It’s 2022, two years post-shutdown, which means none of us are strangers to the remote working lifestyle. We’ve learned to adapt to working from home during the pandemic— and many small businesses have shifted to remote-only operations. 

Working remotely isn’t a new trend by any means, but there’s a clear distinction between simply doing your job remotely and being successful while working from home. I’ve seen this in my own business and industry. To be completely honest with you, not everyone is naturally good at working remotely— which is okay! There are certain things you can do to help you be a successful remote employee, business owner, or contractor (real pants optional).

Running your business remotely doesn’t mean face time should be off the table.

I know remote working can make meeting in person seem like a huge inconvenience, but meeting face-to-face with clients or employees every now and then is important. Find a meeting cadence that works for you (for example, quarterly meetings) and make it a priority. Meeting in person will help you build trust, credibility, and camaraderie— all of which are extremely important to have with the people you work with.

Boundaries are key for avoiding burnout.

You can’t exactly clock out and leave your work at the office when you work from home. It’s essential to learn early on that you do not have to always be available simply because you don’t work from a physical office. The boundaries get pretty blurry when you can simply open your laptop and check a few things off your list…which can quickly turn into a bad habit of overworking, missing time with loved ones, and not giving yourself the rest you need. 

The solution? Set “office hours” for yourself and stick to them. Communicate when you’ll be available and when you won’t be, and don’t allow yourself to bend that boundary (trust me, I know how answering one email turns into working for another two hours). I promise your business, job, or client won’t fall apart if you aren’t available 24/7. 

One more thing: don’t work weekends.

Take breaks, even if you have to intentionally schedule them into your day.

Don’t fall into the trap that you’re “too busy” to take a break. I know your plate is full, but breaks are essential for your productivity, and they shouldn’t be an optional part of our day. You’re a human, which means you were not made to work like a machine at full blast all day, every day. Breaks will help you generate new ideas, maintain your passion for your work, and overall help your general mental and physical health.

Set an alarm or a reminder on your phone for a time that works best for you. When that alarm goes off, step away from your computer (you can do it!) and take a break. Move your body if you can. Once your break time is up, you’ll be back at your desk feeling refreshed and ready to take on the rest of your day.

Personally, I love working remotely, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. These few tips have helped me maintain my work/life balance and enjoy working from home even more! If you want to chat about these tips or you’re interested in how I can help your small business grow (from home, might I add), I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a note and I’ll connect with you in your inbox!