Remote Work or Working from home (WFH) is a reality today since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in 2020 and launched us into a new normal. The lock-down forced everyone to stay indoors for a long time, and companies had to subscribe to handling business from their homes. As at today, companies have completely adopted the remote work policy as a permanent structure.
Many workers have found working from home satisfying. Many companies, start-ups and businesses have adapted to the new normal. The 'remote' style of work owes its viral success to the global Covid-19 breakout.
While some companies resorted back to the office work/work-place style, a reasonable percent of workers are settling for the 'remote' system while a few are working with the hybrid model which is a combined-work system i.e. a mix of the remote and onsite style.
While some companies resorted back to the office work/work-place style, a reasonable percent of workers are settling for the 'remote' system while a few are working with the hybrid model which is a combined-work system i.e. a mix of the remote and onsite style.
Compared to the office-style, employers and employees find the 'remote-style' beneficial in terms of increase in productivity, more contribution from workers, work-life balance, lesser time on the road, less stress and reduced health risks.
At the same time, it also comes with disadvantages. For example - workers might slack in their duties due to absence of monitoring thus impacting on the general wellness of the business/company, inadequate work incentives, poor team performance especially if team management systems are not in place and a breach in the way the 'home' is designed to run if work is not managed well.
And this exactly is what I'll be briefing you on.
Often times, many remote workers get lost in work and forget to address their personal and family needs. For example, there are no boundaries between work-hours and down-time. When this is not defined, the flexibility that comes with the remote system is abused.
As a remote worker, it's important to draw up boundaries if you are going to maximize the benefits of a remote job. If you are going to show up at work with finesse while acheiving your big goals with fulfillment - then you've got to be intentional about SELF CARE.
Don't be so invested in work that you forget about your self. Great performance at work and better effectiveness happens when you invest in 'self'.
There are quite a number of demands and expectations that comes with work. A number of times, if you are working from home, you definitely have a number of deadlines to meet and in the quest to meet them all - a 'breakdown' is inevitable.
As a remote worker, it's important to draw up boundaries if you are going to maximize the benefits of a remote job. If you are going to show up at work with finesse while acheiving your big goals with fulfillment - then you've got to be intentional about SELF CARE.
Don't be so invested in work that you forget about your self. Great performance at work and better effectiveness happens when you invest in 'self'.
There are quite a number of demands and expectations that comes with work. A number of times, if you are working from home, you definitely have a number of deadlines to meet and in the quest to meet them all - a 'breakdown' is inevitable.
Looking after your 'self' will give back a high ROI (Return On Investment) so it's advisable to be skilled in the art of self management to avoid consistent breakdowns.
"With a full-blown breakdown, there's not so much you can do anyways."
'Self-Care' is not a one-size-fit-it-all concept. While hanging out with friends might work for one, staying in-doors munching on a jar of popcorn while reading a great book works for another. Whatever makes you feel peaceful and mindful is fine.
"The goal of self care is to ensure that your physical, emotional and mental health is intact and works perfectly well so that you can deliver your best work."
Below, you will find 5 Self-Care habits that can help you show up with your best self daily while delivering beyond expectations.
There is no doubt this has increased productivity and improved growth in these companies - but while a remote job makes work easy, there are downsides to it. If you work remotely, hang in there because you'll find this write-up helpful.
1. Make your bed always and clean your space.
Each time you get out of bed, make your bed, clean, and organize your space. When your space is organized and clean, you'll most likely stay focused and get things done. It automatically puts you in the work mode. When you tick off tasks on your to-do list, there is a sense of fulfillment that comes with it.
2. Work out Regularly
Your activity is reduced when you work from home but when your body is engaged in exercise or workouts it reaps the numerous benefits. And apart from keeping fit, it will make you feel pumped up while your body stays active. A simple activity such as a walk around your neighborhood helps a lot.
3. Take a Break
One tricky thing about working from home is the fact that every time seems to be work time. You will think that since I don't have an office to go to, I might as well use the whole time working. This will tell negatively on your health. It's easy to get so invested in work and forget to take breaks. After all, you just want to get work out of the way right? Meanwhile, it's important to know that engaging in activities on a long stretch may make work uninteresting and tiresome. When work becomes monotonous, creativity is void.
See 'breaks' this way - they help in regenerating worn-out cells for better efficiency. So when you take mini breaks in between a bunch of activities, you give yourself a greater chance of doing your best work. In those random breaks, you can do well to take a short nap to stay refreshed and give your body the rest that it needs to function optimally.
See 'breaks' this way - they help in regenerating worn-out cells for better efficiency. So when you take mini breaks in between a bunch of activities, you give yourself a greater chance of doing your best work. In those random breaks, you can do well to take a short nap to stay refreshed and give your body the rest that it needs to function optimally.
4. Eat Healthy Snacks over Junk
It's always tempting to go to the kitchen every now then since the kitchen is not far-fetched especially if you like food or just like to munch on a snack. You might need to stock up your refrigerator with healthy snacks like nuts, dried fruits, Yogurt, etc. This will not only help you stay energized but will keep your weight in check as well as provide the nutrients that your body needs.
5. Create time to Connect Physically with others
A remote job tends to keep you away from connecting physically with your colleagues, friends, and loved ones. And the various channels of communication available on the internet make you think that online chat and video calls are enough. However, nothing beats the physical connection and good memories you get to experience when you meet physically with others.6. Design a Suitable Morning Routine
Intentional
living is the crux of self care, and a big part of self care is defined
by how well you begin your morning. It's not okay to leave your morning to circumstances because the way you begin the morning shapes the rest of your day. With
this inference, it's ideal that you take advantage of the beginning part
of the day.
- How do I want my morning to look like?
- What can I invest in to be my best self?
- What makes me happy?"
For
some, it could be waking up to read a book, taking a cup of coffee,
meditating, journaling, running, praying, reviewing goals, brainstorming
and so on.
I recommend you write down a list (based on how you envision your morning to look like), schedule it and execute them before work. You would be amazed at the overall impact!
2. Journal for '15 minutes' Daily
'Journaling'
is a growing trend and for most high-performing individuals, it's a healing, self care activity. All you need to journal is a pen, a
notepad and some 15 minutes of your time. If you prefer to go digital, there are diverse applications designed for this cause. Journaling literally empties your mind and with
this activity, you can do a brain and mind dump."
It's advisable that you schedule at least 15 minutes per day for this journal activity - mostly done during the early hours of the day or during late hours. It's great to start by writing about your day - that way, you are able to reflect and evaluate and with evaluation, you can always find more ways to do better.
It's advisable that you schedule at least 15 minutes per day for this journal activity - mostly done during the early hours of the day or during late hours. It's great to start by writing about your day - that way, you are able to reflect and evaluate and with evaluation, you can always find more ways to do better.
3. Exercise
This
may sound cliché. It is probably the umpteenth time you're hearing
this. Exercise is a popular opinion. Nevertheless, it is an awesome
activity. A significant part of self care is paying attention to our
bodies. Our bodies are like machineries and if mis-used and not taken
care of, they might malfunction and thus the means of work is rendered
absent. Whether you run, engage in warm ups, jogging, swimming, yogas -
these are all good ways to set our bodies in motion for the most
meaningful and productive work.
5. Attend to your Goals
The
fulfillment that stems from doing what matters to us is second to none.
Self care also translates to engaging in activities that matters to
you. When you do work that matters to you, you are most likely to be
happy and this imparts your life positively.
Conclusion
Remote jobs will be here for a long time and it's necessary to know how to navigate through and make the most out of them. When
you practice these self-care habits, you will be in a better place
physically, emotionally and mentally. To yield better results, they need
to be practiced regularly, and the good thing is that they are simple.
That said, if you have tried any of these before, kindly drop a comment
below. Also, what other self care habits would you recommend?
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