5 tips for working remotely

First, we hope that you, your families, your communities and your teams are healthy and well. For many of us in the higher education and charity sectors, sustained remote working is a novel concept. At Hubbub remote working is part of our standard day-to-day, so here are a few tips we hope you will find useful.

Tip 1: Start your day as if nothing has changed

Wake at your normal time, brush your teeth, get dressed, do all the things you would normally do. Use the time you would have spent commuting for yourself, then start work when you normally would. A consistent routine helps you mentally prepare for the day.

Tip 2: Choose your workspace

Tempting as it is to work from bed or the sofa, opt for a table or desk. Where possible, make it an environment you enjoy being in: good lighting, plants, photos and a clean, tidy surface all help you stay focused.

Tip 3: Plan your day

People who work from home often work more than a standard week, so keep your hours close to what they would be in the office. Break work down into one or two main objectives. Try a 50/10 or 25/5 rhythm of focus and short breaks. Take a proper lunch away from your computer. Remove distractions, put your phone on do-not-disturb, and at the end of the day close up shop: shut the laptop, tidy away, and resist checking messages later.

Tip 4: Use tools that keep you productive and connected

Over recent years many tools have emerged to keep remote teams productive and in touch. We recommend Slack for quick internal conversations and calls, Zoom for external or larger meetings, a project management tool such as Monday.com to keep teams aligned, and Dropbox for files when server access is limited. Whichever you use, make sure teams get the right training. When you cannot talk face to face, over-communicate a little, use tone and emoji thoughtfully, and pick up the phone when a message is not enough. Be patient: a colleague may be in the middle of focused time.

Tip 5: Keep being a team

Without colleagues at the next desk, remote working can feel solitary, so stay connected. Keep your normal meetings, and add a few to keep teams close. At Hubbub we have a quick team stand-up every morning where each person shares their focus for the day; it keeps everyone current and stops anyone feeling alone. Keep checking in with one another, work-related or not.

To sum up

Going fully remote for the first time can feel like wandering in the dark without a flashlight. We hope these tips help you and your team keep communicating with your supporters and keep helping those you serve. If you have questions about remote working, contact the Hubbub team, we would be happy to help.