Remote work – part 2

As I mentioned in part 1 of this series, I have been successfully working remotely for over 3 years now. I have come to discover both external as well as internal disturbance factors, but I didn’t let these get the best of me. Now, I want to inspire as many people as possible to discover the benefits of remote work as well as techniques to deal with the challenges it poses.  

The home usually inspires time-out, relaxation, or a different type of work – chores. So, we need to shift the paradigm and understand that for a while ( might be days, weeks, or 1 month+), our home is going to be more than it used to be. Transforming the way you think is not that difficult if you have a roadmap to it.  

Use planning tools

The easiest way to cope with this is to set the working hours beforehand (if possible). If we decide to work from 9 to 5, then in this interval there will be no movies, no chores, no play, only the work breaks that should also have a schedule. 

Since remote working is not something that was invented in 2020, fortunately, there are many tools designed especially for this. Some proactive people have put together an initial list of tools that can be used for remote collaboration. It is a great asset, and there you can find tools for almost anything. Also, your own company most probably has a list of preferred software that everyone uses.

However, the whole point of the article was to share my personal experience. So here goes.

For time tracking, I use Toggl. Every morning I start work, I turn on Toggl and log all the activities I perform. I have created different clients and projects so that I have a clear overview of how my time is spent. You need to turn off Toggl when you are not working as otherwise there’s no point to it. For beginners, I recommend the desktop version, which has more features, including one that notices you are away from your keyboard and suggests discarding the idle time. Believe me, in the beginning, you’ll forget to turn off Toggl when you have breaks, and it is going to prove very useful.

The next tool I open is Todoist. I use it as my daily planner for tasks that I need to complete during the day. I usually plan my days ahead, but I also add new things as they come along. Having all the tasks that need completion during that day is a potent weapon as it keeps you organized and on track with what you have to deliver. This, combined with tracking how much time you spend on each task, gives you the efficiency measure you need and can raise red flags for what needs to be improved. 

There are 2 types of outliers when it comes to remote working: 

1. Forgetting to start working
2. Forgetting to stop working 

For the former, a clear schedule is an answer, and we’ll discuss some other options further along. 

For the latter, there is the Pomodoro technique, which can be applied however suits you best. The idea is that work is divided into intervals, which are clearly marked so that you work efficiently but also remember to take breaks. 

You can find much software designed for it, and it is a great way to establish a routine when starting remote work.  

There are a lot more tools, but for the sake of brevity, I will stick to what can help you get started and a routine.

Set goals

Now that you are literally on your own, you are the ultimate responsible for your productivity. There is no one watching over you, nor the environment to prompt work. You are by yourself in the comfort of your home, and theoretically, you can do whatever you please. In practice, it is only a question of time until slacking is going to catch up and cause trouble. So, we need to make sure you won’t need to make damage control. A solution is to set personal goals related to the work you need to produce from home. At first, focus on daily deliverables so that progress is constant and very obvious to you as well as stakeholders.

Break goals into quick wins

Usually, projects take more than one day to deliver. Therefore, they are broken down into tasks. This is also because otherwise, they wouldn’t be achievable. So, do the same with your work. Even if, in the office, maybe you weren’t producing daily outputs, for remote work, make it a habit of having deliverables shipped each day. More than this, publicly commit to these in advance, so that your mind is programmed to reach the objective. When you have committed openly, your accountability increases, you are prone to deliver and less likely to procrastinate. 

Get a sponsor

Even the most organized and reliable people have rough days. Days in which they quickly get distracted and/or do not feel like working. When you have an on-site job, you need to reach it, and going there, prepares your mindset for doing the work. Also, during the day, you get tangled in the routine, and even if your productivity isn’t at its best, you still get some work done. This does not happen at home. At home, it is easier to slack, as no buffer sets your mind in the working mood. A solution to this is to have a routine before you start ( like a quick physical workout or some music to get you started) that triggers the working mood. Another solution is to get a “sponsor.” This can be a colleague, a friend, or a family member that is going to check-in at an established time to help you get started. Their role can extend further, and they can ask you about your progress/milestones but also remind you to take breaks and be efficient. You can do the same for them or another person. This way, you will get support and be supportive even if the is little physical interaction.   

Keep interacting

In-person is not the only way to interact and socialize. To ensure productivity and even mental sanity, check-in periodically with your team. A daily huddle is the best option, and you can get on a quick Skype/Zoom/Google meet conference to share your daily goals and general progress. In this manner, you are all aware of each other’s work, and the deliverables stay on track. You can use chat for individual conversations so that you can sync with your co-workers on specific issues or to replace the watercooler conversations you used to have.

“Where there is a will, there is a way!”

Proverb

These are only a few techniques you can use to streamline your remote work, but there is much more where these came from. It would be great to hear from you about what helps you stay productive and sane. 

Since I want to do my part, I am offering 1 free consulting session in which we can discuss remote work. Claim yours here!

Happy and productive remote work!