More people than ever are working remotely as an alternative to working at the office, and if you’re reading this you might be considering a change in lifestyle yourself when it comes to your livelihood, whether starting your own business or something else.. There are plenty of benefits to remote work, mostly revolving around the lack of a commute and the increased control you have over your schedule. Yet there are also a few things that you should watch out for and consider before making a commitment, because this is a lifestyle change. Here are the major points you need to know and prepare for:
You’re Going to Need a Space
Working from bed or your couch from time to time has its perks, but after a week or two of this you’re just going to find yourself more easily distracted and unmotivated. You’re much better off setting up a small space (ideally a home office) that you can work from uninterrupted from and keep all of your materials organized. You also shouldn’t use it for many other purposes than your work, and you shouldn’t feel guilty about closing the door if you live with others. Sometimes you will just need time where you can focus 100 percent on the task at hand.
Some Investments Can Go a Long Way
When setting up your home office for remote work, a bit of investment can go a long way, even if you have some equipment provided by your employer. A second monitor can make a bunch of tasks much easier, and a better internet connection can make sure you aren’t inconvenienced so often.
On the topic of creating a space, we also suggest you can a setup that’s comfortable for you. You’re likely going to be sitting there for at least a few hours each day. Don’t choose a cheap chair that will hurt your back or a desk that you can barely fit your legs under. Those things will only serve as distractions in the long run, even if you’ll save a bit of money now.
You Will Want to Plan More Social Time
One of the advantages of working in an office is that you’re often in proximity to others and have a greater chance to talk to people either at or outside of work. If you work remotely, there’s a strong likelihood that you’ll be doing work alone without too much human interaction. Even to the most introverted of us, this can turn into a bad thing, and if the pantry is stocked some remote workers could find themselves hardly ever leaving the house or talking to people outside of their household.
This isn’t healthy for most people, so potential remote workers might want to consider this and make regular plans to get out into the world more often. Getting more involved with friends or even on social media can be a great help. Just make sure you don’t isolate yourself.
You’ll Want to Set Either Hours or Boundaries
Just because you can work whenever you want doesn’t mean your employer or clients should expect you to be available at all hours of the day. Many remote workers fall into this trap, and it’s hard to climb out of. Early on we suggest setting aside some hours or days that are just for you or your loved ones. You’ll be able to come to work with a clearer head and likely be more productive on the whole.
Motivation and Discipline Are Key
In most cases, you aren’t going to have anyone over your shoulder. Self-management vital when working remotely, and you’ll need to find ways to keep yourself motivated lest you stagger in your work (and it will show to your clients or employers eventually).
If you’re a person that thrives on a schedule in your everyday life, you’re going to want to make sure that you keep your life as stable as possible while you are getting used to working remotely.
And going off of a previous point, this goes both ways. You will need to make sure to take care of yourself more, as workaholism only gets worse when you can’t leave the office each day and come home. Make sure to take some time to relax and take care of yourself so you can enjoy life and do your best work.
Your Tax Situation Might Change
If you’re considering working remotely as a freelancer, we highly recommend you consult additional materials and even full books on this subject, but if you’re just transitioning to a new position or starting a new remote job, there are still deductions you might want to take into account, such as your home office space. Make sure to keep receipts and records, and start thinking about any other exemptions or potential taxes that may apply to you based on the industry you might work in.
Conclusion
Working remotely can be extremely rewarding, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges involved. You’ll need to set a new schedule for yourself and ensure that you create an environment you can succeed in. It will take some time to get used to, but we’re entirely confident that you’ll be able to succeed if you decide to work remotely in the future.
By no means is this list exhaustive. There are plenty of different circumstances and if you seriously are considering working remotely, you’ll want to do some additional research. As such, are there any other concerns you have about working from home? Any other tips or notes you would like to share? If so, we would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment below.
