Stuck at home? Join the club. Right now, millions of Americans are living and working remotely. Many of us will continue to be operating this way indefinitely, as companies throughout regions and industries shift from in-person office environments to dispersed, virtual workforce models.
If you’re new to remote work, you may be feeling excited, anxious, overwhelmed, liberated, confined, or any number of conflicting feelings simultaneously. The transition isn’t always an easy one, and it can take a while. But if you manage your time, your workload, and yourself correctly, you’ll find that you have no reason to miss the old ways of doing things.
In my previous article, I offered five tips for finding remote job opportunities. But securing work is only one half of the equation. For many remote workers, the real challenge is maintaining a steady flow of projects and tasks—while balancing relationships, personal obligations, and self-care. To borrow a well-worn phrase, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Here are five all-too-often overlooked tips for succeeding at remote work.
1. Remote work isn’t a 1-to-1 replacement for an office job.
If you’re looking for a 40-hour/week, 9-to-5 job, you might have some trouble finding it remotely. By nature, much remote work is more flexible and variable than conventional employment.
That’s not a bad thing. You might be able to start and finish work whenever you want, take longer or more frequent breaks throughout the day, and follow a fluctuating schedule—crunching hard during some weeks and resting easy during others.
On the other hand, flexibility sometimes translates into unpredictability. Depending on the job, you might need to be ready to work some nights and weekends, or attend meetings outside of your timezone. You may need to balance multiple remote positions to fill your schedule and match your previous job’s salary. In comparing remote work with conventional employment, there’s an upside for every downside.
2. “Working from home” and virtual work aren’t the same thing.
This is one of the trickier things to understand, for job-seekers and employers alike. Many misconceptions stem from the conflation of terms such as “remote work,” “virtual work,” “telecommuting,” and “working from home.” The finer distinctions here warrant their own article, but for the purposes of this one, let’s use remote work as the umbrella term and divide things into two general categories: working from home (which encompasses telecommuting) and virtual work.
Working from home means doing your office job at home. If you worked at a physical location you shared with co-workers prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, were sent home, and got to keep your job, you were working from home. When people work from home, they’re expected to do their jobs a certain way, show up and be available at certain times, and use the technology and tools their employer provides. They’re still employees for the same companies. The main difference is where they’re working—not how, when, or how much they’re working.
Virtual work is a completely different staffing model. When you’re a virtual worker, you may not be an employee, but an independent contractor. The business you work for isn’t your employer, so to speak, but your client or the platform through which you serve your clients or customers. You have room to set your own hours and schedule. You may need to provide your own tools and technology. You call the shots—how, when, and how much you work depends on how much opportunity there is and how much time you have. If you’re not sure about your employment status, contact a legal advisor.
3. Success means making the work work for you.
Whether you work from home or find a more flexible (virtual) opportunity, it’s imperative that you take your work–life balance into your own hands. You may not have a manager looking out for you.
If you’re your own boss, you have to take that role seriously. Do the work, go above and beyond, underpromise and overdeliver—but at the same time, advocate for yourself and protect yourself. If you’re tired, overstressed, or not feeling well, give yourself a day off. An occasional mental health day is vital.
Here are a few ways you can take care of yourself and avoid burnout:
- Establish boundaries—between your work hours and off-hours, between your workspace and the rest of your home. You don’t need to constantly be available or work yourself to the bone. Practice saying “no.”
- Communicate early and often with your employer(s) or client(s), as well as with your family or co-inhabitants. Tell people when you’re working, what you’re working on, when you expect to finish it, when you have questions or need support. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
- Create a routine. Remote work can feel chaotic and erratic. Many people find peace and comfort in predictable meal times, breaks, and starts and ends to the day.
- Take care of yourself. Get up from your workspace regularly. Make time for exercise, recreation, meals, and hobbies. Find healthy, fun ways to reward yourself at the end of the day—take a walk, listen to music, watch a movie, or relish your alone time.
4. It’s essential to build your virtual network.
I’m not talking about a Wi-Fi network (although that’s essential, too), but a professional network. Stay connected with your colleagues and coworkers through email, phone, chat, and video. Make time for non-work conversations—for instance, through virtual daily coffee breaks or weekly happy hours. The camaraderie and shared culture you’ll develop will not only buoy you emotionally during hard times, but also potentially lead to professional opportunities down the line. Relationships are perhaps the most important factor in long-term professional success. You need to be proactive about cultivating them, especially when working remotely.
In addition to your connections with colleagues, clients, and any current or former employers, it’s a good idea to find a mentor. Virtual mentorship doesn’t happen as automatically as it would in a shared office environment, where a manager or leader might be just down the hall. Fortunately, with social media and online professional groups, it’s easier than ever to find a mentor over the internet.
5. You’ll need to give yourself time to adapt.
For many people, remote work is a big change. It can feel liberating, overwhelming, terrifying, thrilling, frustrating, lonely, serene, tedious, and creatively stimulating all at once. As with any job, you need to give yourself time to find your footing and learn the ropes. Don’t be afraid to fail. You will make mistakes, especially if you’re new to this and you’re managing your own business for the first time. Be patient with yourself and learn from your mistakes.
The skills you develop in the first few months of remote work will serve you for years to come. Whether you do eventually go back to the office or fall in love with the freedom this lifestyle provides, right now is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take your career into your own hands.
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