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Remote working is a very hot topic of conversation right now, with more businesses than ever giving it a try during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although you’ll find a lot of articles praising the many benefits of working from home, it would be foolish to assume that remote working is a style of working that suits everyone. If you’re thinking of going for a remote position, or are considering going remote-full time, then here are some questions you may want to ask yourself.
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1. Do you have a dedicated place to work?
There will be days when you can work remotely from your bed, the sofa, or the kitchen table, but in a permanent remote working position, you’re going to need to set yourself up a more permanent and dedicated workspace. Sitting for hours on end at your kitchen table, hunched over the sofa, or trying to work from your bed will not only give you chronic backache but could start to reduce your productivity too. If you’re serious about working from home, then evaluate where you can set up a permanent desk and workspace.
2. Are you self-motivated?
Self-motivation is a skill prized by most employers, but there’s a big difference between being self-motivated in the office and remaining self-motivated at home. The blurred lines between work and play can make it difficult for people to stay productive while working from home, and without a sixth gear of self-motivation, you can quickly find yourself falling behind. Be honest with yourself about your self-motivation, and, if you find you are lacking some, then put measures in place to help you focus.
“When people think about working remotely, they might imagine sitting in bed in their pajamas with the television on while checking email. But working from home, particularly on a full-time basis, requires discipline and an incredible work ethic. It’s not something everyone can do, so it’s important to understand what working from home really entails and how to be successful in this nontraditional environment.”
3. Do you mind working in isolation?
One day working remotely, two days, three days, even a week can go by without you noticing that you have been working in isolation, but as the weeks turn into months, and potentially years, working remotely can begin to feel very lonely. Many of us do not realize how much we rely on the social connections that we form in the office environment, and, once these have been removed and the novelty of working from home wears off, we find ourselves feeling lonely and disconnected. Loneliness is a common problem amongst remote workers, but there are things that you can do to help, such as having regular video meetings and video calls, telephoning people rather than sending emails, or scheduling office days every so often to meet up with colleagues.
If you’re thinking of going for a remote position, or are considering going remote-full time, then here are some questions you may want to ask yourself.
Tweet This4. Will you be too easily distracted?
Working from home may be great when the kids are at school and you are largely left to your own devices, but during the summer holidays, or if you are sharing with other tenants, you may find that you have some unwanted distractions to contend with. Depending on how you deal with distraction, your home-working set-up and the support you have around you, working around your children, housemates or family may not bother you, but if it does, then you may need to bite the bullet and to work elsewhere.
So there you have it, four questions to ask yourself to see if remote working is for you – how did you square up?
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