9 Tips for Remote Working Success
How many people are working from home?
Before the coronavirus, about 20% of the American workforce was working remotely. However, today the numbers are closer to 71% of employees working from home.
While it’s great being able to avoid things like traffic, telecommuting brings all sorts of other challenges. We find that distractions are the biggest obstacle remote workers find themselves having to overcome.
If you’re making the switch from being in the office to being at home then this article’s for you. In this guide, we’ll show you how to find remote working success by eliminating distractions, combating boredom, and training your brain.
Read on to learn how to be the best remote worker at your company!
- Avoid Working in These Spots
Are you the type of person who enjoys floating around your house while you work? If you don’t want to have a dedicated workspace, that’s fine! However, to boost your productivity, you’ll need to avoid working in these spaces:
- Bed
- Couch
- Kitchen table
Remote working makes it harder to focus since your home is full of stimuli that can send confusing signals to your brain. For instance, the bed, couch, and kitchen table are all areas of your house that can have a major impact on your thought processes.
Your brain’s trained to think it’s either time to sleep or eat when you’re in bed, or sitting somewhere you normally eat. Trying to work in spaces you’re supposed to relax only makes it harder to focus on the task at hand.
- Have a Field Trip
Are you getting bored working from home? Then it might be time to try spending a few hours of the workday working in a public space.
As a fair warning, working in public spaces isn’t for everyone, since it can be difficult blocking out noises, or getting a comfortable set up. However, a coffee shop table, or library corner, can be a welcomed reprieve when you’re getting a case of cabin fever.
Remote Access
When you take your laptop out into the world, you can make your life easier by learning how to remotely access your desktop. Large presentation files, and other important documents, will be at your fingertips. Once you learn how to achieve a remote desktop connection to mac, you can control your desktop from any location, and on any device.
- Eliminate Distractions
Next, to eliminate the most distractions when you’re home, you’ll need to set up your office in an area that has as little foot traffic as possible. Of course, a specific room designated as your office will work best. However, if you don’t have that kind of space, a quiet corner of your home can work as well.
Lastly, eliminate noises by soundproofing your office, or wearing noise-canceling headphones. Floor fans are also great for blocking out unwanted sounds by producing a calming white noise.
- Create a Pleasant Work Space
Moving on, you need to make your home office a space that you look forward to spending time in. You can begin transforming your work zone by finding lighting options that don’t irritate your eyes. For instance, you could put adjustable LED light bulbs in your office so you can find the perfect brightness setting.
- Calming Colors
Next, to make a big difference, go ahead and give your home office a fresh coat of paint. Warm gray-beige makes for a great color scheme when you have a mind that tends to wander.
The comforting colors will help calm your mind as you focus on completing your workday. Other calming colors include combinations such as earthy green, warm whites, and pale blue. To energize your space, use colors uplifting colors like yellow.
- Choose a Signature Scent
After you’ve painted your space, and put in new lights, the last step is to choose an aroma for your home office. Having a signature scent for when you’re working will help your brain know when it’s time to pick gears.
We suggest choosing either calming or energizing aromas. For instance, lavender and rose essential oils are great for keeping stress at bay. However, citrusy oils work best when you need a little pick me up!
- Play the Right Tunes
The songs you enjoy listening to while you’re driving, or hanging out, might not be the best for working. If you have a job that requires a lot of problem-solving, or writing, we suggest finding ambient music to compliment your day. Ambient music usually doesn’t have any words, so it blends right into the background, while also helping create a fun work atmosphere.
- Support Yourself With Ergonomics
Moving on, ergonomics next step in creating an incredible home office setup. Ergonomically designed workspaces are set up to eliminate pains and strains. As a result, you’ll be more productive, while also protecting you from potential work injuries. For instance, you’ll need a back supporting office chair that has adjustable settings so you can set it at an optimal height.
- Take Frequent Breaks
Last but not least, you should be walking away from your computer for at least 5 minutes every hour. When you take frequent breaks, you’re giving your mind a chance to refresh so you can come back recharged and ready to go. To have the most productive breaks, go outside, do some stretching, and take a few deep breaths!
Master the Art of Remote Working
What can you do today to improve your remote working experience? If you think your home office setup needs a makeover then go ahead and decide what color scheme is right for you.
Do you want to calm gentle colors like gray or pale blue? Or are you looking for a more lively setup, with uplifting colors, such as yellow?
After you pick the colors that will work best for you, take the plunge and go buy the paint! For more tips like these, explore the other articles on this site.
