5 Tips for Planning a Weekly Schedule as a Remote Worker

Working from home (WFH) can be the ideal scenario for many as you no longer have to deal with traffic jams, your office can be personalized according to your preferences, and you might have the freedom to complete your tasks from almost anywhere. Accordingly, reports show that 32.6 million Americans will be working remotely by 2025. While the advantages of remote working are undeniable, keep in mind that if you want to make the most of it, following a weekly schedule is the key to success.

Without further ado, let’s dive into five tips for planning a weekly schedule while WFH.

1. Prioritize Your Weekly Tasks

First and foremost, start by writing down your weekly responsibilities and upcoming projects. It’s easier to internalize an idea or a task when you have it in front of you. Begin by taking some notes. Next, divide these to-dos into categories based on their importance so you can start prioritizing your tasks and work toward completing them efficiently and in a timely manner.

Then, once you have the tasks divided by importance, add them to your calendar. If you’re a visual person, color-coordinating them would be particularly helpful. Make sure to start with the most important tasks and, only after completing those, focus on the things that are not necessarily urgent. When planning for the following week, it’s important to note the less-vital tasks so you won’t feel pressured if you didn’t have time to complete them by the end of the week.

2. Schedule Any Upcoming Meetings

Similar to planning and prioritizing your tasks, scheduling your meetings is crucial if you want your week to go smoothly. After considering all of your potential upcoming meetings, schedule a time for each one and make sure to set reminders so you’ll have plenty of time to prepare in advance.

Depending on what part you play in each meeting, it’s important to be prepared: Make a plan with the important aspects that need to be discussed, work on your presentation, ask questions in advance if anything is unclear and provide your input if it’s needed.

3. Plan Your Breaks

Short breaks — like going on a walk or reading a bit — can help you recharge and be more focused. You don’t need a strict schedule for breaks, just make sure you don’t forget to reward yourself sometimes. If you’re not careful, you can easily get burned out, so watch for signs of excessive stress. To prevent it, meditate; listen to music; and make time for your hobbies, friends and yourself.

The main advantage when working from home is that it’s easier to make time for appointments, friends’ gatherings or any other kind of after-work activities. For instance, if you know there’s an upcoming dentist appointment, rely on the calendar again. Whatever your plans are, always remember to make up the time you’ve been away.

4. Set Time Aside to Socialize

Remember that working in a team is always better than being on your own. Even if you don’t see your colleagues every day, there’s a solution to every modern-day challenge with technology. To that end, you can schedule regular check-ins and meetings to stay connected and discuss progress and ideas. Sometimes, you may find yourself in the middle of a task without any clear idea of where or how to continue. In that case, remember that everyone needs some help once in a while. Just text or call a colleague and ask for help and then make sure to return the favor when needed.

Additionally, schedule face-to-face interactions whenever possible. As an example, go out for a drink or to a concert. You spend most of your time talking to your colleagues, and making friends during this process is sometimes an unexpected benefit. Of course, keep in mind that everyone has their own boundaries, so don’t feel offended if not everyone is open to going out with colleagues from work.

5. Create the Perfect Workspace

While setting up the ideal workspace doesn’t directly tie into one’s daily or weekly schedule, having a designated area for work could represent an advantage. That’s because keeping everything around you organized and fully supplied means that you’ll spend less time searching for things and, consequently, avoid the risk of getting distracted. Plus, by taking this extra step, you could free up time for more important activities.

Of course, there are plenty of ways to plan your week to be more productive. So, find what works for you and experiment with other tips on how to improve your working-from-home experience. At the end of the day, creating a routine and sticking to a schedule is in your own hands. Remote work offers some great benefits and, with the right strategy, you can make the most of it.