By Tegan Paterson
Remote working is increasingly becoming an option for office-based workers these days. The focus is becoming less about where and when the work takes place, and more about the outcomes. Workplace flexibility is in fact the number one thing tech professionals share with our Recruiters as being on top of their ‘dream job’ attribute list when seeking to change roles.
After spending over a decade being office-bound, joining a remote-first working environment at Middleton Executive has been very rewarding and empowering, but not without its challenges.
A self-managed approach to work requires discipline, self-motivation and exceptional time management. For the past year I have fine-tuned my approach and after some trial and error, I think I’ve nailed it and am reaping the rewards.
I offer my top 4 tips to make remote working work…
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Planning, planning, planning!
Did I say planning? At the end of every day, I put together a list of my top priorities for the following day. I like to start my day knowing exactly what I’m doing while it’s fresh in mind, and put absolutely everything in my calendar – even times I go for a walk or do yoga. I schedule thinking/reflecting time at the start and end of each day, and I also put aside dedicated times to respond to emails and administration tasks. This allows my day to flow and to feel like I’m on top of all the little things.
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Start your day right.
I wake up with more than enough time in the morning to do the things I know will put me in the right headspace and to not feel rushed. I follow the 20/20/20 method, from a great book – ‘The 5 AM Club’ by Robin Sharma. This method is based on a revolutionary morning routine that has helped many people maximise their productivity and happiness.
I structure mine with 20 minutes of mediation, 20 minutes of journaling and 20 minutes of physical activity. This has definitely been the best thing I have changed and have found a dramatic shift in the way my day unfolds. -
Regularly check in with yourself.
If I’m feeling flat, unmotivated or I’m getting stuck on something, I stop and go for a walk, meditate or do a breathing exercise. I know when I’m not being productive and instead of going through the motions like I would in the office – I clear my head and start again. Making time for mental health is so important and something I commit to every day.
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Work when you’re at your most productive.
Motivation naturally ebbs and flows throughout the day. When you’re working from home, it’s all the more important to know when those ebbs and flows will take place and plan your day around it. I have found that by taking advantage of my most productive periods, and saving more challenging tasks for when I know I will be in the right headspace has helped immensely. Likewise, saving tasks that don’t require as much focus to the times I know I’m not at my, shall we say, brightest.
We hope these tips have been useful and would love you to share what’s worked for you!
If you’re looking for your next career opportunity, reach out to Tegan Paterson and the team at Middleton Executive: connect@middletonexec.com.au. We’re your Product & Tech recruitment specialists!
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