Our Top 10 Tips for Remote Work as a HubSpot Agency

Did you know that remote working was common before offices and commuting existed? Prior to the Industrial Revolution, people used to set up shop in their homes to sell their products.

We now see automation, factories, and corporate headquarters in the post-World War II years -- this was the start of cubicles and 8-hour workdays. Since the introduction of computers and technology, remote working has become increasingly popular.

As social distancing flattens the curve of COVID-19, 2020 will be remembered as the year when remote work once again became the norm.

In this blog, our HubSpot Agency team members offer 10 tips to master the art of working from home.

Our HubSpot Agency's Top 10 Remote Working Tips

1. This seems incredibly basic, but water up! I have a 1L re-usable bottle that I refill throughout the day. Between talking on phone calls, stretch breaks, and morning and afternoon cups of coffee, making sure I'm hydrated keeps my energy level sustained. For people who are not used to working from home, I think this is very easy to forget. If you already don't drink enough water or have trouble moving your body, schedule in quick 5-10 minute movement and hydration breaks in your calendar.
2. I like to designate a space for work. Wherever that is, and use it for work only. That way when I go to sit down in that space my brain knows what it's time to do.
3. Our health is important, so I like to create a routine and stick to it. Taking short breaks from the computer to stand up or walk around and play music while I'm working. For me, staying productive and mentally healthy while working remotely is key.
4. It's hard to choose just one! Make sure your team's calendars are visible to each other, with clear hours blocked off when they are not available. If you're the type who will sit all day at your desk at home, from when you get out of bed until bedtime, mark off a few hours break time on your calendar to get your 'healthy human' routine done for the day: exercise, errands, cooking, eating, etc. That way no one will expect a response from you and you won't feel attached to your devices 24/7. My best advice is, don't end up sitting in front of your computer all day and night. Taking breaks makes you more productive when you return.
5. Make sure to enjoy the benefits! Play music while you’re working, walk around your neighborhood, work from various areas in your home ...like the couch! Make yourself some tea and bust out some push-ups. Remote work allows you to enjoy yourself, let loose while being more productive.
6. Share something funny once in a while. It encourages others to follow suit and is essential for the morale of the team.
7. I like to pretend I'm going to an office or meeting someone in person that day. Taking a shower, putting on a casual outfit and minimal make-up helps my mindset change to work mode. Also, for music 'ChilledCow' Youtube channel is sooo good (lo-fi music). Oh, and a to-do list before going to bed helps so much to know what to work on the next day.
8. I think working remote requires more planning than it seems, as you can easily skip a meal or your exercise routine. One of the most important things to understand is your prime time to work! If you have the luxury of being remote AND flextime (meaning you don't have set hours), work when you feel most productive. When I first started with CMO, I was forcing myself to work 9 am-5 pm, but the truth is, I am a lot more focused at night. Create a routine that works best for you.
9. Once I mastered a calendar management process that works for me, remote working became a breeze! As a Demand Gen Specialist that gets randomly booked for meetings with prospects, I needed a process that would allow my work calendar to stay free for calls between specific times during the day, but I also wanted to have a place to create what my ideal day would look like if I didn't receive any calls. I ended up with a personal Google calendar for everything and an Outlook calendar for all work-related meetings and personal appointments that would make it impossible to take a phone call at that time. These both get updated throughout the day and then once over before bed so I can plan my morning for the next day.
10. Invest in a very comfortable headset because you may be wearing it for long periods of time while on conference calls.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our top 10 remote working tips. If you found this article helpful, you may also enjoy:

• How to Choose Your HubSpot Agency Partner
• What is a HubSpot Certified Agency Partner?
• What is the HubSpot Agency Partner Program?

If you are a HubSpot user and want to master the platform, feel free to contact us with any questions and book a Free Chat with one of our HubSpot experts.