Tips for Telecommuting

Making telecommuting work for you
Making Telecommuting work for you

This year has definitely seen telecommuting become the new normal for many jobs; in fact, Flexjobs stated: “A whopping 74% of respondents in an annual survey believe that flexible working has become the ‘new normal.'”  Who would have guessed a few months ago that most of us would be working full time from home? Some people have embraced the change, relishing the increased flexibility of work hours and ditching the morning commute. Others are less enthusiastic, particularly those who thrive in a face-to-face team environment. No matter how much you like or dislike the idea of telecommuting, implementing this change can be difficult. Our normal work environments have completely shifted, and it can be challenging to get used to working from home full time. So here are a few tips to help your telecommuting experience.

Don’t Sleep In

Sleeping in makes it feel like the weekend. You might be saving a considerable amount of time without morning commutes, but that doesn’t mean spending it sleeping actually helps your productivity. Waking up early starts the day off right and gives you time for things you’ve always wanted to try but didn’t have the time. Yoga, meditation, reading or exercise routines are excellent ways to spend your extra morning time.

Get Dressed for Work

You don’t want to make the same mistake that a reporter did a couple weeks ago in wearing shorts with a suit coat during his clip on the air. Zoom or Skype isn’t any different. Especially if you have children or pets, you never know what might happen during a meeting, and you don’t want to stand up and have your pajama bottoms exposed. Additionally, getting dressed for the day can have significant impact on your overall outlook and productivity.

Find a Space

Setting up a working space from home is key. Having a little office nook or corner in your room usually makes it much easier to focus on your work in your home environment. Setting up on the couch or coffee table will only invite a lot of unwanted distractions. It’s important to find a place where you can think and get work done without interruptions. Of course, not everyone’s house has a separate space to shut out all distractions, and even the most private space usually isn’t impervious to all interruptions. For example, my background noises currently include our dogs barking at one of our horses which is peering into the office window. So no matter what dedicated space you have for your work, don’t forget to give yourself and your family extra leeway for those unforeseen distractions from time to time. After all, everyone is in the same boat with transitioning home space to workspace, so just remember you aren’t alone.

Take Breaks

Take advantage of the extra time you have in your home environment by doing something you enjoy during your break time. You might want to take a walk in between Zoom meetings or take extra time to whip up something really tasty for lunch since you have a full kitchen at your disposal. Maybe go throw the ball around with your children in the backyard or tackle a quick chore inside so you can check it off the list. It’s a great way to find a new level of work life balance.

In conclusion, try to keep your schedule as close as possible to your old work schedule, but also make sure to take advantage of the time you have working from home. Spend more time with your family, find a hobby, and don’t forget to be patient and safe!

It might also be a good time to reflect on how your career is progressing.  We suggest reevaluating once every few years.  JL Nixon Consulting can provide unbiased advice on where you are now and where you would like to be in the next few years. If you’re interested in a conversation to discuss your career goals, please feel free to contact us here.