While coronavirus (COVID-19) has created an environment of uncertainty for business and residents across the United States, one thing is clear – the workforce capable of working from home will probably be doing it for a while.
At first, this may seem like a great situation, but after time, the appeal starts to wear off and working remotely begins to feels like more of a curse instead of a blessing. At VoiceNation, we’ve been working remotely since the start of COVID-19, so we’ve compiled a few helpful tips.
1. Figure out your work style.
It can be hard to focus when you’re pulled in two different directions – taking care of the house and taking care of work. There are two methods that work for two different types of people. You can stagger your work and your chores by blocking off certain parts of the day for work and for the home. Or you can treat your remote work as your in-office time. If you work from 9 to 5, then cooking, cleaning and laundry can be done before or after work. Once you divide your day up into a set schedule, things will fall more into place.
2. Get ready for the day.
Mornings are probably going to be your most productive, so be prepared. Sometimes it can seem mentally overwhelming. One of the best ways to get yourself ready for the day is to actually get ready for the day. Sure, you don’t need to dress to the nines, but a little morning routine to get yourself prepped for the day ahead can help get your mind focused.
3. Shut out distractions.
Find an area of your home or apartment where distractions are minimal. If you’re drawn in to snacking by the kitchen or tempted to switch on the TV, move away from the things that will pull you away from work. If there is a door to shut, all the better. Creating a work zone will help you get into the zone.
4. Take breaks.
There’s a difference in being pulled away from distractions and taking scheduled breaks, so make sure to schedule some break time! This sounds incredibly intuitive, but it’s a little bit harder at home when your schedule is a little bit more flexible. If the weather is nice, take a 10–minute walk. Have coffee away from your desk and same with lunch! Don’t hole up in your work zone all day, it’s good for your mind to get up and focus on something other than your computer for a few minutes every hour or two.
5. Quit at quitting time.
Your computer and phone are with you in your house. Shutting down is a little more complicated when your work follows you home. Or exists at home with you, rather. Nothing can create serious burnout faster than not defining the parameters of your day. Decide the hours you want to work and stick to it. When the day is done, start streaming or relax, but don’t pick up the phone or switch on your laptop. There’s plenty of time for that during your working hours.
VoiceNation has been preparing for shifting to remote work since January, so when COVID-19 became a real threat to the U.S. in early March, we moved all of our employees to work from home. Around 50 percent of our U.S.-based operators were already working remotely and are equipped with our top-notch technology to provide seamless call handling from home.
Now all of our operators have the same equipment and are working from home, so we are still open, and we are here for small businesses! Want to learn more? Give us a call!