The coronavirus pandemic has forced many companies to rethink how they manage employees. These days, more bosses than ever are allowing some or all of their staff members to work remotely, which can be both a blessing and a curse for those who are used to heading into the office every day. Anyone who’s having a hard time making the transition should read on to learn about remote work best practices before giving up and heading back to the office full time.
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Carve Out a Space
As just about everyone who usually works behind a desk can attest to the fact that working from home can be a challenge even on a calm day. When kids, pets, spouses, and the million other stresses of daily life get added to the mix, concentrating on anything can be next to impossible. If there’s no way to carve out a space at home, or it’s just too distracting to try, looking into a Coworking Space Near Me is a great alternative.
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Stay Social
Loneliness is one of the top complaints among today’s remote workers, including people who have always worked from home and those who have only recently made the switch. Combating that loneliness can be tough, but staying social and maintaining ties with both coworkers and friends can help. Remember, remote work gives back the time workers would otherwise have spent on commuting, which can then be devoted to fun, social activities.
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Create Boundaries
It’s easy for remote workers to wind up facing difficulties with blurred boundaries between work and the rest of their lives. Working from home exacerbates the problem since it means there’s no tangible difference between being at work and being at home, making it all too easy to wind up spending far too much time in front of the computer and too little engaging in other important tasks.
The best way to create a firm boundary between work and home life is to have a clear distinction between the office and the rest of the home, which can be accomplished by either having a designated home office or by heading outside the house or apartment to sign on. It can also help to use different devices and accounts for work vs. home tasks to make it easier to keep them separate.
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Invest in Reliable Tech
Access to consistent Wi-Fi is obviously a necessity for anyone who plans on working remotely, but there’s more to setting oneself up for success than just having a reliable Internet connection. Most people also need some specialized tools and tech to do their jobs well. Whether that means investing in a wireless keyboard, a second screen for a work computer, or a pair of noise-canceling headphones, it’s worth the money. Plus, anyone who receives a 1099 for work performed remotely can deduct those purchases as home office expenses on their 2021 taxes.
Ready to Make the Switch?
Given that 2021 has been termed by some the year of the “great resignation,” it should come as no surprise that plenty of people are switching to jobs that offer ongoing flexibility now that the pandemic is drawing to an end. Anyone who plans to make the switch in 2022 should start planning now and look into both the necessary equipment and nearby coworking spaces in advance.
