5 Solid Pieces of Advice for the First-Time Remote Worker
If you just recently scored a remote work position, congratulations! Remote work is full of perks, and it’s a great way to build a rewarding career. Having said that, to go from a traditional employee in an office full-time to a first-time remote worker can be quite a shock. And there are definitely some things to keep in mind that will help make the transition more smooth and will help set you up for success.
5 Solid Pieces of Advice for the First-Time Remote Worker:
1. Prepare for the day.
Working remotely—especially if that means from the comfort of your own home—doesn’t necessarily translate into working in your pjs from bed all day. In fact, when it comes to working remotely, it’s best to continue with certain traditions that you would have followed if you were going into an office, just to stay on task and on schedule.
For example, doing things like getting up at the same time every morning, having your breakfast and coffee as you normally would, and dressing for the day are all immensely helpful ways to still feel like you’re getting ready for work, even if you won’t actually be going anywhere.
2. Set boundaries.
It won’t be possible to get anything done from home if you’re constantly getting interrupted by kids, pets, your dirty laundry, or the delivery person. If you can set up your own space specifically for work somewhere in your house and ignore the distractions, that’s great, but if not, finding a co-working space or working from a local coffee or book shop at least a couple days a week might be beneficial.
3. Close up shop.
Remote work provides a lot of flexibility, but when your home is your office, it can also be hard to disconnect and end your workday. Be sure to let your colleagues know that you’ll be available during normal working hours of the day (and be sure to always let them know if for some reason you won’t be), but that your early mornings and nights belong to you and your family. That doesn’t mean that there will never be the occasional late-night call or email to meet a deadline, but setting these types of hours early in your remote work career can help ensure they are few and far between.
4. Pop by for face-to-face meetings occasionally.
If your actual company office is close enough to do so, consider stopping by from time-to-time to attend meetings in person. This will help you stay in touch with coworkers you no longer see Monday through Friday, and it’ll help let your bosses know that just because you now work remotely, that doesn’t mean you’ve forgotten how to be a team player.
5. Stay on top of technology.
When you work remotely, the technology you use every day to stay in touch with your company becomes infinitely important. From your computer to your email to servers and teleconferencing abilities, it’s imperative that you have the necessary tech to do your job. As such, it’s not a bad idea to stay abreast of new advances that make your (and your remote team’s) job easier.
Think you’re ready to make the transition into remote work but not sure where to start? Check out these remote jobs hiring now!
Photo Credit: bigstockphoto.com
By Cheryl Lock | Categories: Work Remotely
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