Do you have any advice for remote workers?
Interview with Alaina, a nonprofit program state director
Get organized!! Set a schedule and try to stick to it regularly. Have a set start time, and include breaks as well as an end time for the day.
Be prepared to have conversations with family and friends about the boundaries of work time.
That's a real conversation I've had with family who thinks that because I am home, I'm not working. Be firm and know that remote work means flexible hours, but if you don't work during the day, you might be pulling all-nighters to complete tasks.
Also, get out of the house to work. Change your scenery. Find a coffee shop (with wifi) or a library where it's productive to work.
Lastly, find a remote work buddy to work alongside. Being remote doesn't mean you can't be sociable!
It takes a minute to find your rhythm in a new remote position—hear how Alaina organizes her time to hit the ground running in a new remote work job.
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Interview with Melissa, a co-founder and remote work champion
If you are working remotely and part of a hybrid team as we call it, you have to drop any guilt or the feeling of trying to PROVE to others that you are getting work done.
I see this so much where people are glued to their screens at home because they don’t want their boss (who isn’t remote) ever to see them away from their desk. When you do this, you are just perpetuating the inaccurate assumption that when you work at home, you are binging on Netflix all day.
Set expectations with your team of how you structure your workday and then embrace it! There are perks and it’s ok to take advantage. You will feel so much lighter. Take a call from your back porch. Schedule a lunchtime spin class. Walk to the corner coffee shop. If you get your work done, the trust follows.
Melissa started Work Well Wherever to help individuals & companies embrace remote work—see how she balances entrepreneurship, parenthood, & self-care.
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Interview with Vivek, an entrepreneur building a virtual office for remote teams
View social isolation as a fun challenge, not an obstacle. Many people don't have strong physical social networks where they live, and that's totally fine!
Use the opportunity to find the intersection of your hobbies and a community, such as a recreational basketball league or church group that meets to play board games. Whatever you decide to do, make sure that you're consistent.
Also, not all remote positions are created equal.
Beware of situations where:
1) You would be the only remote worker, and 2) The hiring company is not promoting ways to support remote workers (i.e., not "remote-friendly"). You'll be fighting a losing battle in feeling productive and being included in the company discourse.
I've interviewed a few remote workers who are obviously worn down by communication dynamics that reward office workers and beat down remote workers by exclusion.
Great remote situations exist - you just have to go out there and find them.
The long San Francisco commute sent Vivek into remote work—hear about his three strategies for eliminating distractions & his must-have tools.
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Interview with Pamela, a travel writer adjusting to freelancing
Meet other successful entrepreneurs and freelancers and learn as much as you can from them.
There’s no need to re-invent the wheel.
I am humbled by the number of strangers who have answered my questions, taken a moment to review a submission or provide guidance.
I would also suggest putting social time on your calendar. The inside of your head is a dangerous place to be. It’s important to be out among friends, family, networking events, and classes to keep your brain in check.
Pamela is new to the world of freelancing. In this interview, she shares the ups and downs of adjusting to the gig economy.
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Interview with Michelle, an organizer of digital nomad experiences
- Work in a coworking space.
- Take brakes.
- Do fun things.
It is easy to work all day since you can work anytime from anywhere and forget about your social life or get out for a walk. However, it is important to have a balance.
A solo backpacking trip led to Michelle organizing co-travel experiences for digital nomads—hear how she manages working while traveling.
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Interview with Tara, a remote director of research and administration
Keep the lines of communication open with your colleagues.
Sometimes picking up the phone is the quickest, best way to get questions answered, solve problems, and confirm that you’re on the same page.
Additionally, if you work from home, I would also recommend creating a ritual that signals the end of the day, separating work life from home life. I like to take our dog for another walk at this time, or sit and chat with my husband before supper.
I might also suggest getting a pet; our dog makes sure I see the outside world at regular intervals, and she’s a great sounding board. She also makes me laugh multiple times a day.
A move to be closer to a spouse's job led Tara to remote work—see her tips for staying productive and organized as a full-time remote director.
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Interview with Emma, a freelance marketing consultant
This is tricky because I think you have to find what works for you. I’ve found that still having a relatively structured day is great and also that separate zone for my office work rather than trying to work out of the kitchen or something.
One bit of advice for remote freelancers that work across a number of different clients – have a different notebook for each client, I find that really helps me manage all the different tasks.
Emma is thriving as a freelance marketing consultant—see her tips on managing client demands & making yourself marketable as a freelancer.
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Interview with Cecilia, a content writer managing her remote career in Dubai
My advice is to upgrade your skills frequently. You can do this by working on a personal project, taking online courses, attending events with experts in your industry, and staying on top of the latest trends in your industry by setting up Google Alerts.
Remote work requires people to adapt very quickly to new tools and processes.
The more familiar you are with all the tools of your trade and the more practice you have with learning new skills quickly, the better you'll be at your job.
Cecilia got her start translating blog posts, and in 2018 she went fully remote. See her tips for managing an international remote work career.
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Interview with Audrey, a military wife thriving as a marketing manager
Give yourself some structure. Don't wake up every day and wing it. You'll end up overworked, exhausted, and unorganized.
In an office, the structure is somewhat provided for you. However, in remote work, it's really up to you to set yourself up for success.
Also, look for companies who already have a tried and true remote work culture. It will make a big difference in your day to day.
Marrying an active-duty army officer sent Audrey on the search for a remote work position—see how she has established her career while staying on the move.
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Interview with John, an international business writer sharing 15 years of insights
I’d say we’re in a long transition to more remote work—and finding organizations who both need your skills and who are willing and able to work with remote workers is very challenging but very important to focus on.
So, my most important suggestion is to try to find clients or employers who want to work with remote workers or who are part of the remote work movement.
It’s important to find clients who understand that just because you’re remote, doesn’t mean that you’d like your role to be eliminated when internal capabilities are found to meet the need you have already been assisting with.
Focusing on clients who understand remote workers and their needs will fundamentally alter your career prospects and work and life stability.
Take time when possible to socialize with others and spend good amounts of time away from work. Often remote work can creep into weekends and late hours. Try where possible to set limits, while maintaining the flexibility to work more when necessary.
It’s not fun to get to the end of a week and realize you’ve worked so much you never had time to have a day or two of rest and relaxation.
For over a decade, John has worked as an international business writer. See his insights on the state of remote work, freelancing, and attracting clients who are the right fit.
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