By now, we all know the benefits of virtual work: No soul-crushing commute. No managers or co-workers hanging over your shoulder. No one stealing your lunch from the office fridge.
But now that it's been a few years since the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to work from home, we're also a bit more familiar with its challenges. A report from Flexjobs, a virtual work career board, found that while just over 50% of the workers surveyed want to work fully virtual, they're also more vulnerable to working longer hours, poorer collaboration, and occasionally, distraction. (This could also include people who have a hybrid work setup).
The great news is that these challenges all have solutions. Whether you're thinking about working virtually or are currently a virtual worker, you'll be happier and more productive when you meet these challenges head-on. I chatted with several virtual workers to get their advice on everything from maintaining work-life balance to avoiding loneliness while working from home. (Note: Only 3 of the 7 tips will be discussed, click here to read the remaining ones).
Prioritizing work
Virtual workers need to be self-motivated experts at time management because we don't have others constantly overlooking our work or managing our time for us. While every worker might find it difficult to stick to a schedule and manage their to-dos, it's especially challenging for virtual workers who have more flexible, free-form days as well as managers in a different part of the world.
How to make sure you get the most important work done
Eat the frog. Business consultant and coach Brian Tracy explains: "Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that is probably the worse things that is going to happen to you all day long. Your 'frog' is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don’t do something about it." The very first thing you should do when you start your day is to eat that frog (Read this article for a complete explanation of how to accomplish this)
Limit the number of tasks you plan to do each day. Use the Eisenhower matrix ,sometimes referred to as the priority matrix, to avoid unnecessary time-wasting tasks and know which tasks to do next. Or plan to do just 1 big thing, 3 medium things, and 5 small things per day, the 1-3-5 rule
Install distraction-limiting tools. Try one of these tools to help you stay focused at work.
Manage your energy, not your time. As Gregory Ciotti explains on the I Done This Blog, "you improve by pushing your practice, not yourself during low energy." Your energy waxes and wanes during the day, so tackle tasks according to how much of your bandwidth they'll take and how much you'll be able to focus at different times during the day.(your chronotype)
Interruptions: you have a family, pets, and/or a doorbell
The good news is, when you work from home, you avoid co-workers dropping by your desk and other office interruptions (It's someone's birthday! Let's have mediocre cake in the break room!). The bad news is you'll likely have to deal with other kinds of interruptions and distractions, whether it's the UPS delivery person needing your signature or in-laws dropping by unannounced.
How to deal with interruptions at home
Set up a kind of signal that lets others know when you're in focus mode. Maybe it's a do not disturb sign on your door or when you put on your headphones. (Or maybe you have to actually lock the door and pretend you're not home.) The "stoplight" technique is another method that can be used.
Explain why it's important for you to avoid interruptions—that they break your concentration and make your work ten times harder.
For young kids, getting childcare is a must, unless you plan on working only when they're asleep. (Ideally, this should be outside the home).
Train your kids and significant other to be self-sufficient and occupy themselves. It's frustrating to be interrupted because you're the only person who knows where the scissors are. You can say something like Mom/Dad is busy and can't be disturbed unless it is an emergency.
Keep consistent work hours. Stick to your schedule, and simply don't answer calls during work.
Escape. If all else fails, try working out of a co-working space, the library, or a coffee shop.
Communication issues and being out of the loop
Communicate as much as possible—clarifying anything that could be a misunderstanding—and to be proactive in speaking up. Time zone differences seem to be one of the issues.
Remote workers need to be flexible when working with others in different time zones, one solution to this is to have a four -hour overlap.
Balancing virtual work and the rest of your daily life can be a challenge but by following these tips, you can be more effective in maintaining work-life balance.
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