With the spread of COVID-19, more and more people are working remotely these days. But in the tech industry, remote work is actually fairly common. Some people have been working from home for years. It can be a jarring change, but one that you can transition into seamlessly if you follow these tips that Advanced Hires has created:
Get into a routine
- It’s important to create a schedule and stick to it, whether that means you have a cup of tea at 8 am, or you always walk your dog before you start work, make sure that you are still following a routine just like you would if you were working in an office.
Take breaks
- Just like in a physical office, it’s important to take breaks. That doesn’t mean you should spend 2 hours cleaning your apartment, but taking 15 minutes away from staring at your screen every so often will help your work ethic and your mental health. This includes lunch breaks!
Keep in touch with coworkers
- That could mean using Teams, Zoom, G-Chat, text, or email. Just make sure you are staying up to date with the things you need to know. Check-ins with your supervisor are helpful too, at least until you are confident enough to manage yourself.
Create boundaries
- When we work from home, it can be easy to forget that you are off the clock when the day ends. Make sure you’re not working into the night simply because you are having trouble turning off your boundaries. When you leave for the day in a physical office, you don’t bring your work home and continue doing it. Make sure the same is true even when you’re working remotely.
Set Up a Work Space
- This is especially important if you do not live alone. Make sure you have a quiet, ideally private, area of your home where you can set up your work space. If you can get extra monitors or chairs from your job, do that. You don’t want to lounge in your bed all day with a laptop; you need a functioning and designated work space.
Dress For the Job
- This might not apply for everyone, but if you’re having trouble jumping into the day, or sticking to a routine, dressing like you’re going into the office can trick your brain into getting in the proper mental space.
Reach Out If You Need Help
- If remote work is challenging for you, don’t be afraid to ask for guidance. Maybe you have a coworker who is adjusting better who can give you tips. Maybe your boss has a different solution. Perhaps there’s someone in your personal network who’s been working remotely for years and can offer advice. Whatever you are struggling with, know that there are resources out there that can help.