Ever since the COVID-19 virus was labeled a global pandemic, people around the world have been forced to adapt in unique ways. It didn’t matter who you were, what you did for a living, how much you made, or where you lived, people were impacted in just about every way possible.
With social distancing guidelines, mask mandates, and government shutdowns becoming the new normal everywhere, it was time to seek new solutions — especially when it came to making a living. As a result, in-person work became scarce and remote working started to prosper.
You know what they say — when one door closes, another door opens. Well, that’s essentially what happened when businesses were forced to shut down their brick-and-mortar shops. Since these businesses weren’t going to shut down completely, they turned to virtual and remote work.
So, why should you consider remote work?
While some people were hesitant and reluctant to make the transition at first, most people eventually realized that it was the only way. Remote work might not be the ideal situation for everyone, and it might be a last resort to some, but it certainly comes with its benefits.
For example, it eliminates the need for commuting to work — which many people struggle with daily. It allows for a better and easier work-life balance, gives workers the opportunity to fully customize their workspace, and creates a better sense of individual accomplishment.
Not only that, but it reduces the amount of overhead for a company, creates a more competitive work environment for people of all different backgrounds, and gives employers an opportunity to hire people that otherwise wouldn’t have the means or resources to be considered for a position.
Tips When Transitioning to Remote Work
Of all the benefits and advantages remote working has for both the individual employee and company, it definitely comes with its challenges and obstacles. While these difficulties won’t stop you from finding success or happiness in your position, they will need to be managed.
Transitioning into a new role — even if it’s the same position, but now remote — is never going to be easy, but no one said it would be. The good news is we have a slew of helpful tips to ensure you’re met with the best possible experience when transitioning from in-person to remote work.
01. Customize Your Workspace or Office
Since you’ll now be working from home, you won’t be confined to the limitations of having an office inside your company’s property. That means you’ll have full freedom to customize and design your home office however you’d like. This should be exciting, so have fun with it!
Keep in mind that this is where a majority of your work will be managed. You’ll want to make sure it’s free of distractions, which includes loud noises from anyone else inside the home. It should also have access to the internet and have any other accessories you need access to.
Of course, you’ll also want to give it some personality. It doesn’t matter how much time you spend in your home office each day; you’ll want to make those hours count and also make them enjoyable. At the end of the day, you know yourself better than anyone so adapt it to your liking!
02. Set Goals for Yourself Every Day
One of the most beneficial things about in-person working is having your boss nearby to keep an eye on you, keep you motivated, and ensure you’re finishing your work on-time each day. While you’ll still be managed in a way, a lot of that motivation will have to come directly from you.
That’s okay because it’s a good habit to get into and will teach you a lot about yourself and how you work on a daily basis. In fact, learning how to keep yourself motivated and focused while working remotely is a good exercise that you can eventually utilize in your life outside of work.
To do this, make sure you set realistic goals for yourself before you start each work day. Write them down if you have to; that way you can keep yourself honest throughout the day. It’s easy to get complacent when working from home, but it won’t do you any good at the end of the day.
03. Don’t Forget to Take Breaks
When most people clock in to their in-person job, they’re eventually forced to take a break — whether they want to take a break or not. This is especially true for the people that work a full 8-hour shift, or more in some cases. Believe it or not, there’s a good and solid reason for this.
Taking a break throughout your workday is essential to both mental health and productivity. The longer you work without a break, the more stressed and anxious you become. This not only takes away from the fun, but also starts to diminish your satisfaction and performance at work.
That break is the perfect opportunity to sit back and relax for a moment, grab a bite to eat, replenish yourself, and clear your mind. Once that break is over, you’ll be able to return to work with a better attitude and the rest of your day will be much less difficult than without a break.
04. Communicate & Stay Connected
With in-person working, communicating with your boss, your co-workers, customers, and the rest of your team is a piece of cake. In most cases, it’s as easy as walking up to them and going over whatever needs to be gone over. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy with remote work.
You’ll have to put forth an extra bit of effort when ensuring you’re on the same page with everyone else — especially the boss. Whether that’s a co-worker or superior member of the team, it’s important to stay connected with constant communication throughout the workday.
The good news is there are a wide variety of ways to make this possible. Whether you prefer the use of instant messaging, video chat, audio chat, emails, or a combination of them all, staying connected with the team has never been easier — so long as you’re dedicated to it!
05. Don’t Overwork or Over-Stress Yourself
Look, working from home and transitioning to remote work is no easy task. There will be times when you think to yourself, “Was this worth it?” Don’t panic, this is something we’ve all asked ourselves at one point in our life. At the end of the day, it’s important to stay true to yourself.
You made this decision for a reason. It’s what was best for you and your family, so stick with it! Nothing in life is made to be easy, but it will always get better and you’ll eventually find the success you’ve been working towards. Just remember not to overwork or over-stress yourself.
In the event you feel overwhelmed by the sudden life changes, take a deep breath because everything’s going to be alright. There are a ton of people out there that are ready to help reduce the amount of stress in your life. If you need help, feel free to reach out to BetterHelp right away.
If you’re interested in reading more helpful and informative articles about the changing cities, technologies, and people in the world today, don’t hesitate to give our Citi I/O blog a follow!
