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How To Effectively Manage Your Remote Work Model As A Freelancer
Working from home is a dream come true for many skilled professionals across the globe. This new model for handling jobs focuses on working outside a typical office environment, and in the comfort of homes - without the rigors of regular commuting!
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Interestingly, the "remote work model" received tremendous acceptance across the globe since the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2019 (COVID-19). Many companies and businesses are shifting from hiring regular office staff to hiring remote workers as they find them easy to manage and cost efficient.
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Put simply, there has been a remarkable shift in our understanding of work and a lot of companies are adjusting to this new model of work.
What is a Remote Work Model?
Remote work is simply any work done outside a traditional office environment. The remote work model focuses on virtual service delivery outside a physical office space. Freelance work is a remote work model that allows skilled professionals to handle jobs without a physical office location. Our goal is to understand what this new model of work means and how it can be managed effectively to reduce occurrence of health problems.
Remote workers deliver services with flexibility and are super productive. Most times they have to work from the comfort of their homes or anywhere - coffee shop, on the road while traveling or even on any corner of the street. Working remotely is a great way to escape the regular commute routine common in traditional 9-5 office employment.
On the other hand, the remote work model also has challenges that can cause significant setbacks on the progress of your career as a skilled professional and also on your mental health as an individual. Remote workers have to always figure out when and where to work, and how to set boundaries in order to create a reasonable work-life balance. Health problems such as stress, burnout, and mental fatigue are very common among skilled professionals working from home.
In this article, we have put together a list of strategies to help you stay organized, manage your remote work model effectively, and win the fight against common challenges associated with working remotely. Here are some ways to effectively manage your remote work:
1. Set and Maintain Your Working Hours
70% of the health problems associated with remote work can be reduced by just setting your regular working hours and sticking to it diligently. Maintaining your regular working hours is a great way to create the ideal work-life balance needed to keep you in good shape and free from common health problems such as stress and burnout while working remotely.
As a freelancer, you may need to adjust your availability sometimes in order to suit the timezone of your client. In cases like this, always ensure that you finish up your deliverables on time to enable you to get enough sleep or try waking up later than usual in order to make up for lost time. Lack of regular routines can make it difficult to maintain clear boundaries between work and leisure time. Always stick to your regular schedule for work and get adequate sleep to recharge your brain cells.
2. Create a Distraction-free Workspace
Consider creating a workspace in a location in your home free from distractions such as TV (sitting room), sleep (bed) and food (kitchen). Before you begin working, gather all of your supplies in one location, including everything you might need. If you can, close the door.
Try to set off a quiet space for work, even in a modest or shared room. Also, avoid sitting on the sofa because it could make you feel sleepy real quick. Instead, use a table or desk for your work. Ensure to sit comfortably too. Use cushions to support your body while sitting on a chair. This will reduce your chances of feeling body pain.
3. Set Reasonable Boundaries
Boundaries help you keep the line between work and personal life in check. Freelancers and other skilled professionals who work remotely put in more hours than regular office staff. This puts them at risk of experiencing health problems such as stress and burnout.
As a freelancer and remote worker, setting boundaries can help you create an ideal balance between your work and personal. Make sure that you stick to your regular working hours, get enough sleep daily, take self-care seriously, take hourly breaks while at work, engage in regular exercise and ensure that family time is not compromised because of work.
4. Prioritize Your Work
Managing your own work is a pretty difficult thing to do because there's no one constantly checking your work to see its progress or keeping track of your time. Even though it can be tough for all employees to maintain a plan and manage their daily tasks, working remotely provides more flexibility of work schedule, which makes it particularly difficult for remote workers to cope with.
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You have to do all that yourself most of the time as a freelancer, and even in this era of technology where computer software is available to help remote workers manage their projects and time effectively, a lot of remote workers still find it difficult to achieve their objectives and meet client expectations. Always prioritize your starting with the most important to the least important. Make sure you carry out your daily tasks one at a time and according to your concentration levels every hour of the day.
As humans, our focus levels differ every hour of the day. Find out which hours of the day you are able to focus more on tackling your projects and stick to what works best for you. Keep your task routine simple by limiting the number of things you intend to do per day to avoid wasting time unnecessarily.
Also, consider installing and using management software that can help you stay organized, and other tools that can help you stay away from interruptions and distractions in your workspace.
5. Schedule Short Breaks to Rest and Socialize
Working from home can get really addictive if you don't set boundaries and take regular breaks. Worst still, you may have feelings of isolation, stress and mental fatigue. Scheduling short breaks while working can help you keep these health problems in check. Make sure you give yourself time to concentrate on other activities.
Regular screen breaks can help your brain stay energized and ready to assimilate new information. You don't need to spend too much time during each short screen break - just 10 to 15 minutes per hour will do. Taking coffee breaks or pending time outdoors to receive fresh air and warmth is also a very good idea because it will greatly improve your mental health.
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The feeling of isolation is a very common phenomena among remote workers. However, you shouldn't let that linger over time as a freelancer. Remember that your colleagues probably feel the same way you do, so you're not alone. Make time to socialize with family and friends, and communicate virtually with your colleagues, collaborators and managers.
Connect with those who mean a lot to you during each coffee break and share some of your time and experiences with them. Communicating with those who matter reduces your stress levels and takes your mind off the difficulties faced at work. Of course, nothing beats human interaction!
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