How to Make the Most out of Remote Working

Remote work, which used to simply be an employee working from home communicating via telephone and email, has now become an entirely different beast. These days, a remote worker could be in a café, on a beach on the other side of the world or even close by in a nearby coworking office space. The possibilities only being limited by, in most cases, the need for a laptop and a good internet connection. There are also many other benefits that come with remote work. The freedom to move, finishing tasks outside the 9 to 5, all while wearing your pyjamas. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

But even though it’s been a trend for the past few years, there can be some downsides to this way of working. Of course, it depends on the person and their lifestyle, but there are some general findings that could give an insight into remote work. Researchers Alan Felstead and Golo Henseke conducted a study assessing the growth of remote working and the consequences for effort, well-being and work-life balance. This stated “While remote working is associated with higher organizational commitment, job satisfaction and job related well-being, these benefits come at a cost of work intensification and a greater inability to switch off”.

Maybe for some, being unable to stop thinking about work after the working day is done is a small price to pay, but it is something every prospective remote worker should take into consideration. Some workers have found that the increased stress from this, “inability to switch off”, ended up undoing the increased satisfaction that the remote job was going to bring them.

The key to getting the best outcomes from working remotely is the ability to find a balance. Planning and giving your day some structure are ways to overcome this. It will help you keep on track and not be overwhelmed by the responsibility that comes with the freedom.

Below are some helpful tips to maximising remote working to achieve work-life balance.

  1. Find the right remote job for you. Pay attention to your personal needs, not just your financial ones.
  2. Put extra effort into planning your time and sticking to your schedule. Having a deadline will make you more productive during the day, while letting you relax, once the day is done.
  3. Remove distractions and stay focused. It doesn’t matter where you do your work as long as it feels like you have your own space and time for the task. Finding a coworking space might help if you feel like home or a café isn’t the most productive environment.
  4. Make sure you have some form of human interaction throughout the day! Becoming a member of a coworking space doesn’t just mean you get a desk and a chair, you also become part of a community. It opens you up to a host of other likeminded individuals, just like you. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your next business partner, collaborator or friend here.
  5. Enjoy yourself. Remember, that’s why you got into remote work in the first place. To have a healthier work-life balance and have more time for what you enjoy most.

Keeping these tips in mind will help you stay on track in your remote work journey and guide you toward a healthier work-life balance.

If you haven’t found your perfect remote working spot, why don’t you swing by Areaworks. Pop by to Manor House or our Hackney space to have a look around. We also have a third space opening in Colindale shortly We hope to see you soon!