How to Go from Part-Time to Fully Remote

If your boss agreed to let you go fully remote in 2018, congrats! Since you’ve worked part-time from home already, you know more about the joys and challenges of legitimate remote work than someone totally new to off-site work. Yet while your feet may be wet, remember that a 100% plunge is different than splitting time.

Here are some things to consider for a smoother transition from part-time to fully remote:

Create structure.

When you were dividing time between the office and home, chances are you had clear ideas about what to accomplish at each place. Now, when you wake up and see a whole mass of hours to navigate yourself, figuring out how to arrange your schedule can be overwhelming.

Make a central calendar your best friend. On it, you can schedule both professional and personal obligations. This action ensures nothing gets overlooked, and putting tasks in their place sets the stage for focused productivity.

Develop effective communication techniques.

In the past, if you needed to train a new hire or discuss a sensitive issue with your boss, you likely saved these tasks for the days when you were in the office, so that conversations could take place face to face. While dropping in on occasion may still be a good move, start looking for ways to accomplish the same goals through the communication methods at your disposal from your home office.

Become a pro at video conferencing and chatting, which enable parties to see one another. The visual element is helpful when trying to gauge someone’s reaction or when attempting to teach something. Likewise, judge when email might be the best route (usually for general information or questions that don’t require quick answers) or when picking up the phone might be preferred (such as when you need to discuss options).

Get social.

As you might already have discovered, accomplishment can soar when others aren’t around to interrupt or distract. But working by yourself can also be lonely. As a hybrid worker, your in-office days may have provided enough of a regular “people fix.” As a full-time telecommuter, however, you’ll need to be more intentional about socializing.

If your company has a chat platform, such as Google Hangouts or Slack, get active. Drop emails. Pick up the phone. Invite your former officemate to lunch. Staying in touch with colleagues will remind you that you’re still part of the team, and remaining “in the loop” is good for your career.

Also, consider finding other outlets. A group exercise class or a library book club can provide energizing interaction.

Set boundaries.

As you likely learned from working remotely some of the time, telecommuting can open up a world of opportunity for better work-life balance. Doing so full-time adds even more possibilities. But it also can set the stage for always feeling “on,” whether in terms of attending to family members or feeling like you should get “just one more thing” done today for work.

Keep possible distractions from one sphere from encroaching on the attention deserved by the other by setting limits. Close your office door and post a do-not-disturb sign (with the time you’ll be available again) to alert others in the house not to bother you. Don’t go anywhere near the laundry room if you know that stack of dirty clothes is going to play on your mind while finishing an assignment. Turn off all electronics at dinner and focus on your family. And when you tell your significant other you’ll be in the living room at 7:00 p.m. to watch TV together, physically and mentally leave your home office, just like you would an on-site desk!

Photo Credit: bigstockphoto.com

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By Beth Braccio Hering | Categories: Work Remotely

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