Written By: Darya Jandossova Troncoso, Chief Editor of MarketTap.
Remote work and office work are like night and day.
They couldn’t be more different, and yet there are parallels that make them similar in some regard. It’s still work, you still need to keep a schedule and take a lunch break. This is where the similarities end. There are no co-workers to chat with in the coffee room (Zoom or Slack doesn’t quite cut it), there is no dress code policy – unless you have to attend a virtual meeting and wear a blouse or shirt on top. In some ways, it’s just not as… fun.
Remote work means there’s less control and more freedom. This, of course, depends on your job, seniority level and so on. When working remotely, you need to practice self-control way more than at an office – and this comes with its own set of challenges. You might still have a boss that you see virtually, but in a way – you are your own boss.
There are challenges either way – whether you’re a seasoned remote employee or just starting out – here are three tips to help you be and do your best.
Right Space
In a physical office setting, your space is designed for you, you don’t have to put much thought into what goes where. At home, it’s a different story. Details matter. Placement of the desk matters. Proximity to the kitchen matters. Basically you need to figure out what your best workspace looks and feels like and follow it through.
It also needs to be a space where you can actually work. Where you won’t be distracted by your family and pets. It’s not always ideal, but it is possible to stay focused – it just requires a bit of skill.
If working from home is permanent due to any reason, the space you create for yourself needs to be functional and well thought out and this guide on how to set up a home office should help you along the way.
Right Tools
It’s possible that your work provided you with the tools you need to collaborate with your colleagues. Whether it’s Slack for communication, Google Docs for document collaboration, Wrike for task management, or ways to sign documents online. Hopefully, you have the hang of it. This might not be the case, though.
The tools you work with are as important as your space and not all tools are created equal. It’s great if you’re transitioning from a physical workspace to your home with a set of tools selected for you, but what if you’re not? Tool selection depends on what kind of work you do, how much communication and collaboration happens between you and your colleagues, and what you are trying to accomplish when working from home. If you’re new to all of this, this guide to collaboration tools is a great place to begin your search.
Ultimately, the tools you use need to fit you and what you do. Remote work generally gives you more control over what and how you do it, and the tools you use fall under this category as well. Just figure out what your main objectives are and go from there.
Right Mindset
Whether you’ve been laid off and trying to work remotely for the first time in your life, or your company’s policy changed to having most of their employees work from home, it might be a difficult and confusing situation to be in.
If for the last 3 months you’ve been working from home because you had to, and now suddenly you know for sure you’re not coming back to the physical office, there are some things you have to adjust to – such as the permanence of the situation. It might be something that is hard to grapple with. The right mindset is very important when it comes to working from home and staying sane. You have to stay more focused, somehow avoid distractions, and still get work done.
This is where having the mindset that will allow you to function your best comes in. How you achieve this state of mind is different for everyone. People have different ways to cope. It might be getting up at 6 AM to do yoga or go for a run, or it might be making breakfast for your family or spending time with your pets outside. It could be anything that lets you get into this state of being where you’re content and focused.
The right mindset also matters because it’s important to stay mentally healthy when you’re going through changes such as switching to working remotely. It’s not the easiest thing to do – losing your office, your coworkers. A lot of people really like working in an office environment and when they have to work from home permanently, they might not do so well.
It’s important to identify what is it that upsets you about your current situation and try and work it out. It might take you weeks or months to get through it, but eventually, hopefully, you’ll achieve the same level of confidence you had at your physical office.With the right space, tools, and mindset you can achieve quite a bit. All you need to do is to figure out what works best for you and continue improving it every day. If you’re unable to enjoy working from home and no matter how hard you try – you might want to seek out new job opportunities where you do have to be at a physical office.
Still, every change in your life takes time getting used to, and giving up on something right away means never giving it a chance. After all, plenty of people enjoy remote work and with some trial and error, you could be joining their ranks sooner than later.
Written By: Darya Jandossova Troncoso, Chief Editor of MarketTap.
