Achieving Work-Life Balance in Remote Work
The day-to-day routines of too many of us look like never-ending hustles from 9 am to 5 pm, banging our heads against computer screens every day of the week. But, as many of us are now being forced to discover, working remotely provides us with an alternative way to find balance between our professional and personal lives.
It quickly becomes a top priority to establish a few non-negotiables in the transition to remote work—rules and practices that help ensure that you can make the most of the upside of remote work while avoiding the many potential pitfalls. There are many ways to establish a positive remote work environment, but here are the top non-negotiables to implement to make your remote work experience effective and enjoyable:
Communication
Communication is key to any remote working relationship; it is non-negotiable that everyone should be transparent and clear on expectations prior to beginning work to help ensure smooth workflows. To ensure successful remote work:
• Establish a common platform for communication. Set up communication systems that allow you to easily and quickly send messages, view documents, and track project updates in real-time.
• Ensure visibility through frequent updates. Keep your team updated on project progress so that everyone is on the same page.
• Practice active listening. By keeping a keen ear for instructions, you can improve your own understanding and relationships with collaborators.
Focus On Time Efficiency
From the onset, prioritize managing your workflows efficiently to avoid hindering projects with backlogs or delays. To do this, consider:
• Prioritizing tasks. Spend more time on high-priority tasks. Use the calendar function to break tasks down into smaller chunks and work through a To-Do list of most important tasks first.
• Managing distractions. When working remotely, it can be difficult to stay focused. Minimize potential distractions by working in an area that’s free of noise and clutter, and turn off notifications on social media and email to reduce distractions.
• Allocating specific time to focus. Create designated times during the day when you commit to focusing on work and not allowing yourself to be pulled away by other responsibilities.
Resource Utilization
Make the best use of technological resources and prepare for the needs of your business. To increase efficiencies:
• Invest in skilled employees. Ensure that employees have the necessary skills and tools to perform well.
• Implement software tools. Utilize software tools such as task management systems and other organization software that can make tracking assignments, maintaining records and collaborating with teammates faster and easier.
• Utilize automation. Leverage automation tools to manage tasks like data entry and content management.
Collaborative Team Environment
Make sure to bring remote team environments as close to in-person as possible. To help alleviate a feeling of isolation and create a more productive work environment:
• Establish straightforward protocols. Establishing protocol among teammates helps to keep everyone on the same page and ensure productive progress.
• Schedule regular “team time.” Allocate a few hours each week to give team members an opportunity to discuss their progress, voice any concerns and catch up in social interactions.
• Take advantage of video meetings. Harness the power of technology to bring your remote team together by hosting video meetings. Not only does this help boost morale but also encourages an atmosphere of collaboration.
Reasonable & Flexible Time Management Policies
Managing the day-to-day activities of a distributed team requires a truly smart scheduling system. This means that:
• Acknowledge the need for flexibility. Recognize that remote work cannot be run like a traditional office, so be flexible with employee hours, sicknesses, and other needs.
• Prioritize work-life balance. Integrating work and life is important for a team’s success, which means that remote working teams should be allowed to take breaks for personal matters.
• Lay down expectations concerning start/end times. Make sure that employees know when their workday begins and ends, so everyone can manage their time accordingly.
Integrating Fun Activities
Integrating activities like virtual team building exercises and team lunches into weekly agendas will help team members connect and stay connected. Here are some ideas:
• Create an online “water cooler.” Designate a common area online where people can engage in informal discussion, like a chat room, a blog, or even a virtual pub.
• Incorporate games. Arrange for teams to take part in virtual games, such as online scavenger hunts.
• Meet somewhere interesting. Make remote meetings interesting by hosting them in fun and exotic locations, such as the beach, or gather everyone in a virtual concert.
Owing to the global pandemic, many of us are now more reliant on a remote work setup than ever. In order to make remote work a positive and productive experience, it’s necessary to establish a few non-negotiables to ensure that everyone is on the same page while enjoying the freedom and autonomy of a work-life balance. By focusing on time efficiency, resource utilization and collaborative team environment, while also paying attention to reasonable time management policies and integrating fun activities to give team members the feeling of being in an office environment, you will be able to make remote work actually work for all parties.
