Through the magic of Airbnb and rental sites, people stationed at home have discovered a way to work remotely from anywhere. Remote workers have learned a lot since March of 2020. We have had plenty of time to learn what works for us and what doesn’t when it comes to working from home.
Airbnb data has shown the volume of reviews by US guests mentioning “remote working” since the start of the pandemic has nearly tripled, and more people than ever are opting to bring their pets along with them. The length of stays has increased tremendously, too. People are booking locations for more than 28 days, and we can think of several reasons why.
Allowing yourself a new environment can be refreshing and much needed in a time of monotony and isolation. People are leaving their small, urban apartments and homes and giving themselves access to nature and experiences to balance their work-from-home life. There are articles popping up everywhere with headlines like 17 Unique Airbnbs that Remote Workers Should Book Right Now, further showing the trend of working in a nourishing temporary space.
If a home away from home wouldn’t be ideal for you, there are rentable workspaces all over the US to make a temporary office out of. Instead of working at home, you can get the feel of going to the office everyday through companies like Regus and Millworks. These types of coworking offices can offer people many benefits, like a quiet, professional place to work and a new space to spark creativity and refresh your mind.
Getting creative when it comes to making your remote work life as productive as possible has reached new heights in the last year. We’ve got to admit, shaking up your current routine and finding new ways to do your best work sounds pretty great!
It’s been one year of working from home for many Americans. You may be asking yourself, How do people do this year-round? It’s true, some jobs are fully remote. This tells us one thing that may shock you: Being productive at your home office is totally possible!
We want to share some tips on how to work together with your team in a work-from-home small business setting.
Find a Collaborative Planning Platform that Works for You
Keeping your projects, schedules, and deadlines in one place with your team makes a huge difference with productivity and organization. Instead of jotting things down in a planner or notebook, get into the virtual world of planning. This ensures that you and your team members are on the same page with responsibilities and tasks. One of our favorites is Microsoft Teams Tasks by Planner. It’s adaptable to your team’s work needs and connects you all in a super organized way—and it even has a mobile app!
Check in with Each Other
We know one of the most difficult parts of working from home is the feeling of isolation during your workday. Conference room meetings, lunch breaks with coworkers, and being down the hall from your team are things we will surely never take for granted again once we transition back into the office. Even in a virtual setting, spending time with your team can still be a normal part of your daily schedule. A Zoom lunch break or coffee hour can be a good way to catch up without having to talk about work.
Be Understanding
For many people, our home is not our ideal office. Life and work blending together often isn’t conducive to a productive work environment. A good way to overcome this challenge with your team members is to be open and understanding with one another. We all have our own lives to work around, with factors like kids, dogs, or roommates. Even thinking of each other’s workloads outside of team collaborations helps to not put unrealistic expectations on one another. Being there for each other is a huge part of being a team.
You've Got This!
When working from home, having a team in your small business makes it feel like you have people on your side. Find routines that work for your group. Until you can return to the office, do your best to make teleworking work for you.
What is it about our daily commute that feels so engrained in our lifestyle? Is it the ‘Me Time’, the ability to ease into our workday, the simple routine of it all? In the past, commuting was widely surveyed to be one of our least favorite activities. But now that it’s gone, many people find themselves missing it.
Maybe it’s the realization that we’ve lost that in-between time to listen to a podcast, clear our minds on our drive into work, or the sanctuary of being alone in our car. Perhaps we don’t realize how peaceful it can be to grab the window seat on a train, see the sun peaking over the horizon while driving to the office, or people-watch on the subway. When we think of things like traffic on our way home or jam-packed buses, it feels odd that we would miss our commutes at all.
Writing tutor at Southern Connecticut State University, Stephanie Kaesmann told us, “Watching the seasons change on the parkway is something I miss about my commute as I can only tutor online now.”
You’d be surprised at the original thoughts and moments of peace that can be fostered on our rather monotonous daily commutes. Whether it’s walking to catch the subway or half hour drives on the highway, being on the go can bring clarity, and ritual invites a welcome consistency when the world feels so uncertain.
While teleworking, we can create small moments of routine that can mimic the way our commutes get us ready to take on the day. Sit by the window with a podcast on to have your morning coffee. Start the day with a short walk. Change out of your sweatpants. Play a game on your phone. Jot down your goals for the day in a planner or notebook.
When your commute becomes a walk from your bed to your desk, we begin to realize how much we miss even the most mundane parts of our regular day. Take time to give yourself that in-between time and separation from work you may find yourself missing.
While you’re at it, you can use our commuter calculator to see how much you’re saving on your commute.
