How to Work Remotely and Stay Productive [Expert Guide]

How to Work Remotely and Stay Productive [Expert Guide]

Coronavirus. Coronavirus. Coronavirus. You’ve probably heard this term a LOT over the last few months. It’s definitely turning the world upside down right now. One large movement is how companies are allowing their employees to work from home to avoid the spread of germs in an office environment.

But remote work can be challenging, especially for those used to in-person meetings, chatting in the breakroom over coffee, and laughing with coworkers during lunchtime.

We’re here to tell you it will be alright. We’ve got you!

Our team at Your Marketing People has been working remotely for years now (with an office in Irvine for local client and team meetings), and have developed the best strategies to promote team success and combat loneliness.

Here are our expert tips:

Set Deadlines for Yourself.

One of the key benefits of working remotely is that you have flexibility. You could work from anywhere at any time, which can pose many schedule issues. Like when should you start? When should you stop for the night? Don’t sacrifice work/life balance, just understand deadlines.

Instead of staying in the mindset of working 8am to 5pm, take into consideration that you can work different hours, maybe when you feel most productive, or maybe on weekends when you want to catch-up. Set your own schedule, just be very communicative with your team and make sure you don’t miss deadlines. Set deadlines for yourself.

Lane Burns, Asset Manager at Your Marketing People, advises, “Set time aside for planning your day and even your week, so when you have downtime you know what your focus is going to be. That way you don’t get distracted when things slow down or you don’t have any scheduled meetings.”  

Your Still a Team Even if You’re Miles Apart  

You might not see them every day like you used to, but they’re still your team! “If there is a task that needs immediate action, but the person who is responsible cannot be reached, the rest of the team should be able to jump in, divide and conquer and take care of the task,” says Ishani DePillo, Co-Founder of Your Marketing People.

“That is a key point to our success for working remotely. We truly act like a family and have each other’s back, so we all can enjoy life and not sacrifice the quality of our work,” she adds.

Additionally, stay in touch with your team by downloading an app like Slack or Skype to communicate with your team daily and stay on track with projects or even to post funny memes! 

Start Your Day with a Meeting, Check-In or Chat

Morning meetings are not everyone’s favorite, but what about a casual chat with other team members?

“I’ve found that checking-in with others helps me stay on task all day long and feel connected with everyone else,” says Alisha Chocha, Co-Founder at Your Marketing People. “Plus, I get to see where everyone is at. And if there is anything urgent I need to jump on right away.”

Structure Your Day

Have a routine or set a daily checklist for yourself. It’s important to set a schedule for yourself, so you still have a structured day even though you aren’t going into an office daily.

Creating a checklist for the day also helps you stay on-task. Write down every task you NEED to complete by end of the day to keep the ball rolling on your projects, even if it is as simple as drafting up an email. The reason is that as you go through your checklist, marking items complete, it will keep you on-task all day. And feel rewarding when you are done!

Make Your Space Comfortable

Do you have dual monitors at the office? A plant? Photos of your family? A stand-up chair? Bring those items of comfort and productivity to your at-home space. You should feel comfortable all day long.

Some of our favorite items to have are:

• Plants and succulents to feel the warmth
• Family photos to motivate
• Small fridge to keep your drinks cold
• Oil diffuser to stay stress-free
• Dual monitors, wireless keyboards and mouse to promote productivity
• Coffee maker to produce yumminess that keeps us going
• Dogs, dogs, dogs – We love our pets nearby!
• Small speaker to listen to music and podcasts
• Headphones that work well for you

Stay Positive

There is still lots to stay positive about when it comes to remote work. Working from home cuts out long commutes, rushing to get ready and out the door, and offers you the flexibility to manage your own schedule and work from anywhere.

Now, let’s talk about loneliness – the worst part of remote work. Don’t let it creep up on you. We tell employees to get OUT – go work at a coffee shop, take a walk with your dog, get lunch at a restaurant, meet friends after work, head to the gym, join sports clubs, or just sit outside to get that natural Vitamin C.

And always reach out to your teammates or professionals if you need the extra support during this time period.

Thanks for reading and hope this offers tips to keep you productive while working remotely.