Tips for Working Remotely

by Kalleen Marquise on Oct 8, 2020

This year, many workers found themselves working from home for the first time. At ByWater Solutions, we have been working fully remote since the company was founded 11 years ago. While some of you may be headed back to your workplaces, others may be finding themselves in a more permanent work from home situation. We want to share with you how we make working from home productive and enjoyable after all these years.

Set Up a Dedicated Space

While working from the couch can be tempting, setting up a dedicated workspace is essential to staying productive while working remotely. If you don't have a spare bedroom, finding a cozy corner or nook in your home that you can make your own is a great alternative. Set up a work space that is both functional and comfortable. I worked hunched over at the kitchen table for a couple of weeks and my back paid the price. Having a dedicated space also enables you to walk away from work on the weekends and in the evenings so that you can relax and refresh before the next workday.

Connect with Coworkers

Finding ways to stay connected with your coworkers while working from home is a great way to boost team morale and to keep from feeling isolated. One of the ways we stay connected at ByWater throughout the day is through Slack. Our teams can chat with each other as we collaborate on projects. Slack has also been a great way for us to connect with our partners when we can't see them face to face. If you haven't joined our Slack Channel, we'd love to connect with you. This blog post outlines exactly how to join.

Another great way we connect is through Zoom. Through Zoom we are able to come all together as an organization to talk about high level goals as well as simply catch up with colleagues on teams we don't see everyday.

Here is a behind the scenes shot of all our ByWater staff together in a Zoom session.

Practice Self-Care

Self-care is not just pedicures and face masks, although those are great too. When it comes to working from home, you have to know your limits. Self-care when working from home can be something as small as turning away from the screen for a few minutes every hour. If you don't have a stand up desk, self-care might look like stretching or standing throughout the day. If you can, take small breaks outside or go for a walk on your lunch break. Getting some fresh air, playing with your pet, taking a quick jog, or even staying hydrated are all great ways to take care of yourself while working from home.

At ByWater, we are thankful for the opportunity to work from home because we find we are better able to serve our customers in a variety of time zones. Just like working in an office, working from home does not come without its challenges from time to time, but hopefully these tips help you work from home more effectively.

In Case You Missed It...

On Tuesday, we shared a blog post about Continuing Education in a Virtual World. This further dives into our approach to online education.