Is Working Remotely Right For Me? [+ How To Be Productive When You’re Not At The Office] (2024)

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How To Be Productive When You’re Not At The Office

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Working from home.

Working from anywhere.

Telecommuting.

Remote work.

All these pretty much mean the same thing – you’re not tied to the traditional cubicle in a traditional office during your working hours..

Whether you’re actually an employee just working from home, a freelancer or an entrepreneur, this means that you control your own time and you get to do pretty much what you want to do when you want to do it.

It sounds like heaven but the reality isn’t always so rosy.

The Peter Parker principle – with great powers come great responsibility – can be applied here.

When you have full control over your time, you’re accountable only to yourself, which means you need to be able to hold yourself to a high standard.

Or at the very least, a high enough standard to guarantee the results you need to succeed.

If you’re flirting with the idea of severing the constricting ties of the traditional office and are asking the all-important question, “Is remote working right for me?,” before you go for it, this post is for you.

If you’re already in the business, so to speak, and just want to know how to work remotely successfully, this post is for you.

It’s written by LaTisha Perry, who works with a Fortune 500 company and is an experienced remote worker.

When you want to change, you really want to get advice from somebody who’s been there, done that. And LaTisha can certainly give you excellent advice.

Enjoy!

In today’s day and age, remote work is becoming more and more popular.

Many companies are realizing that their employees are able to do the same work that they would in an office, from the comfort of their home or a remote location.

Being able to work remotely can be a wonderful experience if done correctly.

For those of you that are currently working remotely or are considering working remotely, let’s look at the following tips that will show you how to work remotely successfully, what you need to know before you even start and answer the all-important question, “How can I work from home effectively?”

Tip 1: Figure out if remote work is for you.

Many individuals assume a remote work lifestyle is great.

For some, this might be the case, but that’s not to say it’s for everyone.

In many situations, remote workers fail to look at the pros and cons of this environment prior to diving in.

Before abruptly taking this leap of faith into the remote work world, do some self-reflecting to see if this lifestyle best suits you and your career.

Be honest with yourself as you ask the following questions, which should help you answer the question, “Is remote work right for me?“

Are you self-disciplined?
Can you manage without being managed?
Are you okay with being alone?
Can you create a working environment outside of the office?
Does your line of work allow you to work outside of an office?

All of these questions are things you should ask yourself and be confident in your answers prior to moving forward with your decision.

Tip 2: Do your research.

If your current company does not allow remote work and you are trying to transition, research companies that offer this type of working atmosphere and begin applying if you find a job that suits you and your past experience.

On the other hand, maybe you’re an entrepreneur and not looking for a company.

No matter what the situation is, do your research.

Research companies if you are looking to make a change, research how to get started working remotely, research how to effectively work remotely.

Research, research, research, so you can be most prepared when entering this lifestyle.

Tip 3: Plan your schedule.

In order to have an effective workday, work week, or work month, you need to plan your schedule.

You should constantly write down what you have to do and keep a planner to remind yourself to complete your task.

You might find yourself in a situation where you plan to work 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the evening.

Or maybe you prefer to work 8 hours straight through.

Alternatively, you might need to work 10 hours in one day and 6 in another.

However you break up your day is completely up to you but whatever you choose, you need to create an actual schedule to follow as it will help you manage your task and meet deliverables.

Following your plan and staying organized with your schedule is crucial to successfully working remotely.

Tip 4: Create a working atmosphere.

When working remotely, there can be endless distractions.

Maybe you decide to work from home or a local coffee shop, instead of at home.

Whatever the location is, you need to create a working atmosphere.

If you are in your home, create a space that’s “your office” or your place of work.

When you are there, you are working.

You don’t do chores.

If you live with someone, let them know that when you are in your working space, you are working.

This will truly help you stay away from distractions.

Tip 5: Treat your job the same as the office.

Just because you work from home or in a remote location, this does not mean you should do whatever you want at all times.

You need to stay disciplined and create structure in your life.

Treat your remote job like you would an office job.

Don’t slack off because someone’s not looking over your shoulder.

Stay true to yourself and true to the work you do.

Tip 6: Stay connected.

In some cases, working remotely can be lonely.

You don’t get the same social interactions as you do in the office.

Make sure you stay connected to co-workers, friends and family.

Don’t isolate yourself because you work from home.

Continue to do the activities you love and continue to see people who are important in your life when you can.

Tip 7: Stay disconnected.

Staying disconnected is just as important as staying connected.

Knowing when to turn work off is equally important as knowing when to turn work on.

Don’t let working remotely consume your entire life.

If you’ve worked all day and it’s the evening, give yourself time to relax.

If it’s 2am on weekend and your googling things about work, put the phone down.

Don’t forget your “you” time.

This time is important, and you need to stay well balanced in order to have a successful remote work life.

Tip 8: Separate your work life from your personal life.

Keeping your work life separated from your personal life, in any work situation is good advice.

Working remotely can sometimes make this challenging.

Ensure you keep these two lives separated. Tip 3 and Tip 7, will certainly help you do so!

Tip 9: Write down your goals.

Writing down your goals will remind you and help you achieve anything you dream of.

You don’t want to forget all that you aspire to do!

When working remotely make sure you stay goal driven and keep your goals documented in an easily accessible place so when you’re running off track, you can pull them out!

Tip 10: Stay Motivated.

Last but certainly not least, stay motivated as much as you possibly can.

Staying motivated is not easy and working in your own comfort can make it even more difficult.

Make sure you stay task driven and continue to work to the best of your ability.

Maybe you are having a hard week and need to get out of your house.

Change up the scenery.

Go to a coffee shop, the library or the park.

Do whatever you need to do to reset and stay on top of your game.

Be creative in motivating yourself.

If you have specific goals, remember that you can reach them, the only one stopping you is yourself!