Are You Following These 6 Remote Work Best Practices?

Are you new to remote work or looking to make the switch? To set yourself up for success, it’s important to plan ahead and learn about some tools and resources to help you be successful.

To get you started, below are six remote work best practices that will help you focus on common trouble spots for remote workers.

Here are six remote work best practices:

1. Keep communication open.

One of the more difficult aspects of remote work is staying in contact with your coworkers. However, by focusing on this aspect of work, the lines of communication can easily be established. Create a routine where you check in on certain days, or request informal meetings. It’s also important to utilize other remote work tools, such as email and instant messaging, to show that you are available. Additionally, when collaborating on projects and utilizing shared documents, make sure to add notes and comments where applicable.

2. Be mindful of productivity.

Although working remotely tends to lead to higher levels of productivity, it can be easy to get distracted by other responsibilities around the house or by the Internet itself. Find ways to help you stay focused on work when you need to be working. Ideas include creating to-do lists, using timers, and focusing on one task at a time.

Setting a schedule—and sticking to it—also helps to create the feeling of working in an office. And, surprisingly, it can also be helpful to take breaks! During these times, you can get away from your desk and take a minute to think about something else. You’ll probably find you will come back more refreshed.

3. Manage your work-life balance.

It can also be incredibly easy to get lost in your work when you are a remote staffer. The lines between work and home are often blurred, meaning you will likely spend more time in your home office than you would if you worked in a regular office. To keep yourself in check and maintaining work-life balance, consider the following:

Set a starting and quitting time for work.
Make to-do lists based on priority.
Shut your system down at the end of your workday.
Create a “commuting” routine that will help you move from work to home.
Close your office door at the end of the day.
Don’t add a work email address to your phone or tablet.

4. Create a good work environment for YOU.

One downfall to working in an office is that you rarely get to create a work environment that supports your work patterns and is complementary to your personality. As a remote worker, creating your work environment is both fun and important. Before making a permanent office, try different setups first. Find an office configuration that will support your daily tasks, work functions, and work needs. It’s also important to consider décor and equipment that will make working from home easier and more enjoyable.

5. Build relationships with coworkers.

Just as you have to work a bit harder at communication when working remotely, you also have to work harder at building relationships with your coworkers. But it is equally important! To build strong and trusting work relationships, make the effort to connect with others on your team. Emails and chats don’t always have to be work related, and if you have a culture of sharing, a simple old-school snail mail card can make a huge impact on someone else.

6. Learn a bit of tech support.

Technology is, after all, what makes working from home possible. To be the most successful remote worker you can be, it is important to have some basic tech skills under your belt. Even if your company has an IT department on staff, knowing basic troubleshooting techniques can make a big difference, including the amount of time you save trying to get issues assessed and fixed.

Depending on your role and personality, your remote work best practices will likely vary. The above suggestions, however, are great at getting you set up and moving in the right direction of being a successful remote worker.