The American remote workforce will increase to 36.2 million by 2025, recording an 87% rise from the pre-pandemic period. This is according to a recent Upwork Future Workforce release. But does remote working really work? For starters, you save money when you do remote work. You don’t have to worry about office rent, parking fees, and lunch costs when you work from home.
Another reason why remote work is better than commuting to the workplace is time-saving. Unlike in-office workers who waste time on traffic, remote workers only have to leave the bed and get to work. However, you may find it difficult to work remotely if you're used to an office setting. Here's how to start remote work and be productive while at it.
Take Breaks from Work
Weight gain, backaches, and heart problems can result from too much sitting. That’s why you need breaks to work effectively. First off, breaks increase productivity. Doing remote work continuously tires your brain, affecting creativity and concentration. Breaks also prepare your mind to disconnect from work, thus improving your sleep.
Moreover, you can use the breaks to think about your goals; this renews your motivation. You can disengage from your work by scheduling your breaks. Even if you don’t feel like leaving your desk, time away from the computer is necessary for refreshing your mind. However, you don’t have to schedule all your brakes to work remotely. You can take unplanned breaks to attend to your children or when you feel too tired.
Dress Up for Work
Don’t throw away your stylish clothes when you decide to do remote work. For starters, clothes set the tone for your day. The fact that you woke up, showered, and got dressed provides confidence to tackle work challenges. Since you need time to prepare for work, dressing up ensures you start your day early.Clothes also indicate a shift in your work routine. While dressing up in the morning puts you in work mode, wearing your pajamas in the evening signals family time. Dressing up also makes you presentable in the event of impromptu video calls from clients. Not saying you should sacrifice your comfort. You can pick loose-fitting outfits and soft fabric to balance professionalism with comfort.
Communicate Effectively
Communication is necessary to do remote work. Assuming you’re managing a team that is doing remote work, communication boosts employee engagement to increase trust. Instead of viewing you as an authoritative figure, your workers see you as a coach they can learn from. Communication also increases morale. Talking to your colleagues encourages teamwork, so you work with each other instead of against each other.
Videoconferencing is perfect for face-to-face conversations. Unlike texts, you know how other participants interpret the message since you can see their facial expressions and hand movements. You could also email your workers to provide updates and know their progress.
Conclusion
Not everyone is able to do remote work. Some industries require you to show up at your workplace physically. Even so, the coronavirus pandemic has pushed many employees to do remote work, proving why remote work is the future. Do you know where to work remotely during covid? Suggest legitimate opportunities in the comments.
Author’s bio: Miranda Davis is a freelance writer in the relation and psychology area. Miranda is interested in such topics as building healthy relationships between people, love compatibility, and how to find the right balance in life in general. She is currently doing specific research on the best hookup sites on the topic. Miranda loves cooking and long-distance walking.