Introduction

Flashback to 2019 when things are pretty normal. Everyone is living their best life, attending schools or colleges, going to concerts and most importantly working in offices!

All of a sudden the COVID-19 outbreak starts. We start wearing masks and counting to 20 while we wash our hands. People are confused and hoarding groceries. Events get canceled and everyone starts isolating themselves in their homes. Offices become virtual and most of us start working remotely.

As soon as ‘remote work’ became the new normal, people, including myself, started to feel exhausted. It was a hard couple of months trying to keep things running.

I had colleagues, especially from the age bracket of 45-50 who were confused as they struggled to use even basic technology-based solutions including Google Meet and Zoom.

I had to be the savior and respond to all queries directed to me, as I struggled to understand the changing world in parallel. I will not shy away from admitting that like most people, my mental health was a wreck due to COVID-19, the consequent death tolls, and the social restrictions that followed.

However, as things with COVID-19 unfolded, remote work became the new normal. An increasing  trend in virtual work was observed and even after restrictions were lifted, many people started to prefer remote work due to the flexibility and the work-life balance that is otherwise hard to achieve when working from a physical office.

Today, remote work has become an integral part of the world but people still struggle to make the best out of it. After working from home for over 2 years now, here are some ways that I believe can benefit those who work remotely:

1. Setting up a small workstation

This makes a huge difference. I remember how we were working from the comfort of our beds initially and I have done that too. But that is counterproductive.

In order to get into form and work more effectively, it is important to designate a separate physical space for your work. Remember to keep all your essentials and office supplies nearby.

2. Taking breaks 

Take a mini-break every hour or two. Utilize your breaks effectively to make the most out of them. Try doing a low-impact exercise, some stretching, or yoga. You can even walk around. Just make sure you are not staring at the screen constantly.

3. Muting Social Media

When working, ensure that your phone is switched to silent mode and your social media notifications are muted. This ensures that you do not end up getting distracted and can thus make the most of your time.

Communicate with your friends and family so they know about your availability in advance. However, ensure that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

4. Eating on time

While working from home, we do not have a fixed lunchtime when we stop working and sit together with our colleagues for a quick sandwich or a cup of tea.

However, this does not mean that you tend to ignore your diet. Set a fixed lunchtime or grab a quick snack during your work hours. Also, keep a water bottle nearby and stay hydrated.

5. Setting boundaries

Working remotely does allow you to have flexible hours. However, that does not mean that you have to respond to every email and message that comes your way.

Once you have completed your hours, log out of your work accounts and mute work-related notifications. This will allow you to protect yourself from burning out.

Happy Remote Work!