Tips for Remote Work Success - Your Career Intel

Tips for Remote Work Success - Your Career IntelI titelbild the Denver market at Lucas Group, but for the past 18 months Ive been working out of Nashville. This is the first full year I will have worked remotely, and so far Im on track to have my best year ever at Lucas Group. Although remote work presents some challenges, theres no reason why it cant be just as effective as working out of the office.Since I began working remotely, Ive consciously built four key habits to help me stay focused and productive1. Set business hours for yourself. Decide up front what hours you will work every day, notify your coworkers, and stick to these hours. Setting your business hours structures your day and establishes clear boundaries between work and free time. Of course, its helpful to keep a schedule that meets the needs of the market you serve and the needs of your co-workers. Because I work on Denver time, I work from 830am until 1130am and then from 200pm to 700pm. By sticking to the same sch edule every day, my kollektiv also knows exactly when they can reach me.2. Take time to recharge. My schedule keeps me focused during the periods of the day that are the most productive for reaching candidates and clients in the Denver area. This schedule also allows me to take time for myself midday to recharge. Remote work can be isolating, so its good to plan an activity each day that involves some sort of social interaction, whether thats a yoga class or lunch with a friend. Youll come back refreshed and re-focused for the afternoon.3. Stick to a stopping time. When working remotely, especially out of your home, the temptation can be to work all the time. By setting a hard stop at 7pm, I separate my work and personal time and keep myself accountable for meeting deadlines.4. Designate your own office space. Ideally, your office should be a room with a door that closes, but even dedicating a ecksto of your living room as a work zone can be effective. Similarly to setting your busi ness hours, this practice helps you to demarcate your work and personal lives. Stepping into your office sends a signal to your brain that your workday has begun and its time to switch on. Some people prefer to leave their home altogether to work in a coffee shop or co-working space, which can be a great option. But if you spend a lot of time on the phone like me, you may prefer a space where you can control the noise levels.5. Stay connected with colleagues. One of the biggest challenges for remote workers is staying in the loop with your colleagues. When you out of the office, you miss out on the casual interactions and informal encounters where information is shared. In order to be successful, you need to be very proactive about reaching out to peopleI schedule regular check-ins with my managing partner so she knows everything Im working on. If there are any major developments between our check-ins, I flag them so that she hears them from me first.While email contact is great for keeping in touch with coworkers, I find regular phone calls are also important. A phone call often gives you information that an email doesnt for example, you can tell a lot from someones tone of voice.Participate in team-wide status meetings via phone or video. Hearing what your colleagues are working on can help you to come up with creative ideas for your own work.Just because youre working outside the muster office environment doesnt mean you cant do your best work. The key is to set clear boundaries, stick to a schedule and proactively stay in touch with coworkers.Do you work remotely? Feel free to share your tips for success in the comments below.

5 Daily Choices That Will Change Your Life, According To a Navy SEAL

5 Daily Choices That Will Change Your Life, According To a Navy SEAL When you find yourself stuck in a rut and feel the need to shake things up, a little bit of discipline can go a long way. No one knows that better than former Navy SEAL commander Jocko Willink, who translated lessons from his regimented military training into best-selling self-help books geared toward individuals seeking ways to structure their lives and increase their own efficiency. In a 2017 interview with Willink has a bit of bad berichterstattung for those of us who love to stay up late and spend the morning hitting the Snooze button waking up early results in higher productivity. Willink discovered during his SEAL training that getting out of bed at 430am prior to his bunkmates allowed him to get a head start on everyone else thats still sleeping and get productive time doing things I needed to do. He also emphasized that waking up early shouldnt result in a lack of sleep, encouraging anyone following his advi ce to adopt an earlier bedtime instead.2. Getting your exercise gear prepared the night before makes it easier to get moving in the A.M.If youre not a natural morning person, adopting an A.M. fitness routine isnt an easy task. However, Willink insists that starting your day with some form of physical exercise gets your blood flowing and gets your mind in the game. To avoid putting off your workout, Willink urges you to tischset your gear out before you go to bed, so itll be ready and waiting when you wake up.3. Put together your daily to-do list the night before rather than waiting until morning.Another way to dodge the pitfalls of procrastination involves making a to-do list for the next day before bedtime instead of waiting until morning. Willink insists that this tactic will give you a clear-sighted view of your goals and will allow you to formulate tomorrows plans in an organized manner. Dont think in the morning. Thats a big mistake that people make. They wake up in the morning and they start thinking. Dont think. Just execute the plan. The plan is the alarm clock goes off, you get up, you go work out. Get some, Willink told Business Insider.4. Power naps can give you valuable boosts of energy when you need them most.Willink acknowledges that changing your sleep schedule to a go-to-bed-early-and-wake-up-early pattern can cause exhaustion throughout the day, especially if youre not used to it yet. If you suddenly find yourself feeling sleepy in the afternoon, Willink recommends a quick 6-8 minute power nap to help you recharge. If possible, try elevating your legs above your head to reduce swelling in the feet and ankles often caused by sitting at a desk for prolonged periods of time.5. Free food at work may seem like a great perk, but it doesnt always work to your advantage.A complimentary spread of morning bagels or lunchtime mafiatorte often puts office workers in a good mood, but Willink warns that these edible gifts can sabotage a healthy eating plan. He encourages keeping your distance from office junk food and instead reaching for a nutritious snack if you feel peckish during the work day.