The ultimate remote work guide

Remote working has become an increasingly popular method for cutting expenses and protecting people while working. Some predictions say that by the year of 2027, the majority of the US workforce will be working remotely, and since the office work lifestyle familiar to most of us fades away, the need for home adaptation is born, all to suit company values, schedules, meeting, breaks, et cetera.

One of the major benefits of remote working is the flexibility it affords with a few common practices you can expect to use as a remote worker.  In this guide, we’ve compiled the best practices for remote workers, ranging from tips on how to participate in meetings from your chair, to how to find a job as a remote worker. If you’re already working from home, or aspire to do so, this guide is for you.

What is remote work?

Remote workers are the same as “regular” workers. They work the same hours, have the same duties as others, etc. Sure, they’re not present in an office, but that doesn’t mean they can’t provide constant working – the proof lies in their outputs.

Who is this remote guide for

Remote working is very different from working from an office, so there are a few things you’ll need to be aware of if you wish to ensure an effective contribution to your company. 

Remote workers don’t encounter most of the situations where they need to get dressed for a meeting, attire, or commute to work. But it can be difficult for some of the remote workers to navigate working away from the office. The current form of remote working best practices are still relatively new, so they have not been as well defined, so it can be difficult to know how you should act as a remote worker.

Team culture can be defined through remote collaboration too. Building a remote team culture requires rethinking the conventional team use, recruiting employees able to make progressions, and manage online projects and assignments. However, if communicated well, remote team culture can be really strong, with shared values but people acting independently. Remote working can actually feel like you belong to a bigger group, united around the same goal.

How to work remotely and succeed in doing it

In the past two months, there has been a 79 percent increase in LinkedIn job posts advertising flexible work arrangements, and searching for remote workers expected to enter the workforce soon. In this section, we’ve broken down a few of the key elements that can help your remote working and gain a better insight into challenges associated with working from home.

1. Create a mutual space to outline your goals

Creating a space to outline your goals can bring more value to your team. Collaborating with your teammates to come up with an idea, vision, or core values in a shared document or on a virtual whiteboard can make sure our personal goals are aligned with our employers. Set quarterly or monthly check-ins to track performance based on mutually-set values.

Experiment with your work setup and build working flexibility. You can wear certain clothes, sit at a certain desk – you have all the freedom you want over your choices. Experiment with a few different work setups to see which one works best for you.

2. Be thoughtful to your and to the needs of 

You should always plan ahead your pauses, lunches, or dinners, consulting other teammates so you can be sure no meetings would be held at the time. You can get familiar with your remote team members’ work environment too; if they are down with working from some hub, book the best possible meeting room(s), and be aware of the wall plugs you and your coworkers need to plug in your equipment.

3. Make Time For Chitchat

Checking in with your team is a necessity when working from home, especially if you want to prove you’re online, working, or being on top of your job.  If someone asks some question, the faster you respond, the more visible and accessible you are. Of course, his doesn’t mean that you should be available all day every day but rather shows your willingness to jump in and answer messages whenever you have the time, or someone else doesn’t. 

When working from home, small stuff such as taking a few moments at the beginning of each meeting to talk about personal stuff, like your kid’s baseball game or a team member’s upcoming vacation, can mean a lot for socializing and team building. Talking about what you did over the weekend isn’t “time-wasting”, but it can be crucial for maintaining healthy relationships and strengthening team collaboration.

4. Re-create The Best Of In-Office Culture

When re-creating the best possible in-office culture – don’t forget the little things. Hosting a virtual happy hour ower breakfast or lunch for the same in the field, so they can discuss their challenges, future goals, etc. Send people a card for their birthday or anniversary (or another special occasion). Sometimes only coffee or food for the remote employee can help him feel included.

By establishing clear office hours can help you decide what times you’ll be working and when the working day ends. The faster and more you get used to having real office hours, the easier it will be for you to transition from working to relaxing.

5. Take care of your health

A flexible job can have a huge positive impact on the improvement of our overall quality of life.  As a remote worker who is staying at home most of the day, it’s easier to wear comfortable clothes and still work for the entire day. But this form of life is not sustainable and can lead to burning sensations in the back, or even more serious health issues. 

There are a few things you can practice as a remote worker to ensure you don’t fall into the trap of health degradation and maintain quality routines while working.  Here are a few things you can do to stay a healthy remote worker:  

1. Meditation – spend five or ten minutes each day practicing breathing and relaxation by meditating. 
2. Apps like Headspace or Calm can help you with guidance to get started. 
3. Eating lunch away from your desk – do not work during lunch. 
4. Eating nutritious food rather than snacking all day. 
5. Getting up for a walk around every hour will give you an opportunity to stretch and ease potential pain. 
6. Take frequent breaks but move away from your desk during those.

It’s true that remote work is the wave of the future, especially with industries whose jobs can be completed digitally, online. We’ve gone through the different remote work tips for staying healthy and on top of your game as a remote worker. Now, browse through this article once more, and let our guidance get you the title of the best worker on your remote team.