7 Ways to Hold Yourself Accountable When Working Remotely

In a remote work environment, it can sometimes be easier for things to be swept under the rug. Didn’t answer that email from your boss right away? Oh, you didn’t see it. You forgot to attend the all-staff meeting? You were busy finishing another task. But if you want to be a successful remote worker, you’re going to have to hold yourself accountable.

These seven steps can help you hold yourself accountable and make you a better remote worker:

1. Give yourself goals.

For most of us, work gives us purpose. It’s the reason we get up and out of bed in the morning. It’s the motivation for us to want to reach higher and achieve more. Thing is, without a milestone to meet, it can be easier for things to be swept under the rug in a remote work environment. Although you and your boss may have already done this, try setting up some work goals for yourself.

For example, one goal might be as simple as cleaning out your email, or another might be to land that elusive client that no one has been able to convert. Having goals gives you purpose and a direct metric by which to measure your accountability if you’re working—or not.

2. Create a routine.

Having control over your schedule is one of the biggest advantages of working remotely. Unfortunately, wielding all that power over your calendar can cause you to get distracted and, as a result, negatively impact your productivity and output. So strive to create a routine that works for your schedule. If you have complete flexibility in your remote job, find the times during the day (or night), when you are at your peak. A routine can ensure that you’ll be at your best and that you get the job done—every time.

3. Get excited about your job.

If your job is snoozesville, you’re naturally not going to put in much effort to do top-notch work. Look for ways to connect with your work that make you feel proud of your position and your affiliation with the company. If you like the type of work that you’re doing, you’re going to naturally take pride in it and take ownership for what you’ve done.

4. Ditch the distractions.

Everyone has their weaknesses when it comes to work. For some, it might be getting sucked into social media. For others, it might be IM-ing colleagues all day long. And for remote workers, the distractions can double (or quadruple), since you’re now contending with a couch, TV, and unlimited fridge access! Figure out what trips you up during the day that takes your time away from work, and fight the temptation to get distracted.

How? You can try setting a clock and working for upwards of an hour straight and then take a break, when you can enjoy the siren song of what tempts you away from work.

5. Create a separate space.

It’s easy to lose your focus when you’re working from your bed or when you’re sitting on the couch. That’s why you should strive to have a separate workspace that is dedicated to work—and work only. Even if you don’t have room for a home office, delegating a desk or another area to your work can help you stay motivated and less likely to slack off.

6. Speak with your boss.

Sometimes it can be hard to be objective about how you’re doing, especially if you’ve been in the same job for months or years on end. So if your year-end review is months away, speak with your boss and ask for a quick check-in. Let him know that you’d like his perspective on how you’re doing and if there is any room for improvement. Being proactive shows that you’re being responsible for the quantity and quality of the work you’re producing.

7. Trick your mind.

There’s no denying that working from home can be more comfortable than if you had to work in an office. From wearing comfier clothes (hello, sweatpants!) to being able to eat stinky foods at your desk without evoking the ire of your colleagues, remote work is definitely more relaxing.

That said, a great way to hold yourself accountable is by pretending that you’re still working in an office. That means the things that you might be able to get away with when you work remotely (i.e., starting your workday later than you really need to, taking extra long breaks, etc.) should be eliminated. After all, you wouldn’t be doing those things if you were working in a traditional office, so you shouldn’t be doing them working remotely, either.

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