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Thursday, February 6, 2025

Working Remotely: Survival Guide!

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Magdalena Wrobel
Magdalena Wrobel
Magda's goal is to help others run businesses efficiently while creating a happy, healthy family life.

Remote work has gained lots of attention over the last couple of years. Although, it seems like a straightforward concept, many individuals have struggled to either maintain productivity and continue producing quality work or have significantly deteriorated their personal lives and wellbeing.

Here are 3 helpful tips to avoid burnout:

What I am trying to say here, is – focus on each and every day, don’t stress 30 – 60 – 90 days into the future. Focus your energy on what you can control and continue being compassionate and empathetic to those around you; just don’t let them run you down. You won’t serve anyone any good if you are burnt out. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Longevity and your well-being are more important than burning the midnight oil.

  1. Define your workspace: Where you work matters. Your workspace has a huge impact on your mood and your overall productivity. Although a home office, dining room table or a kitchen counter may seem like comfortable areas to work at, your body might think differently as it will ultimately pay the price. Maintaining the proper posture is critical, as poor habits will lead to tension headaches and poor quality of sleep. Many people, unfortunately, don’t correlate these behaviors to the pain they inflict on their bodies. Simple tricks such as keeping your feet flat on the ground and sitting on a sturdy chair will yield long-term benefits. Ensure the center of the screen is at eye level to prevent slouching and rounding your back. For individuals looking to tone their core (BONUS!), sit mid to edge of seat as this position will activate your abdominal muscles.
  2. Establish work hours: Now that you have defined your workspace, it’s time to define your work hours. Working from home (or remotely) saves you time, as you no longer need to commute. For some, you don’t even need to shower… what this translates to is logging in earlier and typically working later. You know and understand the demands of your work. Given the current situation; where talent has been hard to come by, as a result of ‘The Great Resignation’, most companies continue to follow the ‘All Hands-on Deck’ model. This means you might be expected to add additional hours until your company gets back to appropriate staffing levels (…or will they?). This should not mean working 24/7; however, many continue to push themselves and try to overdeliver. This is possible but it’s only temporary. Be explicit about your start and end time. Plan your meal and drink breaks and really make the effort to eat away from your computer. Use the washroom when needed and get up at least once every 90 minutes. If you’re working in a team, cross-reference schedules with each other to ensure there is coverage and support when required. If possible, squeeze in some exercise in between calls and meetings (be sure video conferencing is turned off…).
  3. Manage expectations: Identify and analyze critical tasks that must be completed each day, determine their priority and create a schedule. For example: morning tasks, after lunch tasks, or must be done by end of day tasks. Checking your email, instant messages and phone are now more critical than ever but this will result in significant distractions to larger initiatives that require your undivided attention. It’s okay to set expectations as to when clients and colleagues will hear back from you. A popular and often very acceptable response of 1 hour is more than appropriate. Again, you know your workload and should adjust as needed. Follow the 80/20 rule. Have an open and transparent dialogue with your Leadership/Clients/Employees, as to how they will communicate one-off requests and establish adequate completion times. If something is taking longer than anticipated, make sure you provide updates and reset expectations. Remember, every company is a collaborative team effort and you should never feel like you are carrying the burden of responsibility solely on your shoulders. For you Sole Proprietors – I feel you. You will assume all the pressure and responsibility; therefore, you specifically need to set realistic expectations and boundaries with your clients.

Thanks for reading, I hope I was able to take your mind away from your daily stressors and put a new perspective on things you already know about working remotely. First of all, you are doing great and second of all, you are not alone. Old habits are hard to break. Be open. Try your best in implementing these tips (perhaps…one tip at a time). You’ll be surprised at the strength you possess and how good it will make you feel to regain control of your working environment and your life. For those with kids, lead by example – your kids are watching you. If they see you have control over your time, space, mood – they too, will be more likely to establish healthy boundaries in their personal and professional relationships in the future.

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