For many people, having to leave home every day to work is one of the least enjoyable tasks of their day. Enduring crowds on the bus or subway, having to share the whole day with co-workers, or spending at least eight hours sitting in a cube is not everyone’s cup of tea.
Working remotely has become a global trend because it allows employers and companies to hire the right people wherever they are, or to set up a virtual office even without a physical location. As easy as it may sound, working from home needs some getting used to because of its uniqueness and unconventionality.
For most people, working from home is a terrific option. Are you the type of person fit for this? Keep reading to learn more about remote working and the essential things to know about this one-of-a-kind work arrangement.
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Achieving Work and Life Balance
An article from Forbes features a survey entitled Work without Walls, highlighting the top 10 benefits of working from home for an employee.
Topping the list was the ability to achieve work and home balance since you no longer need to leave home while being on the job. It is very suitable for people with families and children because they can maximize the time spent at home without coming home after a long day’s work feeling tired and exhausted.
Is It Really as Sweet as it Sounds?
Contrary to what most people say, some people have experienced the complete opposite when it comes to remote working.
Switching off becomes difficult because the boundaries of working hours can be blurred. Since your home is also your workplace, how can you define when to stop working? The lack of an office routine can make it hard to disregard tasks out of working hours.
This is supported by findings from a recent report from the UN’s International Labour Organisation (ILO), which found that 42% of regular home workers dealt with insomnia, while 41% suffered from stress. This was attributed to the lack of clear boundaries between professional and personal lives.
Increased Productivity
Ranking fourth on the advantages of working from home is increased productivity since you have fewer distractions. Higher productivity is also very much related to working in a quieter atmosphere and saving the time spent in long commutes to and from the workplace.
Next to achieving work and life balance was saving on gas and avoiding traffic as major advantages, since the latter is known to be a stress factor. Time spent in traffic can now be devoted to rest and other activities.
Healthy for You and the Environment
Aside from productivity, working from home also means less energy consumed, which is beneficial to the environment. There are many resources you can save by not leaving home for work.
The time allotted for traveling could now be time for a quick workout or yoga session that is crucial since you spend most of your days sitting in front of the computer. Squeeze in a 15-minute dance exercise or even breathing exercise, and your body will thank you after hours of inactivity.
On Isolation and Loneliness
Among the many valuable benefits of teleworking, working from home may also present its challenges to employees.
One of those challenges is the feeling of isolation that arises from not talking to anyone for hours on end.
In line with this, maintaining an employee community and connection to your company’s culture may not be simple since there are fewer opportunities to connect, engage and build a sense of camaraderie within your team.
Over-Fatigue and Burnout
Another challenge that comes with working remotely is the feeling of fatigue and burnout due to endless hours of work without a break.
Working from home may also cause you distraction, or worse, leave you disregarding your task by getting involved in chores, having an unexpected visitor, or being with your children. This may result in you not fulfilling your assigned tasks on time, and it may prevent you from getting a promotion.
Working from home can indeed be overwhelming; that is why it is important that you put boundaries between work and home. The next section will present some tips to help you make the best out of remote working.
Getting Around: Tips to Help You Make the Most Out of Remote Work
If you’re thinking of looking for a work-from-home job, worry not! Here a few tips to help you get around it.
The first tip, which is often overlooked and ignored, is to get dressed before you work. It may seem unnecessary, but getting dressed helps you prepare and sets the mood and tone that you are serious about getting work done.
The second is to maintain a workspace at your home. This is important because this will help you delineate between work life and home life. You must strictly follow the rule on not mixing your personal and professional life, and devoting one area limited to work tasks only will help you achieve that.
Lastly, stick to your designated work hours. Treat this work-from-home job like a regular one —report to work on time and end your shift on time, too. Often, you will forget how time flies and before you know it, your work for the day is over.
Overtime? Do Yourself a Favor
As much as it is tempting to extend beyond your prescribed working hours, remember that good work is only rewarded by more work. Learn to say no to yourself and your bosses (politely!) and respect your time.
Most of the time, overworking is the start of an unhealthy work habit which causes your life and work balance to disintegrate. Especially now that you are working from home, you need to safeguard your time and take ownership of things you do after your workday.
How Can I Start?
You might be wondering who can work from home and how you can start. There is a considerable array of professionals who can work from home, such as translators, writers, accountants, software programmers, among others.
What is more, there is an ever-increasing number of companies offering remote job positions, since it can also be convenient for them.
Start With Online Freelance Websites
You can start applying for remote jobs from platforms such as Freelancer, Upwork, and Workana, where you can set up your professional profile and see the available job opportunities.
On these sites, you will be asked for the number of hours you can dedicate to the job, your skills and employment history, as well as your hourly rate. These freelance websites are usually competitive in nature, so make sure that your profile stands out.
Don’t forget to signify whether you’re looking for a part-time or full-time job. Have a resume and cover letter ready in case any prospective employers contact you.
Tips for Job Hunting
Because you are entirely relying on the Internet, you will have to be cautious and careful on the job offers you respond to, and to whom you send your personal data and information. Take the time to do some research on the company and check some reviews online from trusted sources.
Remember that if the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Look out for red flags such as a massive salary for a job that requires little to no effort. Also, look out for networking or pyramid schemes that will strip you of money and leave you penniless.
Whatever you do, never send money to future employers. Most of the time, companies asking you to provide money are scams. Don’t give out bank information and other private information that they can use to take your money.
More Tips on How to Avoid Scams
You can focus on a specific company or companies to start your job hunting. Most of the time, legitimate jobs are offered by legitimate companies.
Evaluate every job listing and watch out for “get rich quick” ads. These are usually clickbait that can steal your personal information.
Lastly, ask the company for references during your email exchanges or job interview. If they can’t provide any, steer clear and go look for another company.
Being a Work From Home Employee
So once you are done with your job interview and paperwork processing, it is time for you to settle in!
It will usually take some time getting used to, but working from home is a better setup for many than having to report at work personally.
Employers usually require their employees to have high-speed internet, a personal computer, and other basic office equipment. However, most companies will send you this equipment before you start the job.
Communicating With the Team
Always socialize and communicate with your team to avoid feeling left out and having misunderstandings at work.
Now that you cannot see each other face-to-face, there is an increased possibility of meaning getting lost over “translation” — internet noise, disconnection, and network problems.
Conclusion
Working from home isn’t easy as it seems, but there are some ways to make it a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
What are you waiting for? Start your freelance work-from-home career now, and earn at the comfort of your home!
