Business

Making Working Remotely Work for You

Listening 3 min Article Advanced

Grammar - 2 phrasal verbs

[speaker]

Exercise

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If you’re thinking about working remotely, it’s probably because you want more flexibility in your schedule.

But be careful! Too much freedom can make you fall behind —and fast.

Smart remote workers know that you need discipline and structure. Check out these tips to help you succeed!

“Always keep in mind what time of day your focus, energy, and motivation are at their highest.”

1. Know When to Work

You’ll do your best work if you know when to work. If you’re a morning person, for example, plan to do your most important work before noon. Always keep in mind what time of day your focus, energy, and motivation are at their highest.

2. Get Dressed

It might seem like fun to roll out of bed and work in your pajamas, but try not to! Even if you’re not leaving your house, you should take the time to get ready every morning. This will signal to your brain that you need to get serious and get to work!

3. Stay Organized

Organization is everything! To stay on top of your work, you need to keep track of deadlines, meeting times, clients, emails, and all other important information. You should also schedule regular blocks of time to focus on work—and nothing else—so you don’t leave anything to the last minute.

Work is important, but so is self-care. To manage stress, make sure you schedule time for regular breaks, light exercise, and proper meals.

If organization isn’t your thing, don’t worry: There are a lot of great scheduling and organizational apps that you can download for free.

“It’s important to speak regularly with your employer and co-workers.”

4. Don’t Get Distracted

To work effectively, you should have a remote workspace away from distractions like TV or laundry. If that isn’t an option at home, go to a library, coffee shop, or shared workspace. If you still find it too noisy, try some noise-cancelling headphones.

5. Communicate

It’s important to speak regularly with your employer and co-workers. This will help you understand assignments clearly, stay on track, and feel like part of the team.

Important to Remember

Working remotely can be a great way to get more control over your schedule. By simply adopting the smart habits we discussed, you’ll get the most out of your remote experience!