to your workspace, pictures of friends and family, plus a decent speaker to listen to your favorite music. Somewhere with a window is advisable, rather than staring at a wall. If space is limited where you live, choose a dedicated area where you will be able to sit comfortably with a straight back. Turning your couch into your office space might be a novelty on Day One, but by Day Four you will definitely be rethinking your slouch-tastic strategy.
Everything at your fingertips
Make sure you have all the latest remote apps and project management software up to date and ready to rock. Zoom is great for group meetings, but remember to be aware of your background noise and surroundings when you log on. No one needs to see your other half wandering around in a towel singing Brittany. Or do they? Slack is a brilliant way to stay in touch with work colleagues. Now that you don’t have the benefit of casual conversations in the corridor or at the water cooler, remember that these help break up your day in a positive way.
Asana is a fantastic way to keep a team on-point and on the same page. Once you’ve learned the ways of Asana, you’ll never look back when it comes to remote project management. It’s a real game changer when it comes to teamwork, but also on your own individual projects.
Schedule and stay on target
If you’re leading a remote team, remember that communication is key to ensure that everyone is pulling in the right direction. Try organising video calls rather than emails to have some daily face to face interaction. Remember to schedule breaks into the day not just for the team, but also for yourself. The boundaries between work and personal time can easily blur when working remotely, so try and ensure you seperate the two. We may have nowhere to go in the evening, but no one wants to be answering work calls and emails at 9pm.
Communication is key
Keeping colleagues up to date on where you are on projects and tasks is key while working remotely. Now that you’re not in the same room to ask quick questions and queries, it’s important that everyone stays in the loop. It’s also important to document changes and decisions alongside follow-up conversations, clarifications and reiterations. Being clear and concise is key to keep the ship sailing smoothly. And remember to reach out to members of staff to see how they’re doing. This can be a difficult transition for some people, so try and make people feel good, no matter where they are.
Turn on, tune in, log out
When your remote workday is done, why not close your laptop? Put your phone on silent and take some much needed time away from technology. Going from one screen to another is no way to help your mental health flourish. Get changed out of your work clothes, read a book or listen to some tunes. Do some yoga or stretching, maybe even some meditation if you’re that way inclined. Add some ‘me time’ away from your ‘screen time’. You won’t regret it.
Stay in touch
With the extra time on your hands, why not schedule a group call with friends and family? We don’t know about you, but we’ve found this enforced isolation has seen us reach out to people more than normal. Why not check in on a relative you haven’t spoken to in a while, or organise a group chat with friends. ‘House Party’ is a great app for this, and it also includes a great quiz feature to keep your callers entertained.
All work and no play
Have you ever wanted to learn new skills like graphic design or music production? Write a novel or a short film? Well, now is the perfect time to get creative with online classes to help build up your remote skill set. YouTube has hundreds of free tutorials in a whole manner of subjects for you to try out. If you fancy some healthy competition, why not dust off your old Playstation? Millions of people play online every day and it’s a great way to get your mind out of work mode.
There’s no right or wrong way to spend your isolation time. But as a company of remote workers, we thought we’d share a few of our remote work tips on how to keep productive. And remember…
Look out for each other, stay safe, and stop buying all the toilet paper!
Founder at 100Ninjas.
Bananagram Master. Smoothie Mixologist. Seeker of the cozy. Art lover.