“Remote work is the future of work.” — Alexis Ohanian, Reddit
For people like me who can work with just one partner i.e., Laptop can easily work remotely. I have been working remotely for 3 years now, and the way I work with my team is the most enjoyable, efficient, and productive one. We meet, we set goals, we share ideas, we ask queries, and have fun together! Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without collaboration tools like Slack, Zoom, Google Docs, Slack, Trello, Skype, and Hangouts. The credit goes to these support systems who allow us to work together without being under the same roof. I appreciate the technology that brings people from 2 opposite ends of the world on the same zoom/slack screens.
Few people enjoy working from home and few find it challenging. If you ask me, my personal choice will always go with “working by wearing whatever’s most relaxing for the temperature” and at my ease. There are great benefits to one’s mental health and productivity that come with working out of your personal space.
While work from home gives you flexibility, it also comes with its own bundle of massive challenges. The most common ones are here:
– The burden of house chores with office work. This makes you think, are you working from home or working at home.
– Feeling isolated and disconnected with the rest of your team members who are working at an office and taking the benefit of HR engagement activities as well.
– Distractions because you are always responsible to answer those doorbells and attend to the delivery man.
– No reason to wear good clothes hence no motivation.
– Irritability towards the loved ones who keep disturbing while you are attending a zoom call or working on a report
Enough!!! It is what you think and starts hating your job because it gives you way too much flexibility than you need!!!!!! Hey, calm down. Here come a few tips which will make you love your work from home flexibility, make it more enjoyable, operative, and sustainable.
– Plan your day. A day planner will help you monitor your productivity. Ensure you do not consider your entire day as free just because you are working from home. Ensure you maintain a routine by adding tasks in your calendar like when to touch-base with your teammate for accounts? What time to work on a recurring weekly activity? Remember to include both work and important home tasks so that they are less likely to interconnect.
– If you use a laptop to work, change your place often by visiting Starbucks to work and enjoy your daily-update call with a cup of coffee. Considering the global pandemic, a Starbucks café can be replaced with your home balcony. Just remember changing the work location will give you positive vibes and a good feeling about your work. Trust me the location does matter!!!
– Watch your posture!!! Always work in a good position which will help you minimize your bodily pain and improve your productivity
– Play your much-loved music track while you do the daily repetitive work and when you do not need much brainstorming. This will help you refresh and enjoy while working.
– Enjoy your work appreciation emails with your loved ones by giving them a big and tight hug and celebrating by cooking a yummy dinner.
The most important takeaway about becoming a remote worker is that you need to set your process if you want to be productive and maintain work-life-balance.
Good luck!
