In the world of Virtual Assistants, the schedule is something you need to master as soon as possible. Working with international business owners demands you to work in a different time zone, in contrast to your home region. Yes, it can be overwhelming, especially when working on another shift is something you haven't tried before.
Sleep is an essential part of your lifestyle. It keeps you healthy, at the same time, productive at work. So if you’re working for a different time zone, you must learn how to adapt swiftly to reduce stress and anxiety and achieve an overall balance with your workflow. Here are five tips you can try if you’re having difficulty befriending your work schedule.
How to Manage Working in a Different Timezone
Listen to Your Body and Environment
First and foremost, if you want to make change more bearable for you, observing how your body reacts should be your primary takeaway. If you feel more productive in the morning, apply for companies or clients who operate on the same schedule. However, if the work requires you to work on a different schedule, you must know how to adjust your body clock without compromising your health. Here are a few things you might want to take note of before jumping on shifts:
What habits can help you stay awake? For most people, caffeine is their go-to drink to stay awake between their shifts. If this works for you, then congratulations! If caffeine is not well-liked by your body, you can check out drinking alternatives that can power up your mind, like basic coffee.
What type of workspace increases your productivity? This would look as minimal as it seems, but it significantly changes your workflow. Imagine if you're working at night and have a very dark workstation, one way or another, you might want to crawl back to your bed and enjoy a nighttime sleep. Start on small changes in your desk, like reducing clutter, making things look lighter, and maintaining a space that keeps you productive.
Stick to a Fixed Sleep Schedule
Your sleep patterns regulate the reactions of your body. So if it’s your first time working the night shift, try maintaining a sleep schedule for as long as possible. The good minute or the correct hour allows your body to adapt with adjustments. Research suggests that having a consistent sleep schedule enables you to experience quality rest and is associated with a healthier body. Here are ways you can try to help you stick with your sleep schedule:
Could you choose the best time that works for you? Please take advantage of the time that you feel the most sleepy. This will allow you to fall asleep faster after going to bed.
Please don't stop napping if possible. Occasional naps tend to interfere with your body’s sleep schedule, so whenever you feel sleepy at the wrong time, try doing light activities to break away from sleepiness.
You can reduce your screen time before sleeping. Your contact with gadgets can be the culprit of your difficulty sleeping. Exposure to lights somehow signals your body to stay awake; hence frequent exposure to devices leads to poor quality of rest.
Avoid taking heavy meals close to bedtime. Avoid heavy meals and snacks rich in sugar, caffeine, acid, or any content that may generate discomfort during sleep. You can opt for fruits or lighter snacks if you’re hungry.
Working at a different timezone is a literal shift in your lifestyle. It would help if you got rid of some habits, made peace with a new sleep schedule, and made certain environmental adjustments. Take the challenge and know what schedule works best for you. If you’re afraid of taking on this change, think of it as if you’re trying to understand yourself better. You might be more productive at most people’s bedtime, right?