If you’ve decided to take the plunge and start working remotely full-time, congratulations! This may just be one of the best decisions you have made.
There are several benefits to working remotely and most people who opt for it, report higher levels of productivity and lower levels of stress.
It’s not all rosy though. There are, of course, some cons to working remotely as well. Some people may miss feeling like part of a team or struggle to draw a boundary between their personal life and their professional life.
To get you prepped for this exciting new journey ahead, we’ve made a handy guide on what to expect when you become a remote employee for the first time.
Read on and enjoy this new transition.
It can be hard to achieve the ideal work-life balance
It can be easy to fall into the trap of working at all hours when you don’t have to clock in and clock out. However, this can take a major toll on your mental health and if you’re not careful, you may miss out on work-life balance.
One way you can avoid this is by setting your own work hours. Have a set log in and log off time, the way you would working from the office. Make sure you factor in some time for a lunch break and a few coffee breaks as well.
To avoid fatigue, don’t have your lunch and coffee breaks near your laptop. You can even mix it up by working out of a coffee shop or cafe on some days, but wherever you choose to work, always log off at a set time and snooze your notifications!
It can get lonely
Colleagues can be annoying sometimes but when you don’t get to see them outside a Zoom call, you might find yourself missing the office banter and connections.
But this doesn’t have to be a reason to go back to working from the office. As mentioned in the previous point, you can work out of a cafe or coffee shop on some days.
Another great way to connect with people when you’re working from home is to work from co-working spaces. Here, you’ll be able to meet (and maybe even collaborate) with other people from your industry or otherwise.
What’s more, co-working spaces often have all the amenities that regular offices offer such as meeting and conference rooms, coffee machines, a pantry, and more. Whenever you feel like you miss office life, a co-working space can take you right back- no strings attached.
It’s not hard to find a co-working space in your area. Spacehuntr has a variety of co-working spaces with different amenities, locations and price ranges in most major cities.
You’ll save more than you expected
Most of us have no idea exactly how much our daily commute to the office can cost. We also tend to underestimate the cost of our everyday coffee, the grab-and-go breakfast, and other miscellaneous items we’re tempted to buy on the way to the office.
Once you transition to a full-time remote position, don’t be surprised if your bank balance is slightly higher from staying at home (and making your breakfast and coffee yourself!)
It will be tough to go back
There is no doubt the advantages of working remotely outweigh the disadvantages. The few cons of remote working can also be solved easily.
It’s no surprise then that most people who choose to work remotely find it very difficult to return to office life. We mean, why would you? When you can choose to work anywhere in the world and earn on your own schedule.
Yes, now that you’re about to get the first taste of remote working, you might find it tough to return (if ever) to corporate life. But the question is, would you even want to?
