Remote work has become a “buzz word”. There is certainly a lot of hype around the term and with more opportunities for remote working, more candidates are on the prowl for these types of jobs. According to Fast Company, remote work will continue to be the new normal. It’s certainly an attractive attribute to any job description, but as with everything there are pro’s and con’s. Of course, being able to work from anywhere at almost anytime is definitely a perk. However, on the flip side, it takes a lot of discipline, dedication, and drive to succeed in a remote role. And at times it can ‘feel’ like a hustle depending on your role, where you work from, and your workload. If you have a home office that’s great, but that’s where the discipline comes in. And if you don’t have a home office, finding a peaceful place to set-up shop and focus takes dedication.
Thanks to new technologies, remote work is the future and with Slack, WhatsApp, and various other platforms, you can connect with teams globally. Remote working is quickly becoming more realistic and it’s confirmed that remote work delivers productive results. Why? People can work when they are most productive and are not ‘restrained’ to a set number of hours. A recent research study from Gallup found that workers who spend three to four days working offsite (remotely) are more engaged. Of course, there are moments when isolation will kick in and a loss of human connection. Sometimes life is better IRL. In that case, it’s important to force yourself to balance out your life. We’ll touch on a few points below, starting off with work/life balance.
Remote work will continue to be the new normal Share on XWork-Life Balance
This is an issue almost everyone is trying to tackle, but when you work remotely the work never really ‘goes away’ so the balance becomes even more challenging. Some of us like to clock out somewhere between 5 – 6 pm. and are finished for the day. While others don’t mind working late into the night when the creative juices get flowing. There is no right or wrong answer, but even as a remote worker, many are trying to ‘shut it off’ at a certain time.
I had the chance to speak with Cinthia Pacheco, from Digital Bloom. She works remotely from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Cinthia plans out her calendar monthly to ensure that she doesn’t overwork herself and that she can finish up her day at a reasonable hour. For her, she tries to finish her day by 4 pm. and in order to do that, she allocates time for everything that needs to get accomplished. One of her tricks is to schedule something shortly after 4 pm, so it forces her to get up and make a move away from the computer. I also love her idea of batching tasks, client only days, marketing days, this helps to keep you at the top of your game and focused. I’m all about batching tasks and a huge believer that it does increase productivity.
Avoiding Burnout
Burnout can happen at any job at any time, but it’s almost always escalated when you are constantly working, or hustling around looking for the next client or opportunity. The burnout opportunity is there and it’s real. Alyson Eastman, the designer behind Alyson Eastman, shared with us a few of her tips to avoid burnout. “I take CBD oil, schedule in time for a workout 3 times a week, and make sure to get quality sleep every night. Those three things are a must for me!” She is also a partner in This is my Remedy, an organic CBD oil company.
Cinthia told us, “I personally don’t work weekends, it’s my time to shut off and recharge.” The more organized you can be as a remote worker, the more time you can take off and recharge on the weekends. It’s definitely a great routine to get into, especially if others in your life have those days off. You can socialize, rest, or accomplish personal things on your to-do list.
The more organized you can be as a remote worker, the more time you can take off and recharge on the weekends. Share on XThe Pro’s
Remote work is not for everyone. As it depends on each individual person and their workplace priorities but it’s good to weigh the pro’s and con’s. Alyson loves that she can pick up and work anywhere, which of course we can all get behind that. Cinthia loves that she can spend time with family and friends, specifically quality time with her grandparents. Another major pro for anyone that is a mother is that remote work allows you the opportunity to spend more time with your child or maybe to opt out of child care. This would take even more balancing, but it definitely exists and depending on each individual’s case it might outweigh other cons. Flexibility is a major benefit for mothers, for someone who loves the hustle, or someone who loves to be nomadic and not necessarily have the ‘same’ schedule every day.
The Con’s
One of the biggest cons is the lack of face to face interaction. According to the state of remote work survey, 21% of remote workers quoted loneliness as one of their main issues. Cinthia mentioned the same, “There is not a lot of face-to-face interaction. I try and balance it out with video calls and phone calls but sometimes there’s just something special about in-person communication.” That’s where those ‘after-work’ meet-ups or activities are important for remote workers to try and maintain a sense of community. After work hours, a remote worker may crave some in-person time, whereas someone in the office may want to be alone after work.
21% of remote workers quoted loneliness as one of their main issues Share on XAnother major con according to Alyson is, “I am ALWAYS working, I find it extremely hard to turn off.” This is especially true in the social media space, a multitude of influencers, or those that just work in the social media space who never turn it off. If you love what you do, it just becomes part of who you are and a part of your life. There comes a time when the lines between life and work are blurred, in particular with remote workers and or business owners. It’s work, it’s play, it’s work and play? Find your balance and the cons will become fewer and fewer.
The verdict?
Remote working allows you to really connect with yourself, find your strengths, and your weaknesses. It certainly tests your discipline. It might not always feel like a hustle, but if you run your own business or work as a remote freelancer, you will be hustling around between finishing projects and networking. For someone with ambition, it can be highly rewarding. There are days you might be your own critic or days that you just want to joke around on Slack. Once you test out the remote working lifestyle, you will know pretty quickly if it’s for you or not.
There comes a time when the lines between life and work are blurred, in particular with remote workers and or business owners. Share on XAs a seasoned remote worker, I can admit that it’s definitely for me. But trust me, like everything in life it definitely has its challenges. The question is can you enjoy the journey?