Living in West London provides us with opportunities that few in the UK can access. Education, entertainment, and communication with our community are all areas in which West Londoners are spoiled for choice. It’s a form of living that many of us wouldn’t give up for anything, but in a highly competitive and limited local job market, moving can seem like the best option.
Enter remote working, where it’s possible to maintain our lives in the place we love without the complications that geographically locked employment represents. This form of work is only growing more popular in the digital age, and it’s an approach many are looking to explore. It can also be intimidating if you’ve only ever worked in the office, which is why we want to investigate what getting started with remote work involves today.
You Need a Dedicated Workspace
If you already have a home computer, like a laptop, you might go into the remote work experience thinking you can set up anywhere and jump right in. While this is fine for some people, it’s not a winning tactic that we’d encourage. To work at peak efficiency, it’s best to create a dedicated space used only for work.
Without a dedicated workspace, your mind finds it easier to blur the lines between serious work and hanging out at home. You can be tempted to do what you usually do when relaxing, and that’s not a mindset conducive to productive employment. A split here is what works best for most people, which needs to be developed in a way that fits your needs and means.
For some, a dedicated workspace might mean a full office set out with everything you need. Others might not have the space, where a corner area without overwhelming distractions can be key. Paired with noise-cancelling earphones and the right (again non-distracting) music is an approach many swear by. Remember ergonomics too, as looking after your long-term health is a must.
As a counter-balance, it’s also important to ensure your general entertainment and relaxation area looks and feels different. Consider if you’re a fan of playing online games like video slots. A separate and dedicated play area for titles like The Walking Dead Cash Collect or Big Bass Splash can help maintain a divide in mind between work and play. If you’re playing on the same work laptop or instead prefer playing on mobile platforms, a different area and setting, or even just lighting, is key. The same concept applies to other uses too, like streaming, watching social media, or whatever other digital activities you prefer.
Creating Beneficial Patterns
Building the right environment for remote work is an important first step, but it’s only the beginning of developing an efficient remote work environment. The other part comes from you settling into the right process and maintaining that process until it becomes second nature. This means getting up at a set time, taking well-defined break periods, and not over-exerting yourself beyond necessary work hours.
Working from home also means talking to others who share your space, and letting them know that, while you might be home, you’re not available during work hours. You can’t be distracted by the little things, and you’re essentially off-limits during work periods. This might take some repetition until they understand, but it’s core to setting healthy boundaries.
Just like working in a new office, remote work from home will require an adjustment period. During this period, it’s important to note what works and what doesn’t, and experiment with the little things until you find what works. What works perfectly for others might not be a perfect fit for you, but as long as your performance doesn’t suffer, there are no wrong approaches.
