Working remotely isn’t something that can be boxed into specifics because it’s about finding your best productivity template. Some people create a designated place in their home for work. Others prefer to go outside where they can get a breath of fresh air.
More people are also commencing remote work full time so they don’t have to go into an office. The benefits of remote work include a more independent lifestyle with an opportunity for virtual collaboration opportunities with other distant partners, as high as three-quarters of companies report.
Get to work without having to leave the house
You don’t have to be in the office to work. You can do it anywhere. It might be at home, it might be a co-working space, a coffee shop, a library, a park or even a library. I’ve had some great experiences working from the beach!
Working remotely is a powerful way to increase efficiency and productivity, however there are many avenues of remote working that need to be considered. In this blog, we outline ways to ensure that your remote work strategy meets your needs and results in improvements to the business.
As a remote worker, here’s how to stay productive
Whether you are an office worker or a frontline worker, remote working lets you maximize efficiency. Although it requires effort to make sure remote workers are productive, many people believe strongly in this trend.
The latest Gallup survey shows that over half of remote workers in the United States do it full time. Remote workers can easily do their job from wherever they please as long as they have a reliable internet connection and work accordingly with their own territory.
With 30% of remote workers at fully remote companies, it’s becoming increasingly commonplace to see less of an individual’s physical presence. Whether you’re requiring work days to be flexible, or the flexibility to live where you please, remote positions are accessible options. With the rise in mobile use – both personal and professional – virtual business offerings are continuing to rise.
When working remotely, it’s not likely that you’ll abandon the office entirely. What’s more common is coming in for meetings or get-togethers, or for a few days a week or month. What’s right will depend on each individual, as well as the company’s policy on remote and hybrid working.
Working remotely can be challenging, but with a little effort, you’ll learn how you to make it work for you. Creating a true home office can sometimes work out to be a mess if sharing space with others, but a coworking space might provide more environment options. To succeed in your work from home experience, try experimenting to see what works best for you and your situation.
Learn how to make remote work work for you
Millions of people are now enjoying the benefits of working remotely. And it’s unlikely that things will go back to ‘normal’. With traditional life giving way to remote work, the power of technology is vast.
Have you considered working remotely? Despite the pandemic in recent years, many companies have stepped up and embraced remote work. Organizations such as Dropbox and Quora have announced their commitment to becoming primarily a fully-remote company.
Working remotely has become an ever more viable option. It’s concise for employees to maintain relationships with colleagues while working outside of the office together, while motivating new friendships through field together, while maintaining productive work spaces.
Working remotely can be beneficial to your work-life balance, but offers few other perks against traditional in-office roles. The majority of employees say they enjoy flexible work policies, but don’t find working remotely does anything for their company morale or distracts them less from other responsibilities.
Working remotely is not a new phenomenon, but technology is making it an even better option. Coronavirus may well have sped up the process which would have happened in any case, but now with advanced technology, people can work from anywhere and still be productive. Working remotely – wherever you do it – is what people want to do, and the advancements in hardware and software make it a viable option that employees are going to want to take advantage of.
The joys of working remotely so you can live the location-independent life
Business consultants Gallup say that remote work not only improves employee outcomes and branding, but is a policy that the most talented employees desire. Remote workers enjoy flexible schedules and the ability to work from any location. City-dwellers often find this especially beneficial for reducing commute time and maintaining a sense of independence.
The global trend is for remote work. Here are some of the benefits of remote working for workers and employers.
What are the benefits of working remotely for employees?
People who work remotely tend to have a more relaxed lifestyle since there are fewer time restraints. With less distractions from office life, remote workers often experience higher productivity. Many other benefits of working remotely include greater overall satisfaction and increased time with one’s family.
• Increased work-life balance
Employees who work remotely may have the freedom to schedule their day how it best suits them, giving them time to spend with family, friends, hobbies – or just watching TV.
• More control over your live
Remote working offers more choice over the the type of work that you do, as well as location. You do not have to go into a specific building at a specific time where you might hear conversations from your co-workers. No matter what your environment is facing from weather to bugs, you are in charge of your own working environment.
• Improved quality of life and well-being
Working remotely can be a lot easier without the burden of commuting, office politics, and a lack of flexibility. This is not an opinion – a study published in “Science” shows that 66% of professionals think remote work reduces stress, 82% believe it decreases conflict in the office, and 77% say that remote working would make them happier!
• More job opportunities
Working remotely has opened up the world of job opportunities for many people. You no longer need to live close to your office, but you still get the stability that comes with working in an office like environment like set hours, structure.
• More flexibility with working remotely
It’s often much easier to work remotely instead of just flexibly. Strictly speaking, remote working and flexible working aren’t the same thing, but remote working offers a lot more choice about when you work. This might be important if you need a break from your work or have errands.
What are the benefits of working remotely for employers?
With ways to keep in touch, it’s never been better for employees to work remotely. One of the many benefits of this is added flexibility, which can lead to higher employee engagement and satisfaction.
• Increased Productivity
Remote work can be a big boost to employee productivity in many areas, and it is an essential part in the modern workforce. By telecommuting employees in your company can be more efficient and in some cases perform better with low levels of dependency on others. Researchers also found that people in jobs with low complexity and high levels of independence may be relieved or even enjoy this type of office environment.
• Keep your business operating during unplanned disruptions
The coronavirus pandemic is just one reason why the flexibility of working remotely is vital. If people can do their work from home or another location, businesses can carry on despite setback like illnesses or disruption to the office itself.
• Attract talents based on strategic planning
Organizations that don’t offer the chance to work remotely are risking losing employees to ones that do, 54% of office workers say they would leave their current job for one with flexible hours. With 50% of the workforce able to work remotely during at least one day a week, it is necessary for organizations to provide the option or they might see themselves losing people
• Offer a better work-life balance
More and more, people are opting to work remotely in order to enjoy the benefits remote working offers: giving you back hours in your day and giving you the opportunity to achieve a better work/life balance. Even when people do not have the option of choosing the hours that they work, they will still take back this time thanks to the elimination of commutes. Remote Work is particularly attractive to Millennials.
Having the option to work from home is a priority for members of the millennial workforce. Businesses that want to attract younger prospects need to offer remote work as an option.
• Positive impact on the environment
Transport is the largest source of carbon emissions in the United States. And business travel, whether it’s commuting or flying to a conference, contributes to those emissions. Not having to commute at all, therefore, has a positive effect on the environment.
Working remotely is great for reducing your company’s carbon footprint by cutting out commuting and video conferences. US Patent and Trademark Office policy for allowing patent examiners to work from home has reduced emissions by an estimated 44,000 tons.”
• Attract more talents to your company
Companies that are looking for employees who are required to be on-site all the time restrict themselves. On the other hand, organizations that are looking to hire employees who can work remotely do not face these problems. If a company is based in an area where housing costs are high, this will not be as much of a restriction.
To reap the benefits of working remotely, businesses might hire remote employees and not require them to come in for work. This provides less of an obstacle and opens the door to a diverse workforce including those nearby and those overseas.
• Enhance engagement
Remote workers report higher levels of engagement than those who work in an office or physically near people. Those who work remotely are also happier – they are 22% more likely to be engaged with their job. And if that’s not convincing enough, this makes them stay at their current job longer – 13% more likely to stay for another 5 years.
• Reduce costs
Offices are expensive for companies, but with more teams working remotely, offices could be cut to save money. For example, cutting office costs by $38.2 million by allowing patent examiners for the US Patent Office to work from anywhere.
Here are some of the disadvantages of working remotely:
Despite the good points, there may be one or two challenges with remote working.. Understanding the pitfalls before taking this approach can help prevent these negatives.
• Lack of communication
One recent study found that 27% of people who work remotely said that one of the biggest challenges they face is communication. When you are remotely situated, it can be difficult to have real-time collaboration because you are not within working proximity. Geographical separation also means that for these employees, they often feel out of the loop on what’s going on in their workplace.
To ensure proper communication remotely, use effective video calls and conferencing tools, instant messaging and group chat. These methods will allow you the flexibility of opting for formal or organic communication.
• Loneliness while working remote
19% of remote workers say they felt lonely, and this makes it hard for remote employees to feel engaged and productive.
To be successful working remotely, you need to remain in contact with your company and work together on shared goals. Tools that allow check-ins, virtual meetings, and instant messaging can provide a close connection to your colleagues. Communication tools can be used to create social spaces where you are close to distant co-workers, even though they’re far away.
• Distractions
Working from home can have many benefits for employees. However, the lack of boundaries between work and home may lead to multitasking which can decrease efficiency. The lack of a clear boundary between home and work can be tough on family life. Interruptions from the kids or doing domestic chores at work will only add to the stress of this problem.
Unsurprisingly, distractions can happen in the workplace too. Of course, it’s not as easy to avoid distractions at home- up to 27% of concentration and productivity time may be lost due to disturbances. At the same time, distractions at work reduce productivity by up to 35% on average. Though it’s not possible to eradicate interruptions and disturbances, getting your home office set up properly can help you stay on task & avoid distractions.
• Determine when to stop working
Remote work causes you to forget about time and can be difficult to know when you should stop working for the day. As 39% of remote workers report working longer hours than they are supposed to, making work feel never-ending.
Always being on duty can harm your mental health and productivity. Be clear about the number of hours expected from employees and make a commitment to yourself to only work the agreed-to number of hours.
• Remote work impacts your creativity
A lot of organizations are moving towards remote work and that means that their employees need to be able to develop and maintain creativity in a collaborative environment. But when researchers asked marketers in large companies about the importance of remote work, 61% told him that it was a critical or significant challenge. However, some studies claim that remote working can have a positive impact on creative tasks. If your company is supportive and you want to be creative, you can do it anywhere in the world.
• Staying connected with friends
Distance doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of socializing. Even enthusiastic remote workers may miss out on some work bonding events. However, with the right communication tools and staying imaginative, virtual coffee breaks and chats may be all you need to feel like your co-workers are nearby, even if they’re not physically nearby.
Here are some 7 great tips for working remotely
Working remotely can be a daunting experience for newcomers, who need the right place to work and the right mindset. These are 7 tried & tested ways to help make remote working a manageable, enjoyable experience.
1. Find the right work space
When working remotely it’s important to find a comfy space for you to work since the environment impacts your productivity. For example, having access to technology or cozy seating can make all the difference. But what if your room in your home is the perfect setup for the job? Designate a space where it’s comfortable, suitable and away from distraction to work efficiently. Make sure you have enough space for equipment, there’s natural light and an optimal temperature.
2. Set Healthy Boundaries
Working from home or remotely means being able to have more flexibility about when you do your work. You might have better options for when you can take breaks, working late hours, and so on. But many find they are left with the difficult task of working on their assigned tasks on their own schedule, forcing them to compromise quality. It’s important to set an achievable schedule and try your best to stick to it. This will make everything easier.
3. Get dressed for work while working remotely
Do not work when in your pajamas. Clothes influence our mood and emotions, so wear something that makes you feel motivated, professional and confident for video calls to make them go well. Getting dressed for work will also help you mark the distinction between work and home life, helping you switch off when the working day is over.
4. Planning breaks
With no prompts to take lunch and coffee breaks, remote workers can find days passing by. In order to stay energized and motivated during a day, set yourself a schedule with at least one break from your workspace. So if you are working from home, make sure to take a walk around the block or do some indoor activities.
As a remote worker, finding ways to stay energized is an important part of the job. It can be difficult to concentrate and stay on task when you’re feeling restless and tense. Walk up and down the stairs, exercise to a fitness video or just do a few stretches at your desk. You’ll feel invigorated and ready to go afterward!
5. Why it’s important to be communicative when working remotely
Remote working requires a lot of communication. Get in touch with your co-workers and bosses during IM and group chat, make video calls into meetings, make phone calls instead of joining conference calls unnecessarily
Even if you’re a shy person, it can’t hurt to talk from time to time even if you’re not contributing much. A lot of people will feel the same, which can be upsetting. However, engaging in a remote water cooler conversation may help you not feel as lonely or isolated.
6. Adjusting your style of communication with your coworkers
Communication needs to be more explicit when working remotely, making sure to check the message for clarity and conciseness. When you can’t see or hear someone’s body language or listen to the tone of their voice, it can make it hard to tell what they’re feeling.
7. Ask for support when working remotely
Some tasks may seem difficult for people working alone. If you find yourself in a position like this, ask for help from your coworkers. There is no shame in recognizing that we need help and reaching out. Proactively checking in and providing support to achieve work-life balance shows commitment and responsibility as a manager.
Many employees are struggling with the idea of remote working. Some are concerned with the isolation that comes with working from home, while others are worried about the lack of leadership or instruction. Regardless of your concerns or how you feel about remote working, remote working is the work environment of the future. The idea is not new, but it is becoming increasingly popular as technology advances. As more and more people become globally connected through the internet, the traditional office environment becomes less and less necessary.
