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In the previous post, we discussed how poor organization of your remote work can lead to burnout and problems with your relationships. Today, we will speak about the common mistakes that people make when they start a freelance job. This is our list of the things to avoid doing if you want to make your freelance adventure a success.
Don’t think that your flat will become a good office in a moment
When we dream about remote work, we often imagine a person cozily resting in bed with a laptop, however, this is not exactly like that. Working the whole day in bed, you will get back pain way faster than happiness. In the office, we have many things that we don’t even notice, however, you will soon understand that your home chair is less comfortable than an office chair and the table is also small. So before you start working, make sure that you have a close (at least small) and well-equipped place where you can focus entirely on your job.
As at home you are the one to choose equipment, reserve some money to invest in a good standing desk and a nice ergonomic chair. These small steps will help you avoid posture problems and save you a lot of energy in the future.
Other things that can make your home office more comfortable are a laptop stand and an external keyboard. These things will help you avoid neck pain as you will look front rather than down while working.
Don’t let your home distract you from work
A woman who starts to work remotely often gets distracted by household chores. Everywhere you start to notice what to clean or remember to cook food. If the man works from home, he will often get distracted by other family members who will require attention.
Here the first thing to remember is that even in the office you get distracted to have a chat with a boss, or your colleague, or grab a cup of coffee. The distractions themselves are natural, what’s important is to keep them limited. For example, you still can clean and cook, or talk to your family member during your regular breaks. Regular breaks are needed anyway to keep your brain working effectively. So as to avoid unnecessary distractions while performing work tasks, try to use noise-canceling headphones.
Don’t make your work calls a priority without discussing
If you share one room with someone in your family who also works remotely, you will have to discuss the schedules of your meetings so as not to distract one another.
Discussing meetings and calls with your family is a good idea anyway. While you would definitely prefer your spouse not to be at your background in pajamas, they also want to feel at home even though you work there. Only empathy and understanding will help you keep a good relationship and stay productive at the same time.
Don’t overwork
Working from home, people mostly start their day on time. They don’t waste time on getting to work and hence tend to start earlier and finish later than they would usually do if they worked in the office. People don’t feel like they have to spend time on the way home and that is why can spend this time still finishing tasks. At the end of the day, remote workers spend more time on tasks than usual.
In addition, remote workers often miss breaks. First, they don’t have colleagues who would call them for a coffee break, and second, they can feel guilty for not finishing tasks as fast as they wanted. Avoiding breaks will do you no good. The brain gets tired, and it becomes hard to focus. In the end, you can get even more problems than tiredness. Skipping breaks can lead to obesity and muscle strain. The best way to cope with this problem is to create a schedule and train yourself to stick to it. Make a plan of tasks every morning and don’t do more than planned. Don’t forget to plan breaks and physical activity in your schedule. And for sure, don’t work during weekends. The weekend is the weekend no matter whether you work from home or the office.
Don’t try to be always available to colleagues
Of course, it is good to text your colleagues and your boss about your progress and other things. Especially, when you are out of a few people in the company who work remotely it is important to avoid being a ghost who just receives and completes tasks. Chat with colleagues and discuss tasks from time to time – this will help you to create an image of your virtual presence in the team. However, the opposite situation, being totally available, is also not good for your work-life balance. Though you work from home, you don’t have to answer work emails after your work day is officially over. And your colleagues should also learn to respect your privacy.
