Guest Post by Gloria Martinez
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a lot of change for businesses. While some companies were forced to shut down completely, others transitioned to working from home — and many plan on continuing on with a remote model even with the end of the pandemic within reach.
If you’re an employee working from home for the first time, you may feel like you’ve been thrown into the deep end, even if you’ve had a few months to acclimate. But while there are bound to be bumps when settling into remote work, employees shouldn’t feel lost when it comes to staying productive, connected, and engaged at home.
These resources from NicClick Social will help you navigate the transition to remote work so you can give your best while working from home.
Remote Work: Love It or Hate It?
Working from home has been linked to improved productivity and employee satisfaction, but others say remote work leads to longer days and loneliness for employees. Who’s right? Here’s what you need to know.
● On the plus side, you can work from home, but unplugging after work can be a challenge. Learn the biggest benefits — and the greatest struggles — of working remotely.
● Many people find it helps to start their day early and establish specific daily priorities. Get more tips on creating a schedule and maintaining work-life balance.
● Structure can make a big difference with family members, and it’s especially important to communicate boundaries with younger ones. See how others stay focused when working from home with kids.
● Without watercooler chats, you can feel isolated. Discover how you can stay connected to coworkers while telecommuting.
Home Office Essentials for Remote Workers
All your productivity efforts will fall flat if you don’t have a comfortable and connected place to work. These resources cover everything you need to set up a home office.
● A couch-to-desk commute makes it all too easy to become overly sedentary. Create a DIY sit-stand desk using things you already own.
● It can be tempting to pull up a kitchen chair, but over time, your joints and back will thank you for a proper seating arrangement. Read up on the must-have features for your next desk chair.
● Don’t be your own worst enemy by using a poor poster or a bad work setup. Learn how to practice ergonomics while using a laptop.
● Buffering, lagging, and dropped connections can lead to communication hiccups, not to mention frustration. Optimize your internet connection for working from home.
● Household distractions get in the way of productivity. Get a good set of Bluetooth headphones that you can connect to your phone or computer to block out noise and keep your hands free during calls.
● Arm yourself with the best apps and software for remote teams. Simply adding an app like Slack for communication or Skillcrush for project management can be game changers in team efficiency.
Finding Help for Your Remote Team
Sometimes, creating a productive remote workforce calls for outside help. Here’s where you can turn when you need help setting up your remote workforce.
● Are you tackling all of the everyday details, like scheduling, keeping up emails, and bookkeeping? Hire freelancers to tackle mundane tasks so you can focus on other concerns.
● For your company to flourish, getting the word out to the right audience is a must. Work with NicClick Social to hand off your social media, PPC advertising, and web design tasks to an expert team that will get you noticed in your market.
● If you’re already using all the tech tools you can stand, consider help in another form: Hire a virtual assistant to keep your team organized.
● Transferring sensitive information on the web is an obvious must, yet if not handled properly it could be your downfall. Learn why your firm needs a cybersecurity expert when transitioning to remote work.
● Certain aspects of building a remote team line up with how you handle in-house staff, but in some ways, it’s a whole new ballgame. Get tips for recruiting and onboarding remotely.
Finally, give yourself grace as you adjust to your new remote lifestyle. It takes time to develop a work-from-home routine and master the tools you need to stay productive at home. While you might not reach maximum productivity right away, with the right tools and a flexible mindset, you’ll quickly get into the swing of things and start enjoying your new work-from-home lifestyle.
Image via Unsplash
About Gloria Martinez: Gloria started Women Led to celebrate the advancements women have made and inspire women to become entrepreneurs and seek promotions in the workplace.