We’re all aware that the COVID-19 outbreak has greatly affected the way we go on about our daily lives. So now, more than ever, remote work and self-isolation are recommended.
For some, it might feel like a dream to work from home and not deal with commuting or socializing. Though, it’s often the case that when we do remote work our productivity and mental health decline! To prevent that, we got 7 tips that experts say will help you stay sane and productive during the outbreak of Coronavirus.
1. Crack a window open and experience the morning
As trivial as this sounds, starting off your morning with a breath of fresh air is key. The different sounds lessen the loneliness, increases gratitude, and give you a powerful motivation boost.
In the era of technology, we often forget to connect with ourselves and dismiss the environment we share with others. This is the perfect opportunity to change that!
Depending on where you live, a hot/cold cup of coffee or tea in the early morning accompanied by the weather display at your window makes for a splendid start.
Bonus points if you have pets! Especially cats and dogs are known to reduce anxiety and improve your mental health.
2. Choose your work spot and treat it as such
Make your professional life more inviting by having a dedicated work spot. It doesn’t have to be a fancy office or an entire room- it’s the spot that counts. When you start the morning, take a look at that space. Keep in mind that this is where you foster your professional productivity. You respect the space as what it is by getting up, wearing a nice pair of clothes, fixing yourself up and going to work there.
It might be difficult at first – especially when you’re doubling as a parent – but it can do wonders for your motivation! Even if you don’t see anyone that day, it’s the effect of “you look good, you feel good”.
3. Make your schedule and stick to it
Nothing works right if you don’t know where work ends and your life begins. It doesn’t mean that you’ll have to follow a 9-5 schedule, but you should definitely create a frame that fits your productivity span. Some people are early birds while others are night owls and that’s ok.
Most of the remote employees forget to take lunch breaks, short walks or never really clock out from their work mindset. This is why a set schedule is encouraged and time management apps like Clockify or task management tools like Asana can help with that. Only you know when you’re in the best shape to work, so you should fix your working hours accordingly.
4. Move to the cloud
As the pool of data keeps growing and users need information on-demand, more and more businesses are adjusting to that in a cost-effective way – by moving to the cloud.
Especially now, numerous businesses and individuals have migrated to the cloud and are taking advantage of a variety of cloud solutions to monitor their performance and adapt to the current situation. Data needs to be circulating all the time and employees have to stay updated.
Many cloud computing companies have created coronavirus-inspired offers to ease our struggle with data space, management, and security. At UCX, there are currently over 2500 IT providers that offer an abundance of products and services to make work easier during this challenging time.
5. Embrace videoconferencing
As humans, we are prone to crave physical contact and verbal communication, but recently, we’ve leaned on texting a bit too much. In order to not lose the human touch with our peers, we should fully embrace videoconferences.
Our colleagues are going through the same situation and we can encourage collaboration and understanding by talking to them face to face. Luckily, technology has given us the liberty of staying connected at all times so we should make the best of it. For example, you can leverage tools like Zoom or Google Hangouts for a seamless conferencing experience. Here’s also where tip no.2 comes in handy. If you got ready for work, you will look forward to sharing your time with your team!
6. Use the extra time to take care of yourself
Remote work can be a little cheeky. It’s intriguing to just work throughout the time you usually spend on commuting or going out, but that’s not the wisest thing to do. Instead, you can focus on taking me-time and improving your health.
We know, it sounds cliche when we talk about exercising and eating vegetables, but it’s backed up by science. Doing exercise increases your serotonin level and has antidepressant effects as plenty of studies have shown. Since we’re isolated within our four walls, we are more vulnerable to feelings of loneliness, depression, and self-loathing. A healthy way of life helps you fight that bundle of negativity off. Also, eating healthy doesn’t only improve your mood, but prevents various diseases, does wonders for your skin, and contributes to high energy levels. So be smart and take care, because you can’t work if your health isn’t working with you.
7. Work on your self-discipline and consistency
Yes, we can already hear the grunts of dissatisfaction when the word discipline is heard. But it’s true. All of the tips above require discipline and consistency. This situation is the ideal opportunity to create a productive routine where both our mental and physical health is taken care of.
In case that seems like a lot of work to you because it’s you, how about imagining your body and mind as a customer? Fulfill the requirements of the customer by staying healthy and productive and, in turn, get rewarded with success. Sounds like a deal, right?
And there you have it. These are the tips our team at UCX is following to stay productive while keeping business rolling. We hope you could take away something that helps you too!
Stay safe. Work from home.