{"id":105,"date":"2020-05-18T11:19:35","date_gmt":"2020-05-18T09:19:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.amplement.com\/blog\/?p=105"},"modified":"2020-06-03T11:10:29","modified_gmt":"2020-06-03T09:10:29","slug":"5-habits-for-crafting-the-perfect-remote-work-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.amplement.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/18\/5-habits-for-crafting-the-perfect-remote-work-day\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Habits for Crafting the Perfect Remote Work Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The reality of working from home is rarely as rosy as it seems<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Key<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When people find out that I work from home and set my own schedule, the conversation is often met with an upbeat, \u201cWow you\u2019re so lucky\u201d quickly followed by, \u201cYou must have so much self-control. I would end up watching Netflix all day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the outside, it might look like people who work from home have more self-discipline or drive than others. But I\u2019ll let you in on a little secret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re flattered, but what we have isn\u2019t more willpower or passion for productivity \u2013 it\u2019s habits and routines that we cling to religiously because we know we\u2019re all one tiny, little, harmless peek at our notifications away from getting absolutely nothing crossed off our to-do lists for the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite endless statistics<\/a> about how remote work increases productivity, working from home is a relatively new concept that takes a lot of trial and error before finding a routine that works. Productivity isn\u2019t an innate skill (for most people anyway). It\u2019s not even a skill really \u2013 it\u2019s a series of habits that take consistent patience to build.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As remote workers, there are usually significant disparities between how we imagine our days going, and how they actually end up. However, with some practice and diligence, there are little tweaks anyone can make to their routines to turn their remote work expectations into a consistent daily reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Getting an Early Start<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"Remote
Image credit left: Lauren Mancke<\/a>, Image credit right: Nathan Dumlao<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What we think it\u2019s going to be<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You wake up early, eat a well-balanced breakfast and sip your morning coffee while catching up on your daily news and emails. After coffee comes 30-minutes of meditation and self-development work, followed by daily goal setting. You already mapped out your plan for the day the night before, so after breakfast, you get ready and head to your office of the day where you\u2019ll bang out a few solid hours of deep, peaceful work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What it actually is<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You wake up in reaction mode, rolling over, grabbing your phone and immediately checking email. Working remotely can mean interacting with people in different time zones which usually results in middle-of-the-night emails and messages that you won\u2019t see until morning. It\u2019s easy to reflexively begin responding to things that came in while you were asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You promptly enter problem-solving mode which throws off the rest of your day. The remainder of your morning is then spent working on others\u2019 requests which cause you to lose sight of your own priorities. When you finally look up from your computer, you realize it\u2019s 2 pm and you\u2019re still in your PJs with a soggy bowl of cereal and your, now cold, coffee sitting next to you. Your carefully planned out day is out the window. Oh well, maybe tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new approach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Instead of jumping into the impromptu tasks waiting in your inbox, plan your morning the night before<\/a> and stick to that plan no matter what. It\u2019s easy to prioritize things that others ask of you, but be wary of restructuring your entire day and losing sight of your initial goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider how you\u2019re supposed to act in an airplane emergency \u2013 you can\u2019t help others until you\u2019ve secured your own oxygen mask first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a new task comes in that isn\u2019t 100% urgent, designate a time that you\u2019ll work on it uninterrupted or try to delegate the problem solving as much as possible until you have time to deal with it. If your mornings tend to start like this on a regular basis, consider waking up earlier to be proactive, or make it known to your colleagues or clients that you\u2019re happy to answer their emails in the afternoon if it\u2019s not urgent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re just not a morning person that\u2019s completely okay! Don\u2019t let the hundreds of articles about successful entrepreneurs with 5 am wake-up times discourage you from creating a morning routine that\u2019s comfortable for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if, despite all your best intentions, you do find yourself sidetracked, don\u2019t panic. Take a five-minute break to step away from your computer, breathe, write down the next specific thing you want to focus on, then come back to your computer with that singular task in mind.If you find yourself constantly distracted by your team\u2019s group chats, consider switching your team or clients to Twist for calmer, more productive communication<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Deciding where to work<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"Coffeeshop?
Image credit left: Slava Keyzman<\/a>, Image credit right: Ivan Pais<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What we think it\u2019s going to be like<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since you work remotely, it\u2019s assumed or expected that you have a membership to a swanky coworking space or are a regular at a cute local cafe. You know, that hidden gem with the trendy interior design, calming music and strong coffee, away from all of the tourists and local college kids. If you don\u2019t co-work or work from cafes you must have a bright, Pinterest-inspired home office complete with everything you need to maximize your time at home while separating yourself from those pesky distractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What it actually is<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coworking is expensive, especially for full-time memberships. The spaces can also get very loud and crowded in large coworking hubs. Not to mention, coworking is still a new concept, and many towns don\u2019t have coworking spaces or might not even know what coworking is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cafes, at their core, are just cute restaurants. Places where people go to eat. You rarely find outlets, and Wifi can be unreliable. Factor in crying babies, loud patrons, whirring coffee machines and your guilt for ordering one coffee and working for 4 hours while others wait for a table, and you can kiss that clear headspace goodbye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working from home, on the other hand, can get real isolating (and distracting) real quick. Kids and family members are there to cause endless distractions. Dogs need your undivided attention, and for some reason, the only place your cat wants to sit is directly on top of your keyboard. You tell yourself you\u2019ll wake up and get dressed to get yourself in the mindset that you\u2019re going into the office, only to stay in bed working from your pajamas until the late afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new approach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Invest in yourself and your workday. If you know you\u2019re more likely to work from home, splurge a little bit on a desk or office space that you feel good about and that will inspire you to get work done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you dream of joining a local co-working space but are intimidated by the price point, ask about smaller memberships to start. If you\u2019re a freelancer or business owner, you can usually claim your coworking membership as a business expense! As a remote employee, some companies will help cover the cost of a coworking membership or office space \u2013 if you feel like it significantly impacts your productivity you could present a strong business case to your boss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you have to cover 100% of the costs yourself, it may be a worthwhile investment in your business or career. The number of co-working coworkers worldwide is expected to rise to 3.8 million in the next 2 years<\/a>. You never know, lurking behind those doors could be your next big client, employer, or mentor. And if you\u2019re not being productive at home and feeling increasingly guilty and anxious about it, spending the money will be worth it for your mental wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a coworking space isn\u2019t an option, or just isn\u2019t for you, there are other ways to keep from feeling isolated at home. Join Facebook groups or forums dedicated to remote workers and ask around if there are people in your area who have found good cafes or hidden gems that are good for coworking. If there are indeed \u201chidden gems\u201d they won\u2019t be on Yelp or Google, so asking people in similar positions might shed some light on new, unexplored places. There are also tons of helpful tools like Breather<\/a>, WorkFrom<\/a>, and LiquidSpace<\/a> that helps remote workers navigate the world of wifi speeds, access to power outlets, meeting rooms and more to skip the learning curve and get your day going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Better yet, start your own coworking Meetup group that gets together at a cafe to work together once a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you still have a hard time finding your flow as to where you\u2019ll work best, keep trying new things. You can\u2019t change your outcomes or find new solutions without trying new things on to see what fits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Prioritizing Tasks<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"What
Image credit left: Natalie B<\/a>, Image credit right: energepic.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What we think it\u2019s going to be like<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll have the autonomy to decide what\u2019s most important and only focus on that task to completion. The processes are in place for you to prioritize your responsibilities and make you feel confident that you\u2019re doing the most valuable things first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What it\u2019s actually like<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everything feels like it\u2019s the most important thing. Your to-do list becomes a never-ending braindump of everything that you\u2019re convinced needs to get done resulting in stress and confusion about where to even begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new approach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Experiment with some new productivity techniques that you may have rolled your eyes at in the past. There\u2019s nothing wrong with a little skepticism towards productivity \u201chacks\u201d or secrets to success, but don\u2019t let your aversions to the jargon get in the way of finding a technique that suits you and helps you get things done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using concepts like the Eisenhower Matrix<\/a> or Eat That Frog<\/a> can put your to-do list in perspective and help you identify what should take precedence.For more ideas on productivity techniques to try out, browse our Ultimate Guide to Personal Productivity Methods<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re still having a hard time identifying priorities, try working backward by identifying work that\u2019s definitely not a priority. Eliminate those items and assess what\u2019s left. You\u2019ll have fewer things to consider and a more comfortable time deciding what\u2019s necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Donald Miller, author and CEO of StoryBrand, outlines in his storyline productivity technique<\/a>, managing your time goes hand in hand with managing your mental energy. The more time you fight with your mind on which task you should be doing, the more mental bandwidth you\u2019re using up that won\u2019t be available later when the real work begins. Make quick and intentional decisions to focus on what will serve you most and just do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Scheduling Uninterrupted Deep Work<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"Setting
Image credit left: Bruce Mars<\/a>, Image credit right: Tero Vesalainen<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What we think it\u2019s going to be like<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Freed from the interruptions of the office, it\u2019s a breeze to set aside hours at a time to focus on deep, meaningful work. The work you\u2019re passionate about, that fuels you and inspires you. You find a perfect time and place to unplug and dive in. You\u2019re a productivity wizard, and nothing can stop you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What it\u2019s actually like<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Distractions, distractions, and did I mention distractions? Your phone is buzzing with social media notifications, texts that give you FOMO, and phone calls that you tell yourself you\u2019ll let go to voicemail (but then convince yourself it might be an emergency and answer it anyway). People must have been so much more productive before cell phones and social media, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new approach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, the same technology that provides endless distractions can also be used to minimize interruptions when you\u2019re looking for a break. Apps like Forest<\/a> and Zero Willpower<\/a> exist for this very reason. They block specific sites and apps from your phone or computer for a certain amount of time to help you focus and minimize the madness. Forest takes the motivation a step further by gamifying the process and letting you plant a virtual forest with your productivity. It will even let you use tokens you earn within the app to donate real money to deforestation causes. Now you\u2019re productive and saving the rainforest. Win-win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cal Newport, author of Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World<\/a>, puts a huge emphasis on the mental consequences of dealing with constant interruption. He explains that by allowing ourselves to be distracted, we\u2019re actually weakening our brains\u2019 ability to focus on \u201cdeep work\u201d in the long term<\/a>. It takes unlearning our habits of constantly checking notifications and requiring validation from our devices to retrain your brain to take full advantage of deep work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newport suggests setting goals for the amount of time you spend doing deep work every day and keeping a running tally<\/a> as you go. Not only is it motivating to watch your tallies grow, it also makes you more conscious of distractions that can derail your focus. If you let them.Looking for more tips on how to hone your focus? Start with our Complete Guide to Deep Work<\/a> based on Cal Newport\u2019s book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Maintaining Work-Life Balance<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"Work
Image credit left: Oleksandr Pidvalnyi<\/a>, Image credit right: Dan Fa<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What we think it\u2019s going to be like<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Just type \u201cremote work\u201d into Google, and prepare yourself for a mood board packed with images of laptops on beaches, coconuts, and articles on the notorious 7-hour workweek. In your mind, you\u2019ll be a master at creating the perfect work-life balance in which you go to yoga every day, run errands in the afternoon, take the kids to soccer practice, cook balanced meals and still have time to get all of your work done, not to mention take on a few side projects here and there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What it\u2019s actually like<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re always on call. You get emails and messages all day long with never-ending push notifications that you refuse to ignore. You never take breaks because you feel like if there\u2019s time to spare, you might as well get a head start on something else. It never feels like you\u2019ve done \u201cenough\u201d. Sometimes you envy the structure of the traditional 8-hour workday because there\u2019s a built-in time for lunch and breaks that you\u2019re expected to take, not to mention an actual end of the workday. In the back of your mind, you think you\u2019ll experience \u201cthe shift\u201d one day, where the work-life-balance magically falls into place, but until then, you\u2019ll wing it and hope for the best because hey, at least you\u2019re not wasting an hour a day stuck in rush-hour traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new approach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The reality is that true balance comes from within and is a result of the choices you make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first step is to set firm boundaries for yourself and refuse to waver on them. Make it a habit to unplug at a specific time each evening<\/a>. Force yourself to keep to your schedule by setting up a date with friends or have an exercise class you go to at 5 pm without fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incorporate a scheduled \u201coff\u201d day into your week to reset. Go on an adventure, or give yourself the time to binge-watch your favorite show with no guilt and no thoughts about work. Make your expectations for your day off the reality of your day off and treat it with the same importance you place on your workday.Read about how one remote worker finally achieved work-life balance by g<\/a>oing back to the traditional 40-hour work week.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re working on your own, or with a distributed team, and are responsible for managing your own time, it takes a lot of intentional planning, discipline, and self-awareness \u2013 not to mention mistakes and failures \u2013 to identify which habits make you efficient and which ones are holding you back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no right answer or secret sauce to being an incredibly productive person. There are just small, deliberate steps you take every day to work towards a place that makes you feel good about what you\u2019ve accomplished and completely guiltless when you unplug for the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source : https:\/\/doist.com\/blog\/remote-work-habits\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The reality of working from home is rarely as rosy as it seems When people find out that I work from home and set my own schedule, the conversation is often met with an upbeat, \u201cWow you\u2019re so lucky\u201d quickly followed by, \u201cYou must have so much self-control. I would end up watching Netflix all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17,16],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 Habits for Crafting the Perfect Remote Work Day - Amplement | Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As remote workers, there are usually significant disparities between how we imagine our days going, and how they actually end up. 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