In normal times, the option of working remotely may seem like a luxury. COVID-19 has unfortunately necessitated remote work for people across the world — including just about all of us here at Nova Pioneer — taking us out of our usual work environment. Because the workplace, for many, provides a daily sense of routine, stability, connection and meaning, such an abrupt change can leave us feeling isolated, frustrated, anxious, or unmotivated.
Don’t be too hard on yourself
The first thing we’d like you take away from this message is that if you’re having trouble staying motivated, organised, or well-nourished; if you’re having trouble dealing with family demands, cabin fever, or social isolation; in general, if you aren’t feeling like your best self during this time, this is totally natural and you are not alone! So be gentle on yourself. And to managers, who undoubtedly are also feeling disoriented — be thoughtful about how to support your team. We’re all headed up a steep learning curve, and we’ll get more confident day by day.
All that being said, while some sense of disruption may be inevitable, there are steps that you can proactively take to maximize your well-being and productivity while working remotely. Below you’ll find some of the classic pitfalls of working remotely and tips for how you can avoid them.
1. Build a routine and focus – Steps to help you avoid the “It’s 2pm and I’m still in my pajamas” concept
Build routine and create new rituals to help you focus and separate work life from home life. Here are some easy, effective steps you can take:
- To start, mimic your normal workplace routine as much as possible.
- Set clear start and stop times to your day.
- Shower and dress professionally to get into a work mindset.
- Get yourself in the mindset for work — fake a commute by going for a walk or any other small ritual to set the tone. You can also use the commute time to journal or set up your work space for the day.
- Take scheduled breaks — set alarms every hour or so to get up and stretch your legs, make a cup of tea, or step outside.
- Keep a checklist of things to be done each day and block time in your calendar to get projects done.
- By all means, keep the TV and social media powered off!
Create a comfortable primary workspace.
Having a primary workspace that can feel like your at-home office or cubicle is critical — even if it’s just reserving a particular corner or other area. Comfortable seating, sufficient light, and minimal distractions are all ingredients of a productive workspace, whether at home or in the office. This doesn’t have to be your only workspace, but it should be where you can reliably go to get good, focused work done.
Set boundaries with family and friends.
Many of us may share a home workspace with family, a spouse, or roommates. Make it clear to them that just because you are home does not mean you are available, and that they should respect your time and your space. We will be sending a separate guide specifically for teammates who have kids at home, which of course presents a different set of challenges to working remotely.
Reflect on what works and what doesn’t.
Again, for most of us this is an entirely new experience, so we’ll learn as we go. Take time at the end of each day to review how you spent your time, where and when you were most productive, and what you want to try the next day. Do headphones help you block out distractions? Are you more productive with short breaks throughout the day or one longer lunch break? Everyone is different — listen to your body and brain to figure out what works for you.
2. Health and wellness – Ain’t no sunshine when I work from home
If you typically exercise, don’t stop now.
If your gym is closed, there are plenty of exercises you can do at home — squats, push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, and more that do not require gym equipment. Remember that as long as your heart is beating faster, it doesn’t care why. Here’s a list of resources/routines for at-home workouts.
Movement is key, whether or not you choose to exercise.
It’s easy to come to the end of a remote work day and realise you’ve taken just a few hundred steps. This is counter-productive, as movement enhances cognitive activity, posture, and general wellbeing and can be very energising while working remote. So build activity into your routine — go for a walk, take calls standing up, and/or do exercises in the morning, evening, or throughout the day.
Drink plenty of water.
This is important for hydration, health, and for movement.
Eat proper meals and avoid snacking throughout the day.
There may be more temptations at home than at work — do your best to avoid them. Eating proper, whole-food meals can suppress your appetite for snacks. Nutrition is always vital! Consider prepping your meals the night before if you’re worried you won’t have time during the day.
Do something every day (even small!), other than work, that enriches your life.
Reading, writing, cooking (recipes), podcasting, and other hobbies will do the trick.
3. Connection and support – Teamwork makes the remote work.
Be kind to yourself and your teammates.
Trust that everyone is doing their best in a difficult situation. Especially given the circumstances, consider starting your meetings with a personal check-in to see how everyone is doing.
Over-communicate.
Especially early on, as we are all getting comfortable with each others’ working styles in this environment, consider sharing more regular status updates with your team and/or manager. Scheduling more regular check-ins may help until a new rhythm is established. Note that this is not a free pass to managers to remotely hover over their team’s shoulder. Trust is key.
Feedback is (still) a gift!
Always a priority at Nova Pioneer, giving feedback on what’s working and what isn’t is even more critical when navigating uncertainty. Share learnings with the broader team so everyone can benefit and adapt their style as needed. Remember that your manager has likely never managed a remote team and would benefit greatly from feedback during this time.
Keep culture going.
Keep up the casual communications that might have happened at the “water-cooler”. Check in with teammates via email or WhatsApp and schedule digital lunches or tea breaks. Share pictures of your workspace and send GIFs and memes to express your feelings. Most rituals and rhythms that your team does at work can be recreated remotely.
We encourage you to experiment with these and other strategies and find what works for you. No one size fits all, and nothing can solve all your challenges overnight. But with practise, remote work will get easier and hopefully more enjoyable. Along the way, we encourage you to openly voice your struggles and share your triumphs. Because above all, remember that we’re in this together.
