Tasha Hardy
Jan 14, 22 | 11 min read
Tips to stay creative in times of remote work
Reading time: 9 minutes
Between quarantine, isolation, and the loss of loved ones, COVID-19 has changed the way of life as we knew it, both personally and professionally.
With this situation, remote work became the only way for many of us to continue with our daily work.
At first we did it out of obligation. But soon after, we began to see the positive side of this new concept, both for professionals and for companies.
It was in the last two years that Rock Content established itself as a leading global remote work company. A desire that was already under construction and was accelerated by this sad global situation. We tried to find something positive that would help us soften such a bitter pill.
People from all over the world were able to work together in one company. Physical location was no longer the primary factor in hiring. We were able to focus on attracting talent to our team, no matter where in the world they were located.
We are not alone, of course. Some companies have already announced a return to the office, but most are adopting some kind of hybrid model that allows their employees to split work time between remote and in-person.
This scenario shows two sides of the same coin:
On the one hand, this reality can be somalia email list extremely positive. On the other hand, it is necessary to know how to deal with remote work and avoid common pitfalls that, by now, you are probably already familiar with, such as:
low productivity ;
difficulty relaxing;
feelings of isolation;
among many others.
So what can we do? How can we cope with the chaos, tension and boredom? How can we find ways to be artistically inspired in this new reality that is apparently here to stay?
As creative souls, we’ve found a few ways to beat these tricky traps. Read on for our tips and create your own creative style while working remotely!
#1. Put on your Monday clothes
There's nothing more comfortable than an oversized shirt and a pair of baggy pants. They're comfortable pieces, a hug for your body after a long day. If you have time on your hands, they become your weekend loungewear and are a great escape from having to dress up for the social world.
The first few weeks of the pandemic were a joy. Every loungewear outfit got a tryout, but two years later, our stiff work clothes are staring back at us, wondering when we'll be back.
As nice as loungewear may be, accepting it as a long-term style can take a toll on your creative self-esteem.
A cozy bed and comfortable clothes will make your body feel like it's at rest, not at work. This makes feeling productive, producing content , and getting your creative juices flowing more challenging than before.
The article Enclothed Cognition , published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology , details how wearing the right clothing affects some professionals.
This experiment found that doctors wearing their lab coats performed with greater attention to detail than those without them. Furthermore, when presented with two coats labeled "doctor's" and "painter's," those wearing the doctor's coat projected greater confidence than those wearing a painter's coat.
This means that clothes can affect our daily productivity, not only in style, but also in what they mean to us, i.e. how we choose to label them.
Your loungewear is clothes for relaxing, not for working. So if you want to be productive, choosing a work outfit that stimulates you is essential, even at home.
Consider purchasing a new work-specific outfit that allows for ease of movement while being more elegant than casual wear.
Name it your power outfit, body armor, or any title that evokes a sense of fiery passion. Wear it when you work from home. Dress up and include a fancy watch if you want.
Then, at the end of the day, you're back to those sweet sweatpants that are eagerly waiting for you to finish work.
Practice this pattern every day to make it a habit in your daily life. Keep your power outfit for power tasks and avoid wearing it to bed or socializing. With your purpose clear, you will produce more than before.
#2. Daily log
It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re working from home. The days fly by, and while it makes Mondays less miserable, it also makes Fridays less exciting. This is usually where the routine sets in, with little excitement or variation in your days.
How to escape? We are still (gradually) returning to normal, if there is such a thing as normal. Even in an optimistic scenario, there remains a sense of caution in holding in-person events. When you can't find excitement and diversity in your life from the outside, it's time to turn your attention inward.
This is where journaling comes in. Keeping a project or dream journal is a great way to organize your thoughts and review your day. For creative minds, journaling is a vital record of ideas, inspiration, and important notes that can help you accomplish your next task.
Unfortunately, journaling can be a bit awkward for adults in 2022 .
Many people think that keeping a diary is exclusive to two categories of people:
sad and misunderstood teenagers;
famous public figures.
You may think that your life isn't interesting enough or that your ideas aren't good enough to write down in a journal. But I'm here to remind you that's not true!
There are countless studies on the connection between mental well-being and journaling. The University of Rochester looks at how journaling not only helps with anxiety and coping with depression, but it also helps with organizing thoughts and keeping track of your days.
You get the positive effects of journaling when you remember these two simple rules:
you are writing for yourself and no one else;
there are no limits.
Start small. Find the coolest journal online with a pen that slides across the page and write whatever comes to mind. This could be a funny joke, remembering a good meal, or even a little doodle of something that inspires you.
