Office Not Necessary: 4 Steps to Successfully Working Remotely

March 25, 2020

Even before the current COVID-19 outbreak, the rise in remote work has increased rapidly. Since 2007, there’s been a 159% increase in remote work in the U.S. This increase can be credited to technology since we have so many more options with Google Suite and Slack. For lots of workers, especially parents, working remotely encourages better work-life balance, retention rates, commutes, and overall freedom. Now, working remotely is no longer just a freedom, but a necessity and reality of our lives today. So, while you are quarantined, read Pinnacle’s four-step guide to working successfully outside of the office.

1. Schedule Your Day

While you’re at home, you’re going to have to be your own manager. It can be easy to burn out or lose focus without meetings or lunch breaks. To avoid this, schedule your day in a way that makes sense for your workflow. For example, if you’re a night-owl plan to make your day afternoon-heavy and do your lower-priority tasks in the morning. Take breaks as you would at work, go for a walk during your lunch break and set an end-of-day hour.

2. Dress for Your Day

Don’t make the most common work-from-home mistake: not dressing for work. Your mental association between working and your office is what helps make you productive, and you don’t want to lose this when you’re at home. Create a mental separation from working and relaxing by dressing for work, even if you’ll be spending the day on your couch.

3. Separate from Distractions

Sure, you aren’t in the office, but you can create your office at home. Setting up a home office may seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth it. Invest in a desktop, several screens, a laptop or a tablet, and a reliable phone so there aren’t any disturbances to your workflow. Try dedicating a room or corner in your home to your work, invest in a comfy chair and ergonomic desk or table to help your productivity and comfortability while at home.

4. Stay Active & Connected Remotely

The downside to working remotely is that it can be lonely and limit your social life. During your lunch break or after work, call your partner, a friend, or a co-worker. Take a walk outside and get some fresh air or try a YouTube home workout. Even while we are all working at home, we should still work on our people skills for the future and our overall mental health.

Pinnacle

Working remotely is not only great for flexibility, but necessary for our health and safety today. Use Pinnacle’s four-step guide above to be at your most productive while your company is remote. Looking to hire an independent candidate or a career with remote flexibility? Pinnacle Consulting & Recruitment can boost your process. Our team has years of experience and can efficiently match you to the best candidates and companies in the Pittsburgh market. If you would like to learn more, please contact us at 412-343-6300 or admin@paf-resources.com or visit our website.

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