Just scored a job working remotely? Considering fully embracing the freelancer fad? Or is your company rolling-out the occasional work-from-home benefit? Adapting yourself to the work-from-home lifestyle can be tough, but it’s possible. A recent report shows that the work-from-wherever trend has increased by 115 percent worldwide from 2005 to 2015, but there’s an art to the craft of working from your couch.
As social media marketers, our industry is designed for the mobile experience, so our work is easily translatable to the working-from-a-Bali-bungalow life. (We don’t, for the record, live in Bali.) We’re using our expertise to break down the do’s and dont’s of the home office and how to unplug once the work day’s done.
“I prefer to work on my own schedule. Sometimes that means a strict schedule with a to-do list and other times it means laying in bed and working after dinner. I consider it a successful day when I go to sleep knowing that I’ve set myself up for success tomorrow.
I love the inspiration that can come from having my own schedule. Working in a creative role, it’s easy to get bogged down with things that need to be done in the office. When I’m working from home I feel like I have more freedom to go for walks, talk to people, and calm my mind which all help get the creative juices flowing.”
“When working from home, I start my day early and sit on the couch, and usually stay in the same spot most of the day. It’s just nice to have your own space and feel comfortable. It’s usually straight from the bed to the couch. I get into comfy clothes and wash my face so I feel refreshed.
My breaks are usually centered around food, so I’ll either take a break to grab lunch, or go around the corner for a coffee. It’s just 15 minutes to get my body moving and do something that helps me finish the day strong.
Working from home is definitely easier when you work for someone vs when you’re self-employed. When you work for someone you have a concrete set of tasks and deadlines that you have to create for yourself when you run your own business. So there are definitely pros and cons, but it’s an amazing benefit.”
“I love having systems (such as Asana) and figuring out systems for communication, but I also like having the comfort of working in my own home, and not wasting time getting ready or commuting.
Since I don’t have to worry about getting ready and commute time, I like to enjoy a cup of coffee and sometimes read or write before I start my work. When I start feeling cabin-fevery I’ll step outside and I like to walk to get lunch. Try switching it up and working from a cafe if you crave human interaction.
As a graphic designer, sometimes the team has a difficult time expressing what they want visually, so I encourage using a screen sharing software to help with this.”
“I prefer a structured work schedule because I think it gives you boundaries. It is very easy to lose work-life balance when you have a looser work schedule. A structured schedule allows me to clearly designate time for myself.
I need to be sitting at a desk or a table with a green tea. I can’t get any work done lying in bed. I’m not very good at curbing distractions, but I know that when I have a project that I am passionate about, I am not easily distracted.”
Some things to consider before you go remote:
- Do you prefer structure or a looser work schedule?
- Is your work easily communicable via calls and emails?
- What does your ideal workspace look like?
- Are you self-motivated?
- Do you work better in a communal or solo setting?
- Do you have access to a workspace that’s free from distractions?
- How could you benefit from working from home?
Resources for Remote Workers:
- Asana – Task Organization & Communication App
- Slack – Communication Tool, Blends with Asana perfectly!
- Harvest – Time Tracking App, lots of plugins to make tracking seamless!
- The Muse’s Templates – To move the WFH conversation from the watercooler to your boss’s inbox
- AngelList – Job board targeted towards startups, great “remote jobs” search feature