How to manage to work remotely without getting crazy

In recent years, remote work has become a significant trend, with opportunities more than tripling since the pandemic. In 2023, 62% of employees were willing to take, on average, a 15% pay cut to be able to work entirely remotely. Additionally, remote workers generally report higher happiness levels than their in-office counterparts. However, it's not all rosy; 69% of remote employees have experienced increased burnout due to digital communication tools.

After working remotely for some years, I have dealt with many challenges I did not anticipate. For this reason, I collected some tips that worked for me and have seen that work for other remote workers.

Tips & Tricks for Remote Work Success

Space

The first tip is setting up a dedicated workspace. This is crucial for productivity. A distinct work area helps create a mental boundary between work and home life.

Working in a space such as a kitchen, bedroom, or living room is challenging as it introduces many distractions. When a person has a boring or difficult task at work, it is very easy to get distracted by surroundings and start procrastinating. For instance, working on a boring task in a messy kitchen can lead to giving up work and starting to clean, which kills productivity and focus.

Housemates

Living with people who do not understand what it's like to work remotely can be very challenging. Communicating work expectations and emphasizing the importance of focus can help prevent interruptions and improve both work and home life.

Quality Equipment

Investing in comfortable and ergonomic furniture to support a person's posture during long working hours can be life-changing. It will benefit a person's health while making work more pleasant.

Apart from furniture, a good camera and microphone enhance video call quality, making communication more effective. Communication is important, so the teammates should be able to see and hear each other clearly.

For this reason, ensuring a reliable internet connection and a backup plan in case of technical issues is mandatory. Access to the internet is crucial for an important meeting, and having a backup plan in case of technical problems can be life-saving.

uses.tech is a resource where people showcase the equipment they use. This can be helpful for inspiration.

Dress Code

While remote work doesn't enforce a specific dress code, wearing pajamas can negatively impact productivity and mental health. There is no need for formal clothes such as suits if the job description does not require them. However, a helpful tip is to designate specific work clothes to create a psychological boundary between work and leisure.

Regular Breaks

A common scenario is as follows: A person starts working in the office at 9 AM, and when they check the time, it's already 3 PM. They continue working without taking breaks and feeling exhausted. Getting into the "deep zone" is an easy way to be productive but it's important to take regular breaks to recharge. Stepping away from the work area during breaks can help maintain energy levels and focus throughout the day.

Skills enhancement

The new trends require developing new skills, with a focus on mastering documentation and proactive communication in a remote work environment. Developing strong writing skills and embracing asynchronous communication is vital for improving collaboration within the team and removing the blockers.

Trust

Teams that collaborate well have members who trust each other. Trust can be maintained by arranging virtual meetups or occasional office visits and by encouraging team bonding activities. Also, ensure that the camera is turned on during meetings.

Routine

Some difficult times of the day are transitioning from "sleep mode" to "work mode" and from "work mode" to "relax mode." A helpful way to overcome this challenge is to establish a morning routine and set time blocks for the end of the day. For instance, before starting work, one can take a walk, grab a coffee, and plan activities for after work to avoid working late into the night.

Workation

A "workation" combines work and vacation, allowing a person to work while traveling. This can break the monotony and provide a refreshing change of scenery. For example, a person can escape the routine with a short trip outside the country or visit exotic paradises such as Thailand or Indonesia in the winter.

Thailand offers affordable accommodation starting from $10 per night and stunning locations. For more travel inspiration, nomadlist.com is a great resource, and momondo.com provides affordable airplane tickets.

Personally, these tips helped me overcome many challenges and working remotely without getting crazy. I hope they will help you too. If you have any other tips, it would be great to hear them.

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