10 Remote Working Tips for Beginners

Before you send in your resignation letter to escape the office and become a remote worker, read through these remote working tips for beginners. You need to be aware of the challenges.

Being prepared will help you transition from the office to working from home.

It can take a few week, to get used to a new style of workin,g but you will quickly enjoy the benefits. Here are my remote working tips for beginners.

Become a Good Communicator

It doesn’t matter how you work remotely. Communication is key to a successful relationship with your employer, clients, and customers. Don’t worry about communicating too often, because it’s better than no communication at all.

Use technology to communicate. Tools like Zoom, Slack, and Google Meet are great at helping you keep in touch through live video, audio calls, and text messaging. If you’re not familiar with these tools, spend some time learning how to use them before you transition into working remotely.

Network With Other Remote Workers

When you first become a remote worker, it’s a good idea to find a community where you can network with other remote workers. Ask questions, join in discussions, and feel part of a group. On LinkedIn, we’ve recently launched the Remote Hive group to help bring remote workers together.

Don’t Exclude Offline Networking

Have a look at websites like Eventbrite, Facebook Events, and Meetup.com to find business events within your local area. These people might be able to assist you in the future with finding a remote job or even a new client.

Experiment With Your Work Routine

Your work routine will depend on the type of remote work. If you are an employee, then you’ll likely have less flexibility than a freelancer or entrepreneur. That said, choose the right company, and they will realise the importance of flexibility and freedom for employees.

At first, experiment with different work patterns. Figure out when you’re the most productive. Some people prefer to work early in the morning, while others prefer the late afternoon and evening. You might find it beneficial to split up your work hours, so 2-3 hours in the morning and 5-6 hours in the evening.

Don’t be afraid to experiment or let your work routine become too strict and rigid. One day, you might want to change your work hours because of a social event. Maybe one day work fewer hours a week and make up the time on the weekend.

Do Not Become Isolated

You will spend a lot of time working in isolation. Of course, as an employee, you’ll be communicating with your team on Slack and other communication tools.

As a freelancer and entrepreneur, isolation is a bigger issue. Spend time with family and friends. Work in a coffee shop or co-working space for a few hours a week. Spend time networking by joining an online community or an industry group on LinkedIn.

Spend time around other people, as often as you can.

Spend Time Doing the Things You Love

When you’re working remotely, it often feels like you have to work all day long. Some employers will take advantage, so bring this to their attention if it becomes a problem.

Make sure you spend time each day doing the things you love in life.

Otherwise, what is the point of being a remote worker? Freedom and flexibility are the biggest benefits. If you want to take a hike, spend time making craft products, whatever your hobbies and interests are in life, spend quality time doing them.

Have a Backup for Internet Access

This advice is essential. Do not rely on anyone for access to the internet. While you have a good WiFi connection at home, make sure you have a backup should it go down. Purchase an unlocked 4G/LTE MiFi and then insert a local SIM card for a different mobile company than the one you have at home.

This might seem excessive, but the internet can be unreliable, especially when traveling and working remotely. Not having a reliable internet connection can affect you financially.

What happens if you’re unable to perform your duties for an employer, or a client’s project deadline is unable to be met? You could lose your income, all because you didn’t have a backup internet connection.

Separate Work From Home

This is particularly important if you work from home with a family. When you’re concentrating on a piece of work, the last thing you want is your kids running havoc around the workspace during the school holidays. Try to find a space in your home where you can shut yourself away and set boundaries with the family. You want them to know whenever you’re in this room or space, you are not to be disturbed.

Of course, that’s easy for me to say. I have no kids and travel alone. Separating work from your life is also essential. So, when you are relaxing, eating dinner, or watching a movie, you’re not constantly checking your laptop or work desk.

Have Good Money Management Skills

Always have at least three to six months of salary in your savings. This applies to everyone, not just remote workers. Should a contract end suddenly, freelancing work dries up, or business sales disappear, you need money to live off until the situation improves.

One of the biggest challenges as a freelancer is getting companies to pay invoices on time. So, you have to continuously keep on top of invoicing and chasing clients to make sure you’re paid. As a freelancer, it’s advised to charge at least 50% of the total amount before you start working for the client. Although in some industries, this is more difficult to achieve.

Make sure you are keeping up-to-date with your bookkeeping and do not wait until towards the end of the tax year before sorting through your income and outgoings. It’ll be a nightmare, trust me.

Working from home means you’ll find the cost of living is cheaper, as you avoid the expense of commuting to and from work. Save this money and it’ll add up!

Look After Yourself Physically and Mentally

It feels hypercritical to write this paragraph because, honestly, I am terrible at looking after myself both physically and mentally.

It’s vital to purchase medical insurance if you live in a country that does not offer free medical care. Some employers will cover medical insurance as a perk, but if you are a freelancer or business owner, then it is your responsibility.

Without your health, you cannot run a business. When you’re working abroad and travelling, travel and/or health insurance is essential.

Make sure you take regular breaks. Walking around the neighbourhood is not only good exercise but also a great way to meet new people. It’s super important to get away from the desk and take time to stretch the body. Spend time looking after yourself mentally, too.

As previously mentioned in this article. Spend time with family and friends, and avoid isolation for too long, especially if you’re working and traveling alone.

Looking after your body and mental health is so important.

Research The Places You Want To Travel To

The final tip is for people who want to work remotely and travel. In short, make sure you research the places you want to visit and stay in. A tropical island, beach bungalow sounds like a fantastic place to work, but if the internet is lousy, you will not get any work completed.

There are even cities with bad internet, including Tokyo, Sarajevo, and Athens. Research the quality of the internet and other key areas, such as crime rates and accessibility of public transport.

Hopefully, these remote working tips for beginners will help you transition from the office and become a successful remote worker.