Working remotely in rural Georgia certainly presents its own challenges. However, in these unprecedented times, some are being asked to work from home in their rural communities. Georgia’s Rural Center team has been working remotely the last week, and we have learned some tricks of the trade working from the rural areas we live in every day.
Scott, Tift County:
“Structure and staying on a schedule are important to keep focus. These tips are helpful anytime, but especially during these times. Keeping structure and a schedule helps us move forward on projects we are working on right now. Also, we have implemented daily check-in calls at the same time each day to ensure a routine is maintained. These calls let us interact and keep up with conversation we would have in the office on a regular day.”
Janet, Whitfield County:
“Be sure to have adequate office supplies at home and the office to make sure you do not have to worry about taking your things back and forth. You don’t want to be sitting at your remote office and think, ‘oh, I have that in the office.’ This can include anything you use on a daily basis at the office from pens, paper, notepads, staplers, laptop, printer, etc. Whether it is a big or small item, it all counts to be productive!”
Bridgett, Tift County:
“If you have kids, it is still a good idea to have them working their stuff from their teachers but there are a lot of good learning resources being shared right now on the internet from zoos to agriculture related topics and more. These are great opportunities to have them engage in learning while they are out of school and engage with things they might not see otherwise. Also, don’t forget to work in some outdoor time in the backyard enjoying nature as well!”
Jessica, Berrien County:
“Get up and ready like any other day! Shoes included. If you aren’t someone who wears shoes in the house, that part may not be for you. But I found that getting fully dressed, shoes and all, really helped me get focused for the day’s work. Fully dressed certainly can be more casual than what we would normally wear to the office, but it does not mean wearing your pajamas all day.”
Loren, Tift County:
“Find an area you can call your ‘work’ spot. When working from home, I have found the desire to find a comfy place to work. Whether I’m sitting in bed or lounging on the couch, it’s not the place for me to be most productive. I tend to get distracted easily in these spots. If you don’t have a desk at home, I recommend sitting at the dining room table. Each day, I go to this spot to do my work and I have space to spread out. Most importantly, I’m not easily distracted while sitting at the table.”
Mary Catherine, Sumter County:
“After working from home in various positions now for over a decade, I have found having a definite start time is extremely helpful. If your office opens at 8 a.m., you begin work at 8 a.m. This also helps with FOCUS. Remember, you are tricking your brain you are not at home. You can do housework on breaks but focus on your “paying” job during your work hours, just like you would if you were in the office.”
We also asked some of our colleagues at CORE in Ellijay where our north Georgia office is located in Gilmer County.
Kent, Gilmer County: "I would say focus on observing your normal schedule. Also, Zoom has become my new 'best friend'."
David, Gilmer County: "Dress for success. In addition, plan your day with appointments, people to contact, projects with priority, etc. I am using a flier display as a mini whiteboard then check off items throughout the day. I also use this as a place to plan my extra time whether it is family time, checking the budget, or other activities like working out. Having a neat workspace is a plus, too."
Rebecca, Gilmer County: “Take breaks during the day. Exercise, walk, go outside. Something to break up the day. Staying off social media is helpful, too, when working remotely.”
Dianne, Gilmer, County: “In times like these when working from home isn’t necessarily a choice, I recommend the four R’s…. Religion, Resilience, Relationships and Rigor.”
Dawn, Gilmer County: “You can ship a package from your home by 1st class mail, if you can weigh it on a scale. I use my weight watchers scale, and print out the postage. You can do this on PayPal. It saves me from going to the Post Office and I just put the envelopes and packages in my mailbox and pull up the flag. I also have had to get over the fact that my house was going to be a mess. I use plastic crates to store my supplies and files in when I'm done for the night I slide the crates under the desk.”