Skip to main content

How do you like the idea of writing your report over a cup of coffee at a cafe or having the flexibility to join your kids for that school event before reporting for work – without having to apply for leave?  Well, working flexible hours is already a reality for many remote employees today.  However, with its upsides, remote work poses challenges like difficulty in staying motivated or working more than normal working hours. This article will provide you with remote working tips from Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson’s inspiring book, Remote: Office Not Required.

Remote Work Tips

The freedom and flexibility to travel and work from anywhere has become the new luxury that many talents seek.

Still, remote work isn’t without its challenges. Compared to full-time employees with a structured office environment, remote workers might struggle with distractions, such as the toddler wailing in the background or their favorite TV sitcom being on screen. Then they might need extra time, like evening hours, to maintain productivity.

How can you make the most of your flexible work arrangements?

To be an effective remote worker (and to truly enjoy the experience), you need to adjust your thinking and work habits.  In the book Remote: Office Not Required (read our book summary here) Fried and Hansson gave a number of tips for remote workers. Let’s zoom in on 3 of the biggest ideas that will make a real difference to your hybrid work model.

1. Develop your personal work recipe – and remember to add the key ingredients

The irony of remote work is that, precisely because it is so flexible, you need to build some form of structure and routine to make it work. The good news is you can now build your work schedule around your body clock and lifestyle.

Here are some key ingredients to consider in putting together your personal work routine: 
Remote work_Key ingredients• Build a routine.
Most people require some form of routine to be productive. You can use specific routines or cues (e.g. change of attire) to switch into “work mode”, divide the day into chunks (e.g. “serious work”, “catch-up” etc.), or use specific parts of your house for different activities. You can also use a hybrid work model that best suits your work/ remote team, e.g. remote arrangements in the morning (for focused work or challenging tasks) and going to the office in the afternoon (for team meetings, individual check-ins).

• Draw the lines. Prioritize leisure and personal time. To promote a healthy work-life balance, create a greater distinction between work and play, e.g. having a dedicated office space or having different computers, devices, or accounts for work and personal use. [Read more in this article about why and how to prioritize self-time and rest-time]

• Human Interaction. No man is an island.  Working remotely should not mean isolation and solitude. As a remote worker, you can set aside quality time with family and friends and /or step out of your home occasionally to create opportunities for social interaction, e.g., making a trip to the coffee shop, supermarket, library…

• Staying healthy.Working remotely may lead to less opportunity for movement and exercise, so it’s important to schedule reasons to move throughout the day. Take short exercise breaks, like joining a yoga class before or after work or going for a walk during breaks. Regular movement enhances your physical health and supports better productivity by keeping the blood and oxygen flowing.

2. You can work from home….but, don’t just work from home

Let’s face it – we all have different moods and react to different environments in different ways. Try out different locations at different times of the day. You may soon find that certain times and locations are best for creative work (e.g., writing, designing, brainstorming), while other times/spaces are better for administrative/ mundane work (e.g., reports, filing, replying to emails, etc.).

Remote work_location

When moving around/ planning your work locations, don’t forget to consider these 2 points:

• Ergonomics. Consider your office equipment (office chairs, tables, screens) to take care of your body anatomy, and vary your sitting/ standing positions so you are not cooped up for long periods in the same positions.

• Fixed vs new environments. Having pre-determined locations for work can be useful to condition your mind and body to switch automatically into specific work modes, e.g. working from the balcony with sufficient natural light or garden could bring you into “creative mode” while stepping into the study with your computer could signify “email/ admin time”.   Occasionally varying your scenery or remote work environment can also create opportunities for new ideas.  Finally, you can also consider alternating between working alone and working in the presence of other people (e.g., at a vibrant café with Wifi, or at a co-working spaces).

3. Staying motivated and enjoying your work

It’s wonderful to wake up in the morning with a bounce in your step, looking forward to the challenges that you are about to conquer in the day and the results that you are going to generate. But, we all have those days when we just can’t seem to get the engines cranking.

Remote work_motivation

Our level of motivation can be a function of our work or work environment.  If you just happened to wake up on the wrong side of the bed, or are having a not-so-great day, it’s cool. However it is important to do regular check-ins with yourself, especially if you’re noticing consistent unmotivation with your remote work life. Do the diagnosis and speak up. After all, work is a key part of most of our lives – it provides not just income, but also learning/ growth opportunities, meaning, and even shapes our perception of who we are.

If you are wondering what could be behind your lack of motivation, check out this article as we share the 3 key ingredients for unlocking our inner drive.

Banner_actionable insights

Want to read the entire book? Get a copy of the book from Amazon.com now.

Leave a Reply

0 cart

My Cart

Checkout

Cart is empty