5 Minute Guide to Working Remotely

Working as a remote hire, no doubt, has many advantages. More and more professionals are opting to work from home to avail of the many perks of working at their own pace, in their own comfort zone and at flexible working hours. However, to build a successful career as a freelancer, there are certain rules you must lay down for yourself. Without a set work pattern, you’ll soon face issues like lowered levels of productivity, miscommunication with teammates, and at some point, you could lose sight of your goals. To ensure that you stay clear of the typical pitfalls of freelancing, use this five-minute guide. It has a list of do’s and don’ts that you absolutely must follow.

Step into the Role

If you choose to work full time in an office, you’ll have fixed hours of waking up, dressing, having breakfast, and leaving the house. But, as a remote hire, chances are, you’ll give in to the temptation of oversleeping, having erratic mealtimes, and perhaps, lounging around the house in track pants. Avoid this pitfall and set up a routine for yourself. Follow it no matter what and you’ll soon find your productivity levels improving. Assign hours for work. Like say, 9:00am to 1:00pm. Then, 2:00pm to 6:00pm and, finally 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Unless you’re dealing with an emergency, don’t let any issue make you deviate from that routine. Allow yourself the weekends off. But, work if you need to make up for missed hours.

Create a Work Environment

As a freelancer, you have the option of choosing the working space that is conducive to your output levels, but one that matches your personality. If you’re a loner who needs a quiet place to concentrate, work from home. But, if you need the stimulation of interaction with like-minded professionals, choose a coworking space, cafeteria, cyber hub, or any such location. Many remote hires are single parents or caring for elderly relatives. Whatever may be your life situation, pick out your space accordingly.

Acquire the Necessary Equipment

Depending on the work you do, make sure you have all the necessary equipment in place. If you need to constantly communicate with your teammates, get the devices. If you find yourself switching between and monitoring multiple projects at a time, invest in multiple screens. Make sure you have a printer if you need hard copies for delivery. Having all the tools and gadgets you need, can ensure that you’re not stuck every time a work situation arises.

Regular Communication

Since you’re working out of home, you’ll need to frequently receive instructions from your employers and relay completed assignments and updates. You might also find that you’re working on projects for employers in different time zones. In that case, it becomes absolutely essential that you have not just the necessary apps for video conferencing and audio calls, but that you work out timings that are convenient to everyone. By following this rule, you’ll find that it becomes easy to coordinate your activities with those of your teammates and there are no delays in the projects because of lack of communication.

Take Regular Breaks

Yet another pitfall many remote hires face is working too hard and putting in unreasonable hours. When you’re working from home, it’s easy to forget to eat and exercise, and soon, you could be heading for a burnout. Make sure you avoid that. Some freelancers also find that  boredom gets in the way of productivity levels. To deal with this situation, switch between tasks and take 10 minutes off for tea, coffee, and snack breaks and you’ll soon get the creative juices flowing. If you need it, take a power nap.

Using these strategies, you’re sure to make a success out of your career as a remote hire.