To help stop the spread of the coronavirus, many companies have opted to have their employees work remotely. For a lot of people, this is the first time they’ve ever worked from home. It might feel a little strange. Maybe a bit lonely. If it’s something you’re not accustomed to, working from home can feel like you aren’t really connected to your co-workers like you were when you were able to stop by their desk throughout the day or see them at lunch.
For some employees, working from home can leave them feeling a lack of motivation. It’s hard to feel as involved with a project when you aren’t working on it face-to-face with your team. And it’s hard to not feel discouraged when you hear the latest news about COVID-19. When will you ever be able to go to the office again?
While life will return to normal sooner or later, there are ways to feel engaged and connected while working remotely. First, take a break from the negativity and check out VP Legacies’ newest course. It’s streaming free daily on Facebook and Instagram, sharing some positive news and tips for remote workers. Then, follow some of the advice below to make working from home an experience you enjoy.
Have a Dedicated Workspace in Your Home if Possible
It can be hard to get in the zone when you’re trying to work while on the same couch you were playing video games on or binging Netflix on just a few minutes ago. And sitting on your bed is making you just want to lay down, watch YouTube videos, and sleep with your dog. To stay motivated, create a temporary workspace that gets you feeling productive. Clear off the kitchen table and replace dinnerware with office supplies. Set Up a Schedule
When you’re not at the office, you can start feeling like there’s a lack of structure. You have Slack and Zoom meetings here and there, but it’s so easy to get distracted by Disney+ and even walking around the neighborhood. To keep yourself on track, set up a daily schedule, just like the one you would have at work. Even hang it on the wall if you have to!
This schedule should include a timed lunch break, a set amount of time for each project you’re working on, and even when you’re going to “go home.” Knowing that your day will indeed end will give you a better sense of urgency during work hours and give you a chance to relax come dinner time.
Stick to Your Goals
The lockdown has led a lot of people to feel discouraged or unmotivated. The world is scary outside our makeshift office space and it’s hard to ignore it. Keep a sense of hope and normalcy by not letting go of the goals you had for yourself and your work before the coronavirus pandemic. Discuss your goals with your boss or supervisor and let them know what you need to succeed.
Keep Checking In
To stay connected to your office as a whole, keep Slack — or whatever you guys are using to chat with — open at all times during the workday. Think about all the times you interact with people at work, whether it’s checking in on an assignment in the morning, walking by and chatting before a meeting, attending a meeting, working on a project… To maintain that sense of collaboration and engagement, make sure you’re checking in with your co-workers consistently from home. This could be a simple, “Hey, how’s your day going?” to a more in-depth discussion on a presentation you’re working on.
It might be a great idea to implement a daily morning coffee, where everyone just chats for a few minutes each morning. Maybe create themed photo contests and other interactive activities that keep everyone engaged and interacting throughout the day.
Don’t Lose Touch With Your Work Friends
One of the keys to feeling connected to the work you’re trying to focus on at your new workspace is your co-workers. Yeah, it’s definitely not the same when you can’t see them face-to-face in the office, but it’s important to maintain a relationship with them any way you can.
Go on video chats with them throughout the day to discuss what project you’re working on, hit them up on Slack for more than just work-related jargon. Have virtual lunches together to just joke around and have some fun face-to-face.
Take Care of Yourself
It can be hard to adjust to working remotely at first. You are used to your co-worker stopping by to show you photos of his cat. And you always had lunch with those women who cracked you up. You felt motivated after those morning meetings and felt a sense of inclusion when you collaborated together on projects. You’ll start to realize that being alone doesn’t mean you’re truly alone. It means you’re alone with yourself — and for a lot longer than usual. Learn to connect with yourself through VP Legacies’ course,. You’ll learn things about yourself you never knew, from strengths to the ways you work best. And you’ll even start to appreciate this time spent alone even more than ever before. You’ll start working better alone once you realize what your strengths are and what there is to appreciate about yourself and the way you work.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 epidemic has created a lot of obstacles, including learning to transition to remote work. At first, it can be hard to stay focused. You may even feel disconnected from your coworkers and yourself. But with a little bit of motivation and a little bit of adjusting, you’ll soon be loving all the benefits of working from home, like getting to type with a cat on your keyboard and wearing sweatpants during a meeting.
There’s a lot of perks to working from home, including learning more about you and the connections you have with your co-workers. Contact VP Legacies today if you want to learn more about staying connected and engaged while working remotely