As more Carenet Health team members transition to working at home, we’ve gathered a few tips to help make the “new normal” successful.
Get ready for work.
Stick to your schedule. For instance, get dressed and have a meal before starting work. It helps you get in the right frame of mind.
Set ground rules with the people in your space.
Family members and friends need to have clear rules about what they can and cannot do during your work time.
Stay connected.
Ensure that you are always available, in your home workspace, during your scheduled hours.
Keep a dedicated work space.
Dedicate a space that is quiet and away from the noise and people (or pets) in your home. Eliminate distractions such as music and television in the background. Send any home and personal mobile phone calls to voicemail. Answer them after work.
Interact with your coworkers.
Keep loneliness at bay by interacting with your colleagues during the day as much as possible.
Overcommunicate.
Working remotely requires you to overcommunicate. Tell everyone who needs to know about your schedule and availability often. Overcommunicating doesn’t necessarily mean you have to write a five-paragraph essay to explain your every move, but it does mean repeating yourself.
Take breaks.
Don’t short-change yourself during breaks.
Don’t hesitate to ask for what you need.
Be sure to reach out to your manager to ask for what you need to be successful, within reason.
Be positive and extra-clear.
It can be hard for team members to interpret each other’s tone when working remotely. It’s important to remain positive, helpful and clear in your communications.
Don’t be too hard on yourself.
The most successful remote employees have a reputation for being extremely disciplined. After all, it takes serious focus to do any full-time office job from an unconventional space. That said, this is new to a lot of people. Cut yourself some slack as you get used to remote work.
Remember ergonomics.
Ergonomics—including chair height, adequate equipment spacing and good sitting posture— are important to remember and easy to forget. Here’s a good resource to check your home setup. And don’t forget to take a moment to stand and stretch out your muscles when you can.
End your day with a routine.
Just as you should start your day with a routine, create a habit that signals the close of the workday for you.