Currently, over 55% of global businesses offer some sort of remote work position. If you’re ready to join their number, you’ll want to take time first to prepare, both mentally and physically, for the change. Working remotely requires a different approach from in-person work, but with a bit of preparation, you can position yourself for success.
Though the content of your work may be the same whether you’re working in an office or from home, the way you approach your workday will be entirely different.
In many cases, you will:
If you’re not mentally prepared for these changes, they can easily bowl you over. Fortunately, with a bit of preparation and foresight, you can avoid the worst of the adjustment blues and ease more effectively into a steady rhythm of remote work.
As you gear up for your new career in remote work, be sure you’ve thought through these four important steps.
“Dress for success” means something different in the remote work environment. While the clothes you wear in the office may signal hints to your co-workers about your position or ambitions, the clothes you wear during a season of remote work are chosen more for their practical value than their visual appeal.
While you may be tempted to work in sweats and a hoodie at all times, you must bear in mind that how we dress does affect our mindset. If wearing pajama-style clothes relaxes you to the point that you’re no longer able to focus well on your work and are tempted instead to head to your bedroom to take a nap, consider dressing in something a bit more work-appropriate.
Finding a good workspace can be more of a challenge than many people anticipate. Early on, they may think it will be wonderful to spread their work out across their bed with their laptop on a pillow, or they may start their workday on the couch with their feet propped against an end table. Over time, however, their chosen positions may wreak havoc on their joints–particularly on their back!
Designers, coders, and writers should take special care when working from home. They absolutely must avoid positions that could contribute to an early onset of carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition that plagues people who spend long hours at the keyboard.
Many employees, such as customer service operators, animators, engineers, and newspaper employees are required to use a computer for more than 20 h per week, and a number of cross-sectional epidemiologic studies have found the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome is increased with keyboard use above 20h per week. (NCBI)
Always prioritize the long-term care of your body over immediate comfort.
Don’t just plan what you’ll eat; plan when you’ll eat. When working from home, it’s all too easy to lose track of the time and work straight through meals. This is not good for you. In order to avoid this situation, plan ahead with your shopping, your meal prep, and your daily scheduling. Take regular breaks from work to rest, refuel, and reset.
When working from home, one of the smartest things you can do is always have a wrap-up ritual to draw a hard line between your workday and your leisure time. An activity that takes you out of the house, such as walking the dog or going for a run, is best. When you come back from this daily ritual, you can re-enter the house with a different mindset, ready to enjoy a quiet evening.
Time to rest up for another great day of remote work!
Here at DevReady, our designers are well set for a successful season of remote work. As soon as they connect to your project, they’re ready to go.
To hear more about what we have to offer, schedule a call today!
