How to know if you should work remotely
Will you sink or swim in the pool of remote work?
Does working remotely sound appealing to you? That’s because it is!
At least it is for most people. You’re probably tired of hearing all about things changing when Corona hit. You were there, right? *stares at the person reading this in the year 3490*
So we know that remote jobs are more popular than ever and if you’re currently unemployed or looking to leave your on-location job, it’s important to know if you have what it takes to actually work remotely. If you don’t have what it takes, don’t worry! With just a few steps and adjustments in your current routine, you’ll find that working remote or employing people remotely is awesome!
There are a couple of reasons why anyone would consider working or hiring remotely:
- You have no choice. Everywhere is still locked up where you live. You’re out of money. You’re on your last roll of tissue paper and your cat is staring at you like a piece of meat it’ll devour when the food bowl is empty.
- You’re aware that the times are not “changing”. They’ve already changed and you’re late to the party. Boohoo.
- Extra cash. Need I say more? No? Thought so.
- You’ve got some free time and are looking to add a little experience to your portfolio. This is especially true for students and people that want to volunteer for specific roles.
People that have been working from home pre-Corona have always talked about the benefits but got relatively little attention. They’ve also mastered a few secrets that keep them up and running. If you can do these, then working remotely will not just be a no-brainer, it’ll also be fun!
How to set yourself up for success when you work remotely
- Working remotely is in fact, a real job. Treat it like one!
Some people have this idea that remote work means you just chill out in your pyjamas all day having ice cream for breakfast, tapping your computer twice and voila!
I mean, you can stay in your pyjamas and have ice cream for breakfast but remote work doesn’t mean that the work you would have been doing on site is any less important because you’re doing it at home.
Work is work and you should treat it as such. Without work integrity, your employer is going to notice that you aren’t doing much and probably won’t hesitate to fire you. After all, there are a lot of people looking for that job. You were in that same position, remember?
Be as professional as you’d have been if you were in an office. With remote work, you don’t even have to wear pants to do your job, the least you can do as a non-pants wearing employee is be professional and do your job properly!
2. Carve out time that works for your lifestyle and productivity
Asides from meetings and other important due dates, carve out time around your personal schedule.
You’re in charge here! Find the best way to go about your job without having to disrupt your daily routines or schedules.
For example, if you like to be lazy in the mornings and don’t have to turn in some work till the evening, don’t insist on waking up at 7 am and working till 8 pm. Have your lazy morning and start work at noon if that’s enough to finish the work you have to do.
3. Tell your family/roommates/pets about it and ask them to respect that time
Like we talked about in the first point, people may not think you’re working when you’re working remotely. After all, you aren’t even wearing pants *scoff*. Even if you’re wearing pants, your family or roommates might think you’re just playing around and they will barge in, distract you and just generally be an obstruction.
Because of this, it’s important to explain to whoever you’re living with that you are in fact, working. Set clear boundaries and ask them to respect your time and your work. Your pets might be a little more difficult to work with though but still let them know!
If you live alone, this step is still important because people might be calling you or requiring some attention when you need to work. You can indicate work time on your status, put your phone on do-not-disturb mode, or just let them know “hey, I’ll get back to you later, I’m in the middle of work”.
4. Dress for success
So we’ve mentioned not wearing pants a couple of times now. . . *nervous laughter*
But you shouldn’t be pantless ALL the time. Now, don’t get me wrong, I completely support being as comfortable as you can be. But the problem with that is the psychology behind clothing.
So, if you ever feel unmotivated to work. . . try dressing up. Put on that pencil skirt or that nice collared shirt and tie and do work as you normally should. Your clothes really affect the way you feel so dressing for work might encourage you to actually work.
Top tips to FAIL at remote work
- Don’t treat it like a real job
Go on, enforce the stereotype that working remotely is just playing around. Keep that attitude up and your employer will decide to “play around” with your salary and give you a sack letter.
2. Keep distractions in reach
Phones. Netflix. Toys.
A distraction could be anything when you’re in the comfort of your own room. Find ways to keep them away while you are at work so that you don’t get distracted and end up wasting time. If it’s available to you, set up an office space that is for work only. That way, once you’re ready to work or ready to leave work you can exit and know that you’re done for that period.
3. Don’t schedule anything
The cliche is true. Failing to plan is planning to fail. If you don’t schedule what time works best for you (for both work and play), it’s going to end up a disaster.
You’re going to have to just get used to it. Technology and life is where it’s at right now. Do you honestly think it could ever go backwards without some alien invasion or apocalypse?
Probably not.
As the saying goes, if you can’t beat them, join them.
Plus, there are a few perks to working remotely apart from creating your own schedule from the comfort of your home. You also get to network without going anywhere!
As a freelance writer, I’ve worked with all kinds of people and some of them are now dear friends or business contacts! The diversification of people and talent is unmatched. And who has diversification ever hurt?
Definitely not me! And it won’t hurt you either if you decide to put your mind to it and do the work! I wish you all the best if you choose to go on the route of remote work.
Bonus tips if you’re currently looking for remote work:
Your profile is super duper important! When using career sites such as Linkedin, Indeed or Zip Recruiter, make sure you:
- Use a professional display picture. Avoid funny or extra casual selfies, no matter how cute they may be.
- Create a modern and up to date resume.
- Follow other people in your field of interest and engage with them.
