So far 2020 has had an interesting few months, and now due to unforeseen circumstances we have the unprecedented situation of working from home. Many will see it as a time to work in the comfort of our own home, not have to take the dreaded daily commute and might even enjoy it, however there is a real skill to working remotely.
There is a normal transition period which occurs switching from the odd day working from home to what could be an infinite ongoing basis. It is about how this transition is managed that will provide the highest productivity for everyone involved.
We’ve had the technology to support remote working for a long time, however it has not always been used to its full potential. Society now has a constant chain linked to remote working whether it be a phone, laptop, tablet, so there is no real luxury of signing off.
If time is used wisely whilst remote working then businesses can use the current circumstances to assess the way we normally work and make it more beneficial to both employers and employees.
The best way to transition is to maintain a routine, yes you may not have to navigate your daily commute but by getting out of bed, showered and dressed as though you were heading to your workspace this will set your mind into work mode. Staying in your PJ’s and creating a comfortable work place on the sofa will inevitably reduce productivity!
Focus and try not to get distracted. Your home is now your office. Treat your workspace like your office and structure your day like you normally would.
A key point to keeping productivity high is to maintain your mental health. Lots of us like to catch up on a coffee break or speak with colleagues at their desk and this breaks up our work tasks and keeps us motivated. So how do we bring that same level of motivation into sole working? Simple changes include:
- utilising the technology that’s available to us. Having Skype/ Zoom meetings to maintain a level of personal contact
- taking ten minutes to phone your colleague instead of sending an email if appropriate
- hosting your regular team meetings online
Although you are working from home, there is often a feeling of needing to prove your presence. This may make you feel as though you cannot leave your laptop or respond to emails, this is not the case. You leave your desk in your workplace to keep you stimulated so it is important to maintain this mentality at home. Get some fresh air, your colleagues and seniors will have trust in you that you will keep your high level of standards whether in the office or not. It is so important to maintain a healthy mind when your work situation changes, this is what will keep you productive, motivated and successful.
For some of us working from home is not a new situation to be in, but it certainly is a frame of mind that you have to develop, it doesn’t just happen overnight! It’s often the thought process of trying to separate being at ‘home’ and at ‘work’. Knowing that you can’t just carry on doing small bits and pieces around the house if you are still maintaining deadlines, the same way in which dinner won’t be cooked if you work late. It is all about finding and maintaining a balance.
During Covid-19 businesses might find that there is an accumulation of tasks that have gone unnoticed or that may have slipped through the net. This is when outsourcing to a virtual assistant may be an advantage. Businesses should take this downtime to look at how to expand and level up their ideas and products, having a virtual assistant on your team will not only help with the support as you grow but also ease some of the pressure without a large financial impact.
Our main aim as a VA is to support you and assist in whichever capacity we can to help you maintain the level of productivity that you presently have.
If you have any questions about how bringing a VA into your business might be of benefit, please get in touch.
info@ljmvaservices.com / 07584992801
Lauren
LJM VA Services
