The Yetis have experience when it comes to working remotely. With companies all over the world transitioning their employees to work remotely we want to share some tips that have made our team more successful while working from home.

It’s going to be chaotic at first.

Take the time to figure out how this works for you. Things may not go smoothly at first, but give yourself a break and understand that working from home is different than working from an office. Here are some ways that will help the transition go more smoothly.

  1. Create a schedule. Create a morning schedule to get you started for the day. Find a schedule that works for you and looks similar to your previous schedule. It could be as simple as making your bed before doing anything else, or taking time for meditation and reflection before turning on your computer.
  2. Find a space to work. You can use any part of your house to set up your workspace. Whether it’s a desk in a home office or the dining room table, pick a spot that you can claim as your space to work. If you have others living with you, make sure to find a spot that’s quiet and free of distractions (if possible).
  3. Get ready to work. Before you start working, gather everything you need for your day. It’s easiest to stay focused if you don’t have to continually get up. Don’t forget to keep your coffee or water nearby!
  4. Create workblocks. Put workblocks on your calendar to organize your day. The Yetis have found workblocks to be specifically helpful because it communicates to your team that you are working on a specific task. 

Connect with your coworkers.

Take time to collaborate with your coworkers. When you work remotely it can sometimes be difficult to remember to connect with others. Make sure you take time to touch base with your coworkers everyday. 

  1. Daily meetings. It’s important to check in with your team everyday. The Yetis implemented a “daily standup” every morning to talk about how we can help each other be more successful. 
  2. Virtual water cooler. Make sure you take time to have a little fun everyday! Technology has made it easy to share a little laughter with coworkers. The Yetis like to share dad jokes, hilarious tech memes, and pictures of their fluffy family members. It makes work fun and helps us to connect.
  3. Communication. Having calendars that your whole team can see is helpful to communicate what you are working on. Online chats or phone calls can be especially useful if you are used to seeing each other in an office all day. 

Things to consider when working from home.

You can have a successful workday working from home, but you may encounter some of these common situations.

  1. Working from home together. If you are in a house where other people will be working from home make sure you coordinate resources and schedules. You may need to schedule meetings at different times to accommodate noise or childcare. A good pair of headphones with a mic might be a great solution.
  2. Childcare interruptions. Children may need to be home when you are trying to work. Be realistic and allow for time throughout your day to care for them. Set your children up with a few activities if you need to attend a meeting, or schedule meetings around naps.
  3. Take breaks. Remember that you need breaks throughout your day. Working from home can be difficult because you are reminded of all the chores that need to be done. Taking specific breaks can help you to accomplish that without interrupting your workday. Sometimes, you may just need a 15 minute power nap or walk to help you get through your day. Set a timer to remind you to take breaks.

Helpful tools you may need for working virtually.

The Yetis depend on technology to communicate with each other. Here are a few tools we use that you might find helpful.

  1. Zoom. We use Zoom online meetings for almost all of our virtual meetings. It is helpful to see each other everyday to remember that we are working with people, not just computers.
  2. Slack. The Yetis use slack to communicate with each other all day long. If you find this tool a distraction from getting your work done, though, try turning off your notifications during your meetings and workblocks. 
  3. Google Calendar. We keep our calendars updated so that everyone on the team is aware of our schedules. Use your calendars to note when you will be taking breaks so your team knows when they can contact you.
  4. Vidyard. This is a great tool to record short videos of yourself. We use this as a more personal way to connect with our clients and prospects.

Above all, give yourself some time to adjust to this new way of working. Your schedule has changed and it will feel a little different. Your Yetis are here to support you in any way. Contact us at yeti@measuredresultsmarketing.com.