About Your Remote Work Coach
Many become remote workers to have more time to do the things they love, like spending more time with family or on a hobby. Maintaining a work-life balance can often be challenging, but it’s worth the effort to get it right.
Of course, working hard and smart is vital, but you need a routine to achieve the perfect work-life balance, which does not come naturally to many of us.
Design Your Work Routine
When you have spent most of your life working 9 to 5 in an office environment, figuring out what routine is best for you takes some time. What’s important is that you give yourself time to work, explore, exercise, and relax.
Are you a morning person or a night owl? When are you the most productive and focused? These are just a few questions you must ask yourself when designing your routine.
No More Commuting Time
Routine is essential, and working from your home or a nearby coffee house means minimal time wasted commuting.
You might want to avoid working in a co-working space, as most of them are in city centers.
In my opinion, co-working spaces are offices, no matter how you look – there are desks with many people sitting in them and going about their work.
Why would you want to return to this environment as a remote worker? That said, while speaking with others, they seem to enjoy the human intervention and social aspect, which is understandable.
Experiment with your Work Routine
How your routine evolves will depend on how you make a living. If you’re self-employed, you will have more flexibility than someone who is an employee of a company. In this scenario, it is crucial that your employer is flexible and understands the reasons why you’re working remotely.
Research the company and its ethos before applying for remote jobs.
Time differences might impact your routine if your clients or employers want you to work during business hours in the country where they are based.
You will find that your work can eat into your life, often meaning you have to structure everything around it. Everything else goes on the weekends or what you have left of your evening during the week, and sometimes work even eats into that, too.
Think about your ideal routine. Would your clients or employer be able to fit into that routine?
Communication is Key
Communication is crucial, and so is a culture of trust and respect. Being transparent with your customers, clients, or employer will ensure everyone is on the same page and understands your routine.
Changing from working 9 to 5 in an office to working remotely takes a lot of self-discipline, and you must learn new skills and technology quickly.
Communication is accessible when working in an office, but it becomes essential when working with a team of people in different time zones worldwide.
Challenges of Remote Working
Working from home or in a coffee shop, there are challenges and distractions, and it’s essential to try and take yourself away from them and focus on work.
Plugging in your headphones and listening to music on Spotify can help you focus on the work.
Finally, the most significant benefit of working remotely is that you are designing your life. You choose the hours and days you work and when you decide to spend the time enjoying the places you’re living in.
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