6 Need-to-Know Tips About Working Remotely
Thanks to the development of innovative technologies over the years, workers now have the ability to work from any location where they have an internet connection. Working from a remote location can instill you with a sense of freedom and improve your morale with regards to your job. Yet at the same time, this type of work is not free of issues. After all, as you work remotely, collaboration and relationship-building in the workplace become more challenging. By exploring some of the top lessons learned by remote workers, you may be able to tackle these challenges yourself head-on. 6 Need-to-Know Tips About Working RemotelyLive your dreams, don’t dream your life. - Claire O’Connell1. Communication is extremely importantThere are many exceptional communication tools and resources available to remote workers, but in order for several people to work on the same project from multiple locations, communication efforts must be open and centralized. More than that, each person in the group should have excellent communication skills. You generally will not have time to beat around the bush or side-step issues. Instead, you may need to confront issues bluntly to achieve desired results. More than that, communication should be fast and timely, and you should never allow 24 hours to pass without responding to texts and email messages. There are numerous apps and other tools that you can use to facilitate communication with your team members. 2. Productivity is what counts the mostWhen you work remotely, it is easy to lose focus and to get lazy. After all, nobody is peering over your shoulder to make sure that you are on task. Remote workers are expected to be independent self-starters, and you should think twice about working remotely if you do not have these traits. When you work on your own, you may face numerous challenges and problems that you will need to solve yourself. Your team is there for support, but it is not feasible to reach out to others for help all of the time. As a remote worker, being productive rather than punching the clockk is important. Others in your team and throughout your company may judge you based on the results of your efforts, and they often will not have any idea if you completed a task in two hours or in seven hours. You must find an effective way to stay motivated and on task so that you can complete your projects in a timely manner. 3. There are no distractions from coworkersDistractions in a traditional office environment are often frequent, and they can dramatically decrease productivity. On the other hand, when you work from home in the solitude of your own space, distractions from colleagues will be minimum and easier to manage. You may discover that you can concentrate on your tasks easier and can focus on important details better. This independent way of thinking may require staying organized, but it also encourages productivity and independence. If you are currently stressed by a workload that you have trouble concentrating on at the office, spending at least a few hours each day working remotely may be a smart idea. 4. Remote work doesn’t have to equal lonelinessYou may have heard other remote workers who you know complain about how lonely their days are. You may be more productive working in the solitude of your home, but you may also feel isolated and alone. Just as you may currently spend your day in an office surrounded by people and want to come home to enjoy peace and quiet, when you work in a solitary environment at home, you may crave being around people at the end of the day. Some people search for a happy middle ground between these two unique office types. One resolution to consider is co-working, but you can also bring your laptop to a local coffee shop or café to work in the company of others. Otherwise, you may consider meeting up with some of your team members or colleagues for in-person meetings periodically. This can help you to improve productivity and establish rapport with key players. 5. Knowing the boundaries is vitalA common issue that many people have when working remotely relates to overworking. Many workers cannot see when their coworkers are taking breaks or quitting for the day, and they may also underestimate how much time and energy they have already put into their workday. The result is that you may actually work more hours than you otherwise would, and this can make it challenging to find a happy, peaceful work-life balance. You should remember that a successful, productive workday is not necessarily measured by how many hours you work. Instead, it is measured by how productive you are during your work hours. You need to consider scheduling personal time or downtime in your day. This will make it easier for you to find the happy balance that you crave and keep your work hours to a reasonable level. By doing so, you may be able to spend more time with friends who also work remotely and share this same dilemma with you. 6. You need to prioritize your healthYour health can fall to the wayside when you work from home. For example, you may be rather sedentary as well as overworked. You likely will have regular break times and lunch hours to enjoy with others to give yourself a mental break and to stretch your legs. However, health can impact productivity, so you need to make your health a priority. You can accomplish this by scheduling periodic stretch breaks throughout the day and feasting on healthy snacks that nourish your body. You may even schedule stress-free time in your day, such as by incorporating a few minutes of yoga into your schedule. You will need to take care of yourself, otherwise you may develop unhealthy habits. Be a productive home workerAs is the case with any type of job and any work environment, there are both pros and cons associated with working remotely. It is important that you understand the pros and cons of a remote work environment before you get started. You can actively plan around the cons so that you can be a more productive, happier worker in your home office.