The Remote Office Is It the Right Move for You - CareerAlley

The Remote Office â€" Is It the Right Move for You - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. When people think about working remotely, they might imagine sitting in bed in their pajamas with the television on while checking email. But working from home, particularly on a full-time basis, requires discipline and an incredible work ethic. Its not something everyone can do, so its important to understand what working from home really entails and how to be successful in this nontraditional environment. Key factors to consider First, understand that with the ever-evolving workplace, working remotely is not as foreign a concept as it used to be. In fact, over 13 million people currently work from home in the United States, according to the Census Bureau, with most of the jobs being in management, business, and finance. Thats an increase of about 4 million people from 1999. So how do you know if working remotely is right for you? Its important to consider the logistics. Can you reasonably access everything youll need for this job from your home? Consider things like access to high-speed Internet and reliability of service, and access to a good computer, phone, fax, and scanner. Most importantly, do you have somewhere in your home where you can completely focus on work and not be distracted by kids, pets, or chores? If your home office is already set up, figure out if you are disciplined enough to maintain the focus you need to work surrounded by all of the temptations of home. Its okay to throw in a quick load of laundry, but you shouldnt get distracted cleaning the whole house when you should be answering emails. Think honestly about whether youll be okay without the daily personal interactions that are part of a traditional office environment. While working remotely, youre not going to be able to pop over the cube wall for a quick chat, so figure out if youre the type of person who will revel in a more solitary working life, or if you need the social aspects to stay happy in a job. Helpful tips and tricks Once youve decided that working remotely is something youre dying to try, its really important that you follow some friendly advice. Set a schedule: For the first few weeks, you might be tempted to start work a little later with the mental promise that youll also work later. Make sure youre keeping the same work schedule as the rest of the office (if your office has no set hours, try to keep to a regular 9 to 5.) In addition to helping you focus on work during work hours, it will also set up a healthy work/life balance so you can feel okay signing off at 6 pm instead of dreading all the work you put off. Get a babysitter: You should arrange alternative care for any children. Dont forget, youre still working and having young kids around can be extremely distracting for you. Plus, if youre focused on work and not on what your children are doing, you may not be able to fully monitor their safety. Answer emails promptly: Because youre working away from most people, coworkers might question what youre really doing if they have to wait an excessive amount of time for answers. You need to make yourself even more available to people than you would if you were in the same office. Take breaks: This might seem a little counterintuitive, but make sure you take breaks for lunch and to walk around a bit. Its easy to get absorbed in what youre working on without the regular workplace interactions, but its important to take a few breathers. Stay in communication: Working remotely can be isolating, so stay in touch with coworkers via email, Skype, or Gchat. This is also a good way to keep your manager updated on the progress of any projects youre working on. Working remotely is a wonderful option for many people, but it also presents unique hurdles and challenges. With the right office setup and a strong sense of self-discipline and routine in place, youll be on your way to creating a positive working environment in your home. About the Author: Tiana Tucker is the community manager for, [emailprotected], an online Master of Science in nursing program for Family Nurse Practitioners. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Joey Trebif