Two (2) years ago, when the coronavirus hadn’t yet caused havoc to people and businesses, people, particularly the millennials, were already immersed in technology.
However, when the pandemic outbreak continued to worsen, technology had taken it to the next level. Some might think, the deterioration of the situation only gave burden and despair to people, but that is not limited to that.
When technology set foot amidst the pandemic, it actually shed light on new opportunities —- the new era of remote work.
In fact, a Mercer study cited by Emily Courtney in her article “Remote Work Statistics: Navigating the New Normal,” revealed that 70% of companies are now planning to adopt the hybrid work model or the flexible working arrangement where employees can work onsite and offsite.
Going digital is indeed a major leap that enabled people and businesses to continue despite uncertainties. With the rapidly changing environment, are you up going virtual?
If yes, join me as we tackle exciting topics about remote works along with its how’s and why’s.
What is Remote Work?
When the pandemic struck, this term began to be used and started to dominate major headlines.
Remote work, also called the Work-from-Home (WFH) setup, refers to the manner of working where the employees aren’t required to do their duties inside the workplace and/or company establishments. Instead, they are compelled to accomplish their work in their own private spaces at home using various digital tools.
This type of work had gradually been put in the spotlight when the outbreak persisted months after the surge. Businesses adopted it as an alternative way of sustaining their business’ needs.
Benefits of Remote Work
Flexibility
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By adopting the remote work setup, employees are more focused on their own pace and time, allowing them to have a flexible schedule which is extremely beneficial, particularly for people with too many plates served in front of them.
A flexible schedule comes with the fact that you get to balance your work and personal life, such as running errands, spending more time with family, and doing household chores, all while working on your work goals.
Convenience
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One of the perks of staying at home while working is you get to maximize your time and efforts.
No more hours consumed going insane keeping up with, oftentimes, problematic workplace environments, and most importantly, no more hours of traveling and commuting.
Going virtual eliminates these stressful commuting episodes which are actually beneficial as Owl lab survey revealed, “Remote employees save an average of 40 minutes daily from commuting.” Therefore, people have a lot more time in their hands juggling their work and personal life.
The convenience of staying at home while earning. No stress in commuting. Fewer expenses, extra savings.
What’s more into that?
Reduced Cost
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Remote work is indeed beneficial for employees, but that is not limited to that. Businesses and employers also got some pieces from the pie. As the employees got to work offsite, companies became free from paying large sums of money from utilities and/or rent charges.
In fact, findings revealed that “companies benefit from the improvement in work-life balance, which can lead to increased motivation and reduction in the need for office space and associated costs.”
This is according to the research published by Eurofound and the International Labour Office (2017) and authored by Messenger et. al “Working anytime, anywhere: The effects on the world of work.” Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, and the International Labour Office, Geneva.
How to work remotely and effectively
Going remote is actually going digital. Now, my question for you is, are you equipped?
Let’s dig further and unfold some facts on how to work remotely from anywhere in the world. Take out your checklist and let’s get started!
Secure your tools
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Gone are the days when you start working carrying and tripping over the piles of papers lying everywhere at your office. With remote work, you do not need to come up against that anymore.
Just go online and set up your digital collaboration tools such as a good functioning laptop or your personal computer (PC), printer/scanner, and stable internet connectivity.
For further security and convenience, you may also want to purchase cloud storage to store all your important files and access them effortlessly. As such, your work would not slow up, but instead, will promote higher productivity.
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Be digitally literate
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Shifting into the digital path also comes with being required to be digitally literate. For employees and employers, learning how to navigate online platforms and systems, absorbing information in a digital form, and being able to connect with your team will make work efficient and avoid time misspending.
The scope of the digital world is limitless. You can use different types of applications and websites to keep you onboard and sailing. Sites such as Astoundify have lots to offer in expanding your digital horizon.
From being a rookie into a tech-savvy individual, begin nurturing yourself with Astoundify.
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Set up your home office
Embracing technology in remote work presents a lot of opportunities.
From being in a social bubble working with people down to your own personal workspace. For some people, it is crucial to have a quiet and peaceful workspace to avoid diverse kinds of distractions such as barking dogs, loud stereo music, and everything that can hamper and distract them from focusing on their work.
Working remotely isn’t the same as working in an office anymore. Though it offers freedom and convenience in a lot of ways, people should still be prepared and equipped with the necessary tools, skills, and environment to perform the tasks effectively.
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Structure your work schedule
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Although remote setup allows you to work in a flexible environment, it is still important to ensure that your goals are met in the allotted time frame.
True to be told, when you are engaged in this kind of setup, you are the driver of your time. But decision-wise, it is still better to shove aside unnecessary activities and close first a deadline.
In such a manner, you’ll avoid being bombarded with too many dues at the end of the month and your work-from-home experience will not be too complex to handle.
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Take breaks
Whether you are remote working through overseas employment or you’re an employer yourself, try to reward yourself with simple rest and break every other accomplishment.
According to research published in The Wellbeing Thesis, taking breaks helps you maximize your productivity as well as boosts performance. Therefore, even in a remote setup, it is still advisable that from time to time, you take your well-deserved rest.
Indeed, the world is constantly changing and as mere tenants, we can’t do anything but adapt and absorb these changes.
Back in the days when the pandemic still had no face, remote work was rare. However, when the outbreak proliferated, it suddenly walked through and introduced itself. Then we just realized, we are again adapting and integrating the maximum use of technology into our daily lives.
We are continuously adapting.
And we will continue to.
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