6 Tips For Working From Home!

Due to COVID-19, people all over the world are taking extra care and are making sacrifices to help curb the spread.

One major change for many people in the workforce is doing their job from home. To some this is a paradise, a dream come true while for others it is proving to be challenging to work in close confines with young children, partners, and another family.

At RTA, we have team members living and working from many points around the country.

While we are seemingly built for this, working remotely can present its own set of challenges and as these new times are sprung on other organizations, we thought it would be a great idea to share a few tips and words of encouragement.

Tip #1. BE NICE! Be nice to your partner and the people around you, be nice to yourself, and be nice to the new guy/girl too!

Take a break. It’s easy to get into the zone and for the time to pass very quickly when working from home. Remember the kids are likely home from school and missing their routine too so maybe try and apply the same rules of engagement during work/school hours as you would if you were at a coffee shop? Huh? Yeah, if you don’t make it your job to tell the table of people being too loud to quiet down then don’t do that with the people you know and love. Not being a taskmaster in this way will make life a whole lot easier for them and you!

Tip #2. Take a breath. Both my wife and news junkies and it would be so easy to simply settle on the sofa and zone out, but we won’t let that happen.

We've set rules and boundaries for our news intake and only check the news 2 times during working hours. This prohibits us from being swept down rabbit holes and also allows us to use our mental energy for our work and the new role of homeschooling our children.

Tip #3. Make a schedule.

The kids are already tense enough. Don’t make the mistake of thinking they don’t know what’s going on or that things are dramatically different, make a schedule to do school work, have some fun, explore things online, etc.

Tip #4. Don’t forget your coworkers, as we practice social distancing and working mostly alone, don’t forget the people you usually spend your days with.

Undoubtedly not every moment in the office is lockdown business mode. Reach out to coworkers beyond scheduled calls. Doing so is a real shot to the morale and provides a deep impact on building your team.

Tip #5. Take a walk. If you’re able to spend some time outdoors and keep a safe distance of 6 feet from other people, take the opportunity to clear your mind so you’re more focused when you’re working indoors.

I tell my wife that sunshine is my secret power and that going outside for even as little as 5 minutes is energizing to me. While I am out there I do some deep breathing, get a drink of water, and feel the sun and breeze around me. It recharges me.

Tip #6. Remember the details surrounding our current situation are unfolding minute by minute so be flexible with yourself and your team members.

We are dealing with a wide range of dynamics that we’ve likely not dealt with before. So, give a couple of extra moments to arrive for that afternoon team call, take an extra moment to say hello to everyone, and simply ask how they are doing. It will once again go a long way to building deeper ties within your team.

This isn’t a tip but more of an observation. Working remotely doesn’t have to weaken the fiber of a team. I think, just the opposite is true. Working remotely offers new opportunities to collaborate and potentially deepen the spirit of camaraderie among team members.

To share your recent remote working experiences feel free to reach out to us on LinkedIn!