In pre-pandemic times, the idea of working from home seemed too good to be true to many.

Fast forward a few years and people have realized that with all the freedom and flexibility remote work comes with, there will still be drawbacks and new daily issues you will run into.  . Understanding how to make your remote experience the best it can be is a personal journey. As you move into a work-from-home setting, start to identify what works for your workflow, and what doesn’t.

This type of work can create a sense of wanderlust, and as a remote worker, you can transform into a digital nomad in the blink of an eye. In order to do so with confidence, you must instill a strong core of healthy habits for remote work to ensure you can be successful and fulfilled from anywhere.

Create the right environment

Not working in a typical office building gives you the opportunity to make whatever space you are working in the best and most effective environment for you. If you are truly working from home, transforming the den or a spare bedroom into your home office will help you make the distinction between where you should work and where you should relax and feel at home. Also, if you live with others, make sure they know that when you are working, you are not to be bothered. It can be easy for a relative, loved one, or roommate to want to sit and chat with you, but it will be on you to establish set boundaries so you can remain productive.

If you are living the life of a digital nomad and find yourself traveling all around and working from anywhere, it’s important to find a space that works for you. While working from the table in your hotel room might be fine for some, others may need a bigger space, and maybe closer proximity to coffee, therefore they find working in a coffee shop each day can help them feel productive. Whatever the place may be for you, finding a setting that allows you to focus on your work will be a must.

Investing in the right gear for your workspace, at home or on the go, is vital to the remote experience. Noise-canceling headphones, a wireless mouse, and a convenient traveling bag for all of your work essentials can really make a difference in how well you work wherever you are. If you are starting your journey as a remote worker, you will quickly learn what you need as time goes on. Make sure to take note of your needs and make those purchases to help you feel comfortable and productive wherever you work.

Optimize your daily routine

When working from home, it is easy to fall into the trap of working from the moment you wake up until the moment you fall asleep. Zoning out at your computer screen can lead to more fatigue than you realize, so it is important to create a routine that includes brain breaks and allows for better time management and a better feeling of accomplishment.

Making a daily routine can be as simple as setting aside time for yourself throughout the day. Give yourself an hour in the morning before you start work to wake up and feel energized. You can also take a break from your screens at lunchtime to give your eyes and brain some much-needed rest.

If you are someone who is bad at holding yourself to a routine, there are tools available to help you. Most of the apps you use daily will allow you to set reminders, notifications, and alarms to keep your routine on track. Besides technology, investing in something like a dry erase calendar can help you establish and visualize your routine each day.

Adding some structure to your day can help organize your tasks and help keep you from focusing on something for too long. Being able to hold yourself accountable for completing projects in a timely manner is key to any remote work experience.

Prioritize work-life balance

When you set-up your workday, it is important to stick to the schedule. Taking the time to unplug from your work devices when your day ends allows you to make the rest of your day yours. While working remotely can seem like an isolating experience day in and day out, taking advantage of your downtime and experiencing the world outside of work can help invigorate your life.

If you are working remotely from home, being able to spend time with friends and family without having to deal with the hassle of your daily commute allows you to spend more time with the people you care about. If you are taking your work on the road, you can use that downtime to experience the world around you. There are many great opportunities to work remotely domestically and abroad, giving you the chance to experience all that the world has to offer.

Prepare accordingly

Whether you are working from a home office or you decide to take your gig on the road, it’s important to reduce your stress as much as possible. When you know you’re leaving home base for a while, make sure you have all of your essentials to help you live and work comfortably. Create a travel safety kit to have with you during your travels and include all of your must-have items. Think of the things you use daily and determine their importance to your life. This could include calling your pharmacy to ensure you have a full supply of any prescription medication you need, making sure you stock up on contact lenses, and packing backup items such as glasses, extra hygiene products, and backup clothes. Also, be sure to make sure any documents you might need are up-to-date (think driver’s license, car registration, passport, etc.).

As you prepare for every journey, it’s important to have all of your technology up-to-date so any apps you need to run do so smoothly. Keep a spare set of chargers in your travel bag in case you leave any behind in a hotel room, and consider placing Bluetooth trackers on your devices for any instance you misplace them while traveling.

Inform your employer of your travels to ensure they don’t question when your work devices are logging in from different locations. Additionally, you can potentially meet up with coworkers in the various places you venture to. If you have always been a remote employee, this could be a great opportunity to finally meet people face to face.

Keeping your well-being while remote at the forefront of your mind can help pinpoint areas to improve for the sake of your health. Whether it’s your time management during the workday, the way you spend your time outside of work, or even where you plan to work from next, these are all things that you can determine to help you enjoy your work experience.

With all of these things in mind, what’s stopping you from making your remote work adventure a fulfilling one?

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