As law firms across the country transition to remote offices, legal professionals have been forced to quickly adjust their workflow. This has created a steep learning curve, with most people focused on Zoom etiquette and monitoring frequent court status changes. As we begin to adjust to this new normal, it’s beneficial to consider the sustainability of your remote workflow.
In the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic, we’re all feeling the same uncertainty. How long will this last and what will the world look like once the crisis has ended? Although we don’t have these answers, we can prepare ourselves for the unknown. This means that we must accept that social distancing won’t end tomorrow. As we look toward the future, we’re sharing our recommendations for sustainable remote working.
Embrace a new routine
Found yourself skipping your usual afternoon coffee break? Started replying to emails over breakfast in the morning? When you’ve been thrust into a new working environment, setting a schedule can help you return to normalcy.
Your routine should go beyond simply honoring your standard working hours. Remember to take breaks and leave time for meals and meal-prep in your new schedule. Although you don’t have to rigidly enforce the schedule, having one can reduce your stress levels because you aren’t scrambling to find the next task. It will also help you pace your work to avoid burnout.
Establish an office space
Creating a physical, dedicated workspace where you can focus will not only improve your productivity throughout the workday, it will also help you define your new work-life balance. Let other members of the household know about your plans for the space and communicate your new schedule. When it’s time to sign off for the day, leaving your workspace allows you to (quite literally) put the office behind you. Something as simple as moving from your desk to the living room couch sends a signal to your body and mind that it’s time to relax.
Invest in security
Now that you’re working from home, you may need to access confidential records and information through your residential internet service provider. We recommend investing in a VPN service to help keep all company information private and to maintain attorney-client confidentiality. Reliable VPN services like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, CyberGhost, and IPVanish offer you peace of mind at an affordable price point.
Schedule self-care
Believe it or not, you need breaks when working from home just as much as you might need them in an office environment! Consider beginning the day with some meditation or set aside time to chat with friends or spend time with pets. Try to figure out an end-of-day ritual that makes you feel like you’ve truly put work behind you. When you invest time in yourself, it will decrease your stress levels, boost your mood, and ultimately improve productivity.
Find your silver lining
If you regularly worked in an office before social distancing, chances are that your whole routine has changed. For those in urban areas with a difficult commute, you may suddenly find yourself with significant amounts of free time. Take advantage of those hours by filling them with things that you enjoy. Whether you’re embracing a new hobby or rediscovering an old one, try to find one or two positive things about working from home. If you identify the positive changes, it’s easier to focus on them and maintain an optimistic outlook.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this article, let us know in the comments and feel free to share it on social media. As you adapt to remote working, please feel free to reach out to us with any questions. We are proud to offer a diverse set of remote working tools, such as conference calling, remote depositions, and real-time transcription.
