2020 has been a year for the books. Aside from causing unimaginable amounts of personal loss, the pandemic has also changed the way in which people work. To stop the spread of COVID-19, companies across the world are switching to work from home or hybrid models.
However, if it’s your first having to work from home, staying motivated and efficient might seem impossible. So what can help make your workdays easier?
Keep reading for nine different things that will make you as productive as possible in your new, remote office.
1. Stay Connected With Slack
If your office is using a standard messaging app for everyone to stay connected, it’s time for a much-needed upgrade. Slack is a chat platform that streamlines communication, making it easy to talk to any person or group of people.
Slack allows companies to create different channels for different communication purposes. Create one to talk about any office updates, and another secret one to talk about office gossip.
The app also allows you to share documents and files with one another, making it easy to collaborate with your other coworkers no matter where they are.
2. Promote Employee Efficiency With PICS ITech
As any manager knows, productivity can often be compromised when entire offices begin to work at home. To combat that, consider getting a company to help with mobility services.
Businesses like PICS ITech will help you with everything from securing your internet connection, to streamlining employee mobile phone usage and reducing your company’s carbon footprint.
By getting mobility service assistance, you won’t have to worry about any technical errors limiting the output of you or your other workers.
3. Stay Sane With Take a Break, Please
If the work you do is more project-based in nature, hunching over and pounding it out until the assignment is done may seem tempting. However, understand that this is terrible for your health. Take a Break, Please helps combat these workaholic tendencies.
Take a Break, Please is a browser extension that reminds you when it’s time to step away from the computer. After a specified amount of time, your screen will lock up, giving you a few moments to get some water, stretch your legs, and relax for a moment.
4. Collaborate With Google Drive
While some communication apps allow you to share files in a basic sense, sometimes you need a more intuitive system to manage large amounts of documents, spreadsheets, and PDFs. Google Drive is your solution.
Google Drive allows you to upload a huge variety of file types to a cloud-based storage system. Other users on the account can then access and modify these files. This makes it easy to collaborate, regardless of geographic location.
Google Drive lets you choose from several different storage plans. The most basic plan is free, although most companies will probably need more than the 15 GB that this plan provides.
5. Eliminate Environmental Distractions
Aside from using the right programs and apps, you’ll need to create the right office space to successfully work from home as well. For most people, this means creating a space conducive to working while eliminating outside distractions.
If you have the space, try to set aside a separate room to serve as your home office. You don’t want to let your work seep into other areas of your life, such as your marriage or being a parent. Having a separate office space can also help you be more productive.
You should be able to shut the door on any distractions, whether in the form of other family members, or cats trying to knock things off of your desk. Let your household know that for a certain number of hours each day, you are not to be disturbed.
6. Maintain a Steady Connection
If you’ve been putting off upgrading your internet connection for a long time, working from home is the perfect excuse to finally getting around to doing it. Many jobs require a stable connection at all times.
If your job involves sending emails, answering the phone, and performing other secretarial duties, you might be able to get away with a slower connection. However, if you need to update large files or host video conferences, make sure your connection is fast enough.
As a general rule, anything under 20 Mbps may cause you to experience lag. Get a speedy and reliable connection to ensure that your Zoom calls don’t freeze during any unflattering moments.
7. Get Comfortable
The last step to complete your remote work setup is one of the most important: make sure that you stay comfortable while you work.
Aside from taking regular breaks, staying hydrated, and paying attention to other basic human needs, do everything in your power to maximize your productivity while minimizing discomfort. Incorporating ergonomic devices into your home office is one of the best ways to do this.
Ergonomics seeks to make workers more efficient while helping them stay comfortable. You can buy ergonomic chairs, computer mice, and keyboards. These sorts of objects do a great job at promoting both your productivity levels and general wellbeing.
Make Your Remote Office Work With These Necessities
If you’re struggling with transforming your home into a remote office, know that you’re not alone. However, by following this guide and taking advantage of some of the points mentioned, you’ll have the tools you need to power through your remote work as quickly as possible.
Do you have a better idea of how to be a more productive remote employee? If you do, make sure to check out some of our other blog posts for more productivity guides and tips.