Remote workers can earn more than their office-based counterparts, a fact which helps explain why their ratings have continued to soar. Businesses adopting the new employment model use it to be more competitive and profitable compared to traditional local staff. Consequently, your success as a remote worker depends on your ability to maintain high levels of productivity.
You already know that you can only face the challenge of working remotely by exercising self-discipline and staying focused on your task. You may also understand the pressures that push you to maintain a high level of performance to meet your employer’s or client’s expectations. While some work-related stress can help you, too much stress can be counterproductive and prevent you from achieving your goals. Use these tips to counteract the effects of stress while increasing your productivity and grades.
Find a Place to Work
Commuters wake up early, go to work and return late at night, often after spending hours sitting in traffic. Remote work takes away most of that stress, giving you the opportunity to reclaim a large part of your life. Still, working in the same place all the time can cause you to lose your edge. Every now and then, change up your environment by finding an alternative place to work.
Coffee shops, libraries and parks offer you a change of scenery that can stimulate your mind and give you a new perspective. You can also try other places in your home such as the porch or window seat to break up the monotonous work day.
Design Your Routine
Rituals like sorting the laundry, taking out the trash, and making your bed can infuse rhythm into your day and give you a head start that can make your day productive. Try enjoying the fresh air with coffee or a glass of water. Similarly, you can save fruits and nuts for snacking. Find ways to create routines that help you and your body feel energized and you’ll have the framework for building a productive and rewarding career as a remote worker.
Get up!
A sedentary lifestyle can cause physical and mental stress that can threaten your productivity and well-being. Force yourself to take scheduled breaks to rest your eyes and refresh your body. Something as simple as looking out the window can relieve eye stress and restore your mental focus.
When working at home, spend some of your down time doing House work and stretching to keep your body relaxed and your mind free. You may find that, during your breaks, you come up with new ideas that solve problems and increase your productivity. Try other tactics such as rearranging your office until you find a way to successfully minimize physical and mental stress.
Dress up!
You would never report to an employer’s office in your pajamas, so be prepared to go to work every day before reporting for work at your home office. You have a job to do that requires you to look, feel, and act professionally, so take the necessary time to dress appropriately. Failure to do so can add to your stress and cause you to have a sluggish attitude towards your job.
Give Technology a Break
Keep your phone out of reach and put it on silent mode while you’re at work. Otherwise, annoying phone calls, text messages, and emails from relatives and friends can derail your focus and ruin your productivity. Train everyone in your personal life to appreciate the fact that working from home is just as serious as working in a corporate headquarters.
Ambient Sound and Natural Lighting
Natural light can help you avoid the headaches and stress that too often slow you down. Try adjusting the lighting in your workspace to minimize the stress your eyes experience while working. You should also try to stimulate other senses like your hearing. Fireplace sounds and other types sound can contribute to your motivation and help you finish the job on time.
Open and Direct
Reduce the amount of work-related stress you experience by engaging in open and honest communication. Instead of sneering about your job or the way other people talk to you, convey with your peers in an open and direct way. Ask questions, voice your concerns, and get the information you need to get your job done and achieve your goals.
Go Out and Have a Real Human Experience
Remote workers do not enjoy the social aspects of traditional work arrangements. You can’t chat in the break room or around the water cooler because you work from home. Such isolation can cause stress in your life, so make sure you maintain healthy relationships with your friends and family members. You need social interaction to stay healthy and productive, even if you feel satisfied with your job.
Refill for Next Day
Remote workers often work longer hours than their counterparts who work in a traditional office environment. Create boundaries between your work area and the rest of the house, so you can enjoy “coming home” after work. Likewise, protect your personal time by minimizing the amount of work you do after hours to give yourself enough rest to maintain your health and productivity. At the end of your work day, leave your computer and documents behind so you can enjoy your life.
Despite the advantages you enjoy as a remote worker, you can suffer from stress-related issues that can cripple your life and career. Fill your work routine with a variety of places to work and stay active throughout the day. In addition, use open communication to avoid misunderstandings and hurt feelings and maintain social relationships with others. By using the tips above, you can enjoy your life and work without letting stress get in the way.
