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.