Top Tips for the Challenges of Working from Home

Globally, the number of employees who work remotely is expected to double in 2021, according to a recent survey reported on by the World Economic Forum.

Who could have anticipated such a shift?!

I started working remotely more than six years ago, when I decided to move to live with my now husband, on a farm an hour north of Barcelona.

I’d just finished a year-long sabbatical from my communications career in humanitarian aid and international development.

At that life crossroads I saw I had a choice.

I could maintain a hectic work and travel schedule and continue my career in the international development sector -- maybe commuting to a role in an industry hub like Geneva.

Or, I could take what seemed like the much riskier (and much more ideal) option of starting my own location-independent business that would allow me to work from this beautiful location.

My career break had shown me how much I wanted to change my work and life to better align with my values for living more simply, and having more time and freedom.

Ultimately, this is what inspired me to take the leap into starting my coaching practice and remote working.

I wanted to share my top challenges and tips with you here, in case they can help you get through the rough patches a little faster.

#1: Tech Issues

My new coaching practice relied on seamless video calls with clients and I needed reliable, fast internet.

I should have expected this to be a problem, but I didn’t. I was a U.S. city girl who had just moved to farmhouse in rural Spain (a EU country not renowned for its connectivity).

Solving this took several months, but thanks to my husband’s resourcefulness and tech savvy, he finally found a low-cost solution that has worked for years now.

Top Tips

Everybody has issues with the internet sometimes, whether they're in in NYC, Nairobi or Dubai. No matter where you live, you should expect that this will sometimes be an issue for you too.

Take whatever steps you need to get a good internet service. Maybe you’ve been working from home for months now, but you still haven’t been able to resolve this issue. It’s really worth the extra time and effort.

Having a good connection makes a huge difference in how confidently you show up professionally. This supports you in being able to communicate well with colleagues and clients, which is extra important when you’re not face to face.

Then, make sure you always have a backup.

For me, this is a hotspot connection via my cellphone or the extra SIM card we have in an iPad.

#2: Networking

I’ve set up and grown my business in a foreign country, i.e. a country and culture that is not my own, far from my native country and professional network, and in two foreign languages (Spanish and Catalan).

I can tell you some stories!

Being remote definitely put me at a disadvantage at times when it came to networking and marketing my business.

I've been forced to become more resourceful, creative and focused than perhaps I might have been if I had tried to start my business in Portland, Oregon, where I had lots of connections and many in-person opportunities to network and speak.

Top Tips

Appreciate the beauty of the internet and use it to your advantage.

We have unprecedented access to people and resources globally, especially now with COVID forcing everyone and everything online.

If you need to network in order to find your next new job or to switch industries, don’t put it off until you can “do it in person,” or “the world goes back to normal.”

There’s no need.

First, believe that you can find who and what you need online and go looking for them. Follow people and organizations you admire, and take advantage of all the opportunities to engage with them via free webinars, communities, twitter, LinkedIn, whereever they are.

If you’re creative and making things, share them on a blog, website, social media or online communities, or even run your own online groups, workshops, courses, masterminds, etc.

You have a wonderful opportunity right now to engage with anyone, anywhere in the world. Everyone is hungry for meaningful connection. Take advantage.

#3 Bad (and Unchecked) Work Habits

I used to work in a cubicle outside my boss’ office. I wasn’t always on task, but I certainly made sure that it looked like I was.

We’re social creatures, and we often rely on social accountability to make sure we get things done, especially less attractive tasks.

Working remotely (and becoming my own boss), I learned really quickly that I was now responsible for all my work habits. And if they were bad habits, I’d pay directly for them, through lost time, opportunities and income.

Even if you’re a salary employee, you’ve got to watch out for bad remote work habits because while they won’t necessarily detract from your income, they’ll definitely eat at your productivity and ensure that you work longer hours than you need to and bleed into your personal life. And that will likely lead to you feeling crummy about yourself and your work.

Top Tips

Here are two practices -- one old and one new -- that I lean on for supporting both my productivity and morale.

1. Set work hours and literally close the door on your work when the day is done. This is a work habit that I always have to keep in check. It’s so easy to let work seep into your evening and personal time when you have a home office.

So I keep a set schedule each week and make an effort, when the day is done, to put my computer to sleep, get up and shut the door to my office.

It’s an important ritual that signals both to me and my family that I’m off work and available.

2. Join a virtual co-working space. I’ve written about my love of Caveday before. I join "sprints" with the Caveday community via Zoom throughout my week to focus deeply and get into flow on creative projects and tasks that I might otherwise put off.

I love this productivity tool and community so much that I now lead “Caves” a couple times of week for the European time zone. If you want to try one for free, click here for more info and the code.

Even when the pandemic ends, remote working is definitely here to stay -- and it has so much to offer.

As I’d hoped when I first moved here, it's amazing to be able to do fulfilling work, connect meaningfully with people from around the world, and have a simple, flexible, independent lifestyle on this farm at the foot of the Pyrenees.

With some intention and focus, remote work can support you to enjoy your job more fully and have the lifestyle you’ve always wanted.

I hope these tips have given you some ideas on how to make it work better for you!