Jason Downes, MD of Powwownow
Get yourself into a routine
The ability to work flexibly is becoming an increasingly high priority for employees, with research from the Smarter Working Initiative, a UK wide initiative to encourage UK businesses to introduce flexible working for all employees, finding that 34% of women, and 26% of men would prefer the option to work flexibly over a pay rise.
However, managing your productivity and organising your own day can be a challenge for people working flexibly for the first time. While it’s easy to get distracted when you’re not in an office setting, here are some simple but effective ways you can be efficient when working flexibly.
Get yourself into a routine
The best way to ensure you’re in the right frame of mind for work is to stick to your usual routine. Getting up at a set time, showering and getting changed, much in the same way you would if leaving the house to get to the office, will remind you that it is still a working day.
Make a plan for your day
Creating a plan of action for how you’re going to achieve your goal and a time frame for doing so is essential – regardless of where you are working from. Write a to-do list and be sure to stick to it, just like you would if you were working in the office with your team.
Get dressed for the occasion
There’s a misconception that people who work remotely spend their days in pyjamas working from home in bed but getting up and getting dressed for a day of work is actually one of the best ways to stay efficient when working from home.
Create a designated workspace
We all get easily distracted, so it’s important you have a designated place where you can work when at home. Make sure your workspace is one that has minimal clutter, a proper work desk, and relatively quiet surroundings.
Set yourself time limits for tasks
When working flexibly it can be easy to lose track of the time you’ve spent on specific tasks, so make sure you set yourself time limits for specific items on your to-do list. By assigning approximate time limits to tasks you’ll also find it easier to manage your daily and weekly actions.
Communicate, communicate, communicate
It is important to keep the line of communication as open and transparent as possible when working flexibly, and to check in with managers and colleagues throughout the day. Advances in technology mean we can now communicate easily with team members spread across the globe for free, so make sure to make use of it!
Take your breaks
When working remotely for the first few times, it’s natural to overcompensate and work longer hours that you normally would in the office. However, it’s important to give yourself breaks to re-set and refresh, so make sure go out for a walk at lunch and take regular tea breaks.
Turn off at the end of day
When it comes to the end of working hours, and you have finished all the actions on your list, you should stop working. It’s important to remove yourself from the working environment so you can mentally and physically separate yourself from work and be ready for the next day.
Lean into your support network
There will always be challenges and learning curves at every stage in your career and it’s important to remember that you do have a support system, even as a remote worker. Talking to other flexible workers to share ideas on best practices for staying productive will help you stay grounded and find what works best for you.
Join meetings remotely
Whether it’s a regular client call, or a weekly team briefing, make sure to dial into calls and video conference into meetings wherever possible. By joining both internal and external meetings when working flexibly you’ll feel more connected when you return to the office.