5 Signs Of Stress At Work

What are the signs of stress at work?

  1. Mood swings
  2. Becoming withdrawn
  3. Less motivation, initiative, and creativity
  4. Headaches and fatigue
  5. Skin problems

Almost all employees work hard at their job. At their best, they can do what they’re being paid to do really well. But as the stress levels go up, some employees start performing below what they’re capable of. And it’s usually those who don’t detect the signs of stress at work that get affected badly.

Sometimes, we got so engrossed in our work that we don’t notice how much it’s already affecting our bodies, our minds, the output that we produce, and even our relationships. That’s why we should know the signs of too much stress so we can address them properly.

Here, we talk about some signs that you should look out for at work to know if you’re getting way too stressed. Keep reading to learn more!

Mood Swings

Mood Swings

Have you had to deal with an irate coworker? Cut them some slack. Maybe they’re experiencing more stress than they can take. One of the biggest signs of stress at work is if they start having mood swings even if they normally don’t.

Stress can easily overwhelm us, and it could translate to being irritable or snapping at people. You could also become too emotional. Do you become tearful at small things? Do you suddenly get aggressive? Maybe it’s a sign of excessive stress. This not only affects productivity, but also the morale of the rest of the team, so it’s best to address this problem right away and take some time off.

Becoming Withdrawn

In addition to the occasional mood swing, you might find yourself being withdrawn when you’re too stressed. Everything becomes too tiring and even interacting with your teammates could become too much for you. When was the last time you chatted casually with a coworker? Have you recently turned down anyone who tried to start a conversation with you? Try checking yourself and assess if the stress is getting to you.

Less Motivation, Initiative, and Creativity

The double-edged sword of stress will also affect how much you want to work. As mentioned earlier, it can affect the amount and quality of your work, no matter how competent you are. If you don’t handle stress well, you could notice that you no longer enjoy what you are doing or that everything seems monotonous.

Headaches and Fatigue

Headaches and Fatigue

Stress can definitely affect our physical health in more ways than we realize. Getting too stressed at work could lead to headaches, sometimes even migraines. If you’ve been popping a painkiller pill for your headache a bit too often recently, it could be caused by stress.

Excessive levels of stress would also leave you feeling tired all of the time, especially if you’re losing sleep because of work.

Skin Problems

Because of stress, your skin could develop disorders. Developing an acne breakout because of stress is more common than you think. The problem with this is it could affect your self-esteem as well, pushing you down the negative spiral even more. To avoid getting these disorders, try keeping yourself healthy and managing your stress so it doesn’t affect you too badly.

Key Takeaway

With all these signs of stress at work, you would be surprised when you experience them but don’t notice them. They creep up at you and you’ll see in hindsight that it should have been obvious. Still, being aware of the signs and being vigilant towards yourself helps in preventing any worse effects.

Sometimes, a change of setting is all we need to do our work without external stresses. That’s why Workplays, a co-working space, aims to create an environment that’s conducive to working. We cater to freelancers, startups, small businesses, and anyone else who needs a new place to work. Read more about our pandemic protocols and answers to frequently asked questions here, or contact us for any inquiries!

3 Effects Of Overtime On Productivity

What are the effects of overtime on productivity?

  1. Negative health effects
  2. Safety issues
  3. Higher absenteeism

It is alarming to see many workers today work beyond their given working hours, and sometimes they’re even proud of it. There are many reasons why overtime should not be encouraged, as even employers will feel the negative effects it may have. More importantly, one of its greatest casualties is productivity. The effects of overtime on productivity should make it a priority problem to be addressed.

It’s tempting to go the extra mile and work overtime especially if we have a lot of things to get done. However, those efforts are not as effective in the long run. Here, we’ll talk about some possible ways that overtime can affect your productivity. Keep reading to learn more!

Negative Health Effects

Negative Health Effects

The most obvious effect of overtime is the way it can impact our health negatively. Rest is an essential part of our life. It should be considered as important as food and water as we can’t survive without them. Working overtime will surely have negative effects on your physical and mental health. Too much work can lead to overfatigue, burnout, body pains, depression, and other ailments that would stop you from working anyway. Because of these, your productivity will drop in the long run. The most productive version of yourself is the healthy version of yourself, so if you want to get more done, take care of yourself, take a break, and don’t overexert your efforts.

Safety Issues

For some jobs, working overtime can also bring about safety issues. This applies even more to largely physical jobs or workers who work with powerful machinery. As humans, we all have our limits. The more time we spend on the job, the more exhausted we get. We become less attentive, physically weaker, and have slower reaction times. If you work overtime, the effects might be worse for you, making you more prone to mistakes. And if you’re a worker at a nuclear plant, a construction site, or a hospital, these mistakes could lead to catastrophes such as fatal accidents.

Higher Absenteeism

This is another example of the paradox of going overtime to get more work done. If you log extra hours to extra work, the fatigue will eventually get to you. And if you experience burnout, it wouldn’t be easy to shake, leading to a higher absenteeism rate for you. This applies even more if you get a bad physical health condition. Instead of risking your health for extra work, try managing your time better instead of giving too much for one thing.

Key Takeaway

Overall, the effects of overtime on productivity are negative. In fact, they show that you even be less productive in the long run. You would be exposed to health and safety issues which would lead to absenteeism and turnover rates going up. That’s why we advise you to avoid overtime as much as possible.

One way to get work done without having to go overtime is by doing it in a conducive working space. At Workplays, it is our mission to provide a good co-working space for workers, startups, or small businesses. Read more about our pandemic protocols and answers to other frequently asked questions here, or contact us for any inquiries! 

 

4 Unique Work from Home Break Ideas

What are some unique work from home break ideas?

  1. Jog in place for 15 minutes
  2. Play with your pets
  3. Eat your favorite meal
  4. Play a short video game

 

The work from home lifestyle has been going on for more than a year or so. While most have successfully adapted to this drastic change, many are having difficulty in some aspects, be it staying motivated, maintaining focus, or balancing work and life. Most experts have touted the benefits of taking at least 10 to 15-long work breaks to re energize and take on a new task. But few have been able to provide solutions once the novelty wears off. If you’re one of these people, then maybe a fresh new set of work from home break ideas may be just what you need for productivity. Check them out.

 

Jog In Place For 15 Minutes

If there’s simply not enough time in the morning for your morning run, then sneaking in a few jogs during your work break may give you just the endorphin boost that you need. Short exercises are extremely effective at increasing energy levels, reducing fatigue, and restoring focus.

For someone who’s been staying far too long staring at a computer screen, a quick jogging break also offers a break in the monotony of work from home life. Instead of just sitting idly and watching as the minutes of your break pass, make it worth your while by putting on some jogging shoes then breaking a sweat at an acceptable pace to some lively music.

 

Play with Your Pets

Play with Your Pets

Fur moms and dads have a shared understanding of what it’s like to work from home with pets. It does have its ups and downs — one simply cannot get a bit of productivity when their puppy makes the choice to sleep on a computer keyboard. In much the same way, pets at home require just the same amount of TLC they’ve been provided while you were going to the office in the past.

It may be time to change your perspective on the role that your pets play in your work from home life. Take their quirks as welcome distractions to an otherwise dull work day. Make time to play with them, rub their bellies, or reward them with a few treats simply by existing. Quality time with pets, after all, have been associated with a significant decrease in stress, better productivity, and an overall improvement in your mood.

 

Eat Your Favorite Meal

Not everyone will be able to afford preparing and having a full breakfast at home. Especially when you live alone, doing all this work can be too tiring — you’d rather settle with a warm cup of instant coffee and some toasted bread. You simply don’t have the luxury of time, and you’re paying for it by sacrificing a square meal.

Reward yourself for a change. During your lunch break, take it as an opportunity to order your favorite meal or satisfy a food craving that has been lingering for quite some time now. Not only will you be able to work with a full stomach, but you’ll also drastically improve your ability to remain focused on your tasks, no matter the gravity.

 

Play A Short Video Game

Play A Short Video Game

Much of the discussion about working from home has revolved around eliminating almost every distraction imaginable — video games, loud noises, fidget toys. However, the fact of the matter is that no one is prone to temptation to give in to these.

The next time you’re tempted to distract yourself from work by playing a few short minutes of an RPG or MOBA, try not to resist and allow yourself these few minutes of relaxation. Contrary to popular belief, video game breaks offer numerous benefits, such as boosting overall mood, lowering stress levels, and improving morale. Playing games may be something to look forward to, especially after spending all day taking calls, drafting contracts, and what have you.

 

Key Takeaway

Need an effective way to manage your work from home life? These work from home break ideas might just help you get back on track. From interacting with your pets to playing a short video game, these tricks may help you cultivate a more positive outline. Change up your daily work break routines and find creative ways to spend your breaks, no matter how short they may be — you definitely deserve it.

5 Tips to Avoid Overtime at Work

What are some tips to avoid overtime at work?

  1. Manage your workload
  2. Lessen distractions
  3. Stick to a schedule
  4. Know your limits
  5. Take short breaks

 

If there’s anything that the average employee hates more than working a stagnating job, it’s having to handle excessive work above their paygrade. You might have found yourself in the same situation before — working an extra three hours on top of your already grueling 9 or 8-hour shift just to meet a deadline. Without any knowledge of tips to avoid overtime at work, don’t expect yourself to clock out as soon as your shift ends.

Fortunately, there are things that you can do to lessen instances of overtime. Through knowing the best ways of managing your workload, lessening distractions, and knowing your limits, it’s certainly possible. Read on to learn more.

 

Manage Your Workload

Managing your workload is easier said than done, but once you get the hang of it, then it’ll be second-nature to you.

This can be done by making a list of your priorities. Work on tasks that you need to finish within the day first, as this helps get the most crucial work out of the way. Then, you’ll want to move on to the simpler and more menial tasks that don’t really require much of your brainpower.

Contrary to what people might tell you, don’t try to multitask in your work. Instead, focus on a single thing at a time, as this makes your job less overwhelming and more productive.

 

Lessen Distractions

Young handsome Indian businessman working overtime at home late at night

If your office has a strict, no-cellphone policy during working hours, then distractions are few and far in between. In the absence of one, however, then you might be victim to pesky disturbances that can chip away at your precious time.

As much as possible, you’d want to reduce any source of distractions especially if you’re working from home. Keep away all devices such as smartphones, handheld consoles, television sets, or virtually anything that may take your attention away from what you actually need to get done.

 

Stick to a Schedule

Not many employees will be too thrilled about the idea of sticking to a schedule at work. After all, no day is the same — it’s certain that you’ll be met with many unexpected work encounters that may push back the time you need to devote to your tasks.

However, you should at least try your best to come up with a daily work schedule that you can work with.

Try giving yourself a time limit by which you can accomplish a single work-related activity. Doing this allows you to gauge the level of your productivity and efficiency over time.

 

Know Your Limits

Content creator working overtime at home

Sure, it’s great if you always try going beyond the call of duty regarding your work. You don’t mind taking in more tasks that aren’t really within the scope of your job description — but is this really something that you can sustain in the long run?

Saying “no” to your superiors or colleagues can be something that you might have difficulty with, but you should be able to know your limits and assert yourself.

When you really cannot take on more work other than what you already have on your plate, it’s time to let your colleagues know that you simply cannot get it done within the day. Give them an idea of just how mentally and physically demanding your workload is. Stand your ground and don’t give in to their requests, even if they try to convince you otherwise.

 

Take Short Breaks

You might be thinking that taking breaks is counterproductive to avoid working overtime, but it doesn’t always have to be the case.

A great reason why you should make it a habit to take breaks is so that you don’t burn out fast. Remember: the life of an employee is a marathon and not a sprint. Becoming the best version of an employee that you could be is all about doing things in a more sustainable manner.

When you’re taking breaks, you’re re-energizing yourself just in time to take on the next set of tasks that you have to finish. In this way, you’ll be able to get the job done more efficiently and productively. You won’t find yourself slacking off and just letting precious time pass.

 

Key Takeaway

Some of the best tips to avoid overtime at work include the following: managing your workload, sticking to a schedule, knowing your limits, taking short breaks, and lessening distractions.

Although making these best work practices can be difficult in the beginning, it’s all about taking it slow and giving yourself time to adjust. Do them consistently and you’ll soon find yourself a happier and healthier employee.

Coping with Work Stress During COVID-19

How do you cope with work stress during COVID-19?

  1. Educate yourself about covid-19
  2. Establish a healthy routine
  3. Talk to other people
  4. Enjoy your free time

 

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused stress for many people. The fear of the virus and the abrupt change in the normal way of living have affected people negatively. But life must go on and people must keep on working to live. It is important to still enjoy life while staying safe. Today we listed down the ways on how to cope with work stress during COVID-19. Read on!

 

Educate Yourself About COVID-19

People experience anxiety nowadays due to the fear of the virus. It will affect you the more you don’t know. That’s why it’s important to educate yourself about COVID-19 and the dos and don’ts that go with it. Focus on the things that you can do, like limiting going outside, social distancing, wearing face masks and shields, and disinfecting regularly. When you have knowledge about the virus and how you can avoid it, your anxiety will lessen. Knowledge is power!

 

Establish A Healthy Routine

Business woman having online video call via laptop computer whil

The pandemic has changed our work routines, whether we work on the front lines or from home. During this time our health became our number one priority. But not having a routine can be stressful. It can feel like you have so many things to do but you do not have time to do them.

After working for some time at these tough times, you may now have a rough idea of the tasks and responsibilities that you need to complete. Take time to reflect on what you need to prioritize and what work demands you need to do per day. Think back to the routine you had before the pandemic. Rest your mind from work after work hours. Do not forget the important things you do to take care of yourself. This includes eating right, exercising, and sleeping enough at night. Having a set time for these things will ensure that you get enough rest every day.

In these uncertain times, we can only make some effort in the things that we can control, and that includes our routine. Having a routine can be less stressful because it can make you more productive and as time goes by you will get used to the daily tasks. Remember to include rest and play in your routine for a balanced work and life.

 

Talk to Other People

Nowadays people feel high levels of stress due to the fear of the COVID-19 virus, anxiety about their jobs, and loneliness because of being stuck at home. Other people choose to keep it to their selves instead of opening up about their emotions.

Talk to your manager if you feel that your workload is affecting your mental and physical well-being. Your supervisor or manager will know best about the responsibilities you have and the role you take at work.

Don’t bottle up your feelings and open up to trusted people. Having a shoulder to lean on will help with your emotional well-being. Know that other people are probably experiencing the same things and you are not alone. You can do this!

 

Enjoy Your Free Time

Enjoy Your Free Time

As a front liner or remote worker, most of your mental or physical strength may be already be depleted at work. During this pandemic, it is hard to enjoy your free time because of health worries and long hours at work. Enjoy your free time, relax your mind, and avoid burnout. There are many things you can do at home, especially now that you have more time with your family. You can also spend some alone time if you prefer. Reward yourself for doing great at work, you deserve it!

 

Key Takeaway

Now that the new normal has changed it is important to know the ways on how to cope with work stress during COVID-19. Educate yourself about the virus and how you can protect yourself and loved ones, establish a routine that will make everyday life more manageable, talk to your manager about high-levels of stress and how to solve it, and always make time for relaxing and spending time with your loved ones. Here is to hoping to a more enjoyable work-life during the pandemic!

4 Effective Tips for Managing a Team During the Pandemic

How do you manage a team during COVID-19?

  1. Determine What Roles That Can Be Done Remotely
  2. Prepare Employees for Frontline or Remote Work
  3. Frequently Check On Your Team
  4. Stay Connected

 

If you are a team leader, the pandemic will test your skills in managing a team. Several establishments have sent their employees home for remote work to prioritize health. But some establishments cannot operate without employees reporting for work in the office or establishment. As a team leader, it is important to know how to manage a team during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on to learn more!

 

Determine What Roles That Can Be Done Remotely

Not all kinds of work can be done from home. Some examples of this are frontline work in the hospital, pharmacy, food establishment, transportation, and security. As a team leader, you have to determine what roles can be done at home, and what roles are not. Prioritize health and safety as much as possible and send workers home.

 

Prepare Employees for Frontline or Remote Work

Businesswoman at home having a video conference with her team

Now that you have determined which stays at the business establishment and who goes home, you have to prepare your team for some changes. Make sure to lessen or remove the risk of exposure of your front liners by following health and safety guidelines mandated by the government. Provide personal protective equipment and disinfecting products to your team. Sanitize your business establishment regularly and install protective shields such as transparent acrylic glasses.

For remote workers, ensure that they have all the technological equipment ready for remote work. Teach your team about the required applications and tools because not all people are technically-savvy in the latest hardware and software.

 

Frequently Check On Your Team

These uncertain times will be hard for everyone including you. Understand that everyone will need time to adjust to these changes. Frequently check on your team not just to supervise their work but also to learn how they are doing mentally. With remote work, some people will have to juggle responsibilities in the home. On the other hand, frontline work is also difficult because of health risks. Always monitor their health regularly.

Remind your team about their tasks and also the importance of their contributions. Be compassionate and always appreciate your team members on their effort in these tough times.

 

Stay Connected

Young businesswoman taking a mobile call

Communication is vital in these times because everyone is scattered in different places. Always have a communication channel that is consistently open during work hours. This way your team will be able to voice out their concern easily.

Schedule video meetings regularly so you can align your team members about important matters. Chat and messages are useful but being able to see your team’s faces and reactions can help you stay connected.

Confirm in written communication all the important things that should be said clearly. This is to avoid verbal miscommunication and misunderstandings.

 

Key Takeaway

Now you know how to manage a team during COVID-19. As a leader, you are the one that they look up to as the decision-maker. Know what roles can be done at home so you can remove the risk of exposure to your team. Prepare them and give them time to adjust to the changes. Your team is your responsibility so it is important to check up on them frequently. Always keep the communication line open to keep everyone connected. It may be hard to supervise and manage a team in these tough times but the key here is to trust your team.

The Best Tips for Remote Team Communication

What are the best tips for remote team communication?

  1. Use Appropriate Messaging Channels
  2. Schedule Regular Video Calls
  3. Set Clear Guidelines and Instructions
  4. Conduct Regular Team-Building Events

 

The work from the home culture we currently experience in this pandemic brings a lot of positive and negative effects. It allowed us to spend more time with our loved ones while still completing our tasks at work. One downside from working from home is the lack of face-to-face communication that can make you feel alone and depressed. We all miss an energetic high-five and a gentle pat on the back for doing a good job. Today, we will be learning how to make the best of remote team communication. These tips will make work from home so much easier!

 

Use Appropriate Messaging Channels

Emails are a part of a workday even back when there was no pandemic. It is useful in sending important documents and formal messages. But it is not a good channel for asking questions that need to be answered immediately.

Find a messaging application that has “rooms” that can represent your office departments. Having chat rooms that are always open can help your team collaborate right away at any given moment.

Some companies have a more informal chat room for non-work related chats. It is a virtual water cooler where employees can hang out and just chat. This can help build camaraderie in employees and reduce work stress. Even back then in the office, casual chats would help lighten the workload!

 

Schedule Regular Video Calls

Video conference call from home

It is important to check-in on each other once in a while. The lockdown and pandemic have caused people to feel anxious and depressed. The lack of social interaction and excessive working has made people feel burnout. Some people are not even tech-savvy, to begin with. So it is important to show some care and empathy with each other.

Not everything can be done by chatting or emailing. These two channels of communication, while useful, lack the non-verbal elements like facial expression, voice pitch, and hand gestures. Video calls can have all of those elements, except physical touch.

Weekly video meetings can connect all employees and align them with the announcements, goals, and achievements of the team. This can provide an opportunity to voice concerns and opinions about a project. But always remember to only schedule meetings with a purpose as to not waste your teammates’ time.

 

Set Clear Guidelines and Instructions

Supervising remote workers is harder than supervising in a physical office. You cannot see what your team member is doing at office hours. This can bring about an issue of trust unless you do something.

Set clear guidelines for expectations for everyone in your team. Set deadlines, daily tasks, and communicate instructions about timekeeping and taking breaks. When you set guidelines, it removes the guesswork on what a team member must abide by. Everyone will have a routine to follow.

One example is communicating the guidelines for breaks. Avoid settling for verbal communication and put your instructions into writing to avoid miscommunication. Be very specific. For example, you can either set a specific hour for lunch from 12 noon to 1 pm. Or you can assign a 1-hour break every day that your members can take any time.

 

Conduct Regular Team-Building Events

Asian man having video call at home

Not all kinds of office work will provide constant human interaction. Some occupations, like software programming, is more focused on constant computer work. Even more so, when in remote work setup. This doesn’t mean that we have to stop all fun activities that used to happen back at the office. There are a lot of fun ideas that could be implemented in a virtual setting.

Having fun can affect personal connections and even work itself. A study showed that happier employees tend to be more productive. A closer relationship with one another will also allow a team member to open up and communicate ideas and concerns better.

 

Key Takeaway

Good communication is key to making remote work more pleasant and fun. Physical distancing doesn’t mean that you have to distance yourself emotionally from your team as well.

There are different communication channels that you can use to maintain a good workflow and camaraderie within your team. Just remember to communicate clearly what you need from your teammates. Schedule regular video calls to check-in on your team and their concerns. All these virtual channels can be used not just for work, but also for fun because a happy team is a productive team. Follow all these remote team communication tips to create the best remote work experience for everyone.

4 Virtual Team Building Ideas

 

What are some good virtual team building ideas?

  1. Regular Virtual Catch-Ups
  2. Online Games
  3. Fun Channels
  4. Watch Movies Together

 

A huge number of organizations have now shifted into a virtual office in the Philippines to continue their operations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This setup may be helpful in terms of tasks and work, but it also inflicts fewer opportunities for your team to socialize. Plus, it minimizes the chance to get to know each other better — especially if there are new people in the team. Remember, team building is also essential in the workplace. It keeps everything balanced and healthy. So how do you hold team buildings for remote teams? We’ve got plenty of virtual team building ideas under our sleeves and we’re here to share them with you today. Continue reading for more!

 

Regular Virtual Catch-Ups

Business woman speaking on video call with diverse colleagues on

At a regular office setup, you have all the freedom to tap your coworkers and have a quick chit-chat. But with remote working, you no longer have this freedom. Virtual catch-ups may be the next best thing. Make use of modern-day technology and allot a day in the week to just sit down and talk about anything non-work related with your teammates. Even something as simple as this helps restore energy creates engagement and reduces the feeling of isolation.

 

Online Games

Up for something fun? Since you can’t hold in-person activities, you can always rely on online games to incorporate in your weekly schedule with your team. Nowadays, there are so many popular games that are available online or that are altered to be played virtually like Pictionary, charades, and more. Plus, you can always switch it up every week!

 

Fun Channels

Matured Asian business man work from home listening to video con

Now that many are using Slack or other channel-based communication platforms while working remotely, why not take it up a notch and maximize its use? Apart from channels for different teams and office tasks, you can create separate channels for fun, engagement, and improve the culture within your team. Try adding in hobby channels, support groups, funny forwards, or any channel your team can go to when they need a quick pick-me-up.

 

Watch Movies Together

Nowadays, there are a bunch of shared platforms you can utilize to watch the same movies with anyone on one screen. Allot time to watch movies or even anything informational or beneficial for the team. Plus, you can also challenge your team members to talk about what they thought about the movie. It is a fast, easy, and fun way to get the team together.

 

Key Takeaway

Even if you are working remotely or at home, team building is still a must. It gives the chance for your organization to catch up, socialize, and connect.

It also builds trust, value, and meaningful connection. Holding these virtual team building ideas will benefit your team more than you know. Try these out for yourself!

Nail Your Next Virtual Presentation with These 7 Tips

What are some good tips to nail virtual presentations?

  1. Test Out Your Internet Connection and Audio
  2. Utilize Up-To-Date Tools
  3. Make it Visually Appealing
  4. Make Your Words Readable
  5. Look into The Camera
  6. Remove Distractions
  7. Practice

 

If you’re one of those individuals who are working remotely or from home, it is well worth investing some time in learning how to execute a seamless and engaging virtual presentation. Compared to in-person presentations where you have so much room to work with, virtual presentations impose quite a few challenges and intimidation. Tech issues, distractions, or your audience can also stray away. Because of this, you need to work twice as hard. Luckily, we’re here to give you some great and effective virtual presentation tips to deliver a powerful, fun, and engaging presentation! Read on for more!

 

Test Out Your Internet Connection and Audio

Tech issues are definitely one of the major mishaps that come with presentations. But, with in-person presentations, you can still go on and engage with your audience until it gets resolved. With virtual presentations, you no longer have this luxury. So, to ensure a seamless and tech issue-free presentation, make sure to test out everything beforehand. Make sure that your internet connection has good speed — enough to cover everything you’ll be doing. You’d also want to test your audio and your microphone. You wouldn’t want any of these to fluctuate during your presentation.

 

Utilize Up-To-Date Tools

Asia businesswoman using computer talk to colleagues about plan

The possibilities of technology are endless! There is a plethora of online tools nowadays that you can utilize to make your virtual presentation convenient, fun, and engaging! Craft it by adding in chats, polls, features, and more.

 

Make it Visually Appealing

You have one biggest challenge in virtual presentations — distraction. Your audience will likely be more distracted during these times, so make sure to step up your game! Visuals are one of the most effective strategies for this. To capture your audience’s eye and attention, incorporate informative and visually appealing graphics. Or you can even switch up the colors and the fonts to make it look more organized. But make sure that it isn’t overwhelming as well.

 

Make Your Words Readable

A beautiful Asian business woman is working with her computer at home , Telecommunication , social distancing ,Work from home concept

It’s best to add in minimal words to your presentation and let yourself do all the talking instead. This way, your audience will have their ears on you. However, if you will add in some text to your presentation, make sure that the font size and type are readable.

 

Look into The Camera

It may seem awkward to be talking to a camera at first, but this step will make all the difference. Looking into the camera will make each individual feel like you are talking to them personally.

 

Remove Distractions

Portrait beautiful young asian woman use computer laptop with sm

Before you head on to share your screen, make sure that there are no unnecessary tabs, distractions, or any possible intermissions. Plus, you should also stay in a clean, clear, and quiet area to avoid any interruptions.

 

Practice

As the saying goes “practice makes perfect”. It’s always a good idea to practice and run through your virtual presentation. This way, you can also relieve your nervousness and makes sure that everything goes seamlessly.

 

Key Takeaway

In this COVID-19 world where most of us are now working remotely or from home, it pays to be equipped with some great virtual presentation tips. Try these out for yourself! Use these strategies above and you’re bound to execute a powerful, informative, fun, and engaging virtual presentation.

5 Time Management Tips for Remote Workers

What are time management tips for remote workers?

  1. Find A Routine That Works for You
  2. Delegate Your Tasks for The Day
  3. Have A Designated Working Place
  4. Reduce Clutter and Distraction
  5. Know When to Stop Working

 

Working remotely definitely holds amazing benefits. It offers you flexibility, you get to be responsible for your time, and you can work wherever and sometimes, whenever you want.  However, this can only be true if you are great at time management. It is the very key to working remotely. Without it, many problems can fall under your lap — distraction, less productivity, no social life, and it can even lead to burn-out. Fortunately, we’ve got a few tricks up on your sleeves. Today, we’ll be sharing our tried-and-true time management tips for remote workers. Continue reading for more.

 

Find A Routine That Works for You

Truth be told, there is no one-size-fits-all strategy and routine to working remotely. Unlike your typical 9-5, with remote working, you are completely responsible for all your time. From how you structure it, spend it, and how you keep accountable with things. With all the flexibility you are given, it is up to you to make use of it wisely. This is the beauty of working remotely. But it can also feel challenging for first-timers and for those who are so used to a routine.

It is normal for things to feel contesting and overwhelming at first. But, get creative! Explore different routines each day and see which one you’re most comfortable in. You will ultimately find something that works for you.

 

Delegate Your Tasks for The Day

Before you begin to work, take a few minutes to create a to-do list of tasks. Write down and note all the things you want to achieve within your time of working.

Having a specific to-do list is a highly effective method in time management. Unlike jumping from task to task and wondering what project to take on for the day, you are given a structured and set schedule to work with. This will minimize procrastination and get you into a productive flow within the day.

 

Have A Designated Working Place

Your working area and environment play a huge role in how you manage your time, too. Since you are given all the freedom to work wherever you want, choose wisely.

One problem with working from home is that it is so easy for your career to bleed into your home life. Because of this, you may not have any boundaries and will work longer hours than you should. If you choose to work from home, create a physical boundary and ensure that you designate a space exclusively for work.

Or if you can, it is best to move to a co-working space to create a useful physical boundary. This creates a healthier work-life balance and will definitely help you manage your time better. Plus, there’s no better place to remote work than co-working spaces — they are built for exactly that!

 

Reduce Clutter and Distraction

Modern workplace with laptop computer, coffee cup and office supplies

Distractions — it is one of the top culprits of ineffective time management. It is so easy to get distracted when you are working remotely. If you want to establish healthy time management, eliminate all possible distractions. Whether it be your phone, social media, or even the clutter that lies within your desk.

 

Know When to Stop Working

Because of all this time and flexibility, it can also be so easy to overwork. This is why it is so important to establish a routine and set a schedule. Make sure you clock in and out when needed and never strain yourself.

 

Key Takeaway

Time management is the key to successfully working remotely. With these time management tips for remote workers, you will surely have a seamless transition into remote working life and maximize it to its full potential.