The complete guide to remote work in 2024

If there is anything experiencing a pandemic taught the corporate world, it is that you do not need to sit across from your colleagues in an office. Remote work is now a thing and it’s here to stay. I would have loved it if everyone also learned that most meetings are unnecessary, but baby steps, I guess. 

With more companies embracing remote work and some offering it forever, you can finally say goodbye to commuting, stress, and traffic. There are no geographical restrictions with remote work, and talent is all that matters (and fast internet and reliable electricity, but that’s another issue). Do you want a break from forced TGIF activities and crave social distancing from your colleagues? Have no fear; I got you. This guide contains vital information to help your transition to remote work in 2022 and will cover the following;

• What is remote work?

• What are the benefits of remote work?

• What are the disadvantages of remote work?

• How to find remote work opportunities

• How to set up a remote workspace

• How to maintain a healthy work-life balance

• What are the best remote work platforms?

• How to stay focused and improve productivity when working remotely

• How to be a stellar team member as a remote worker

What is remote work?

Remote work or work from home (WFH) is done outside a company building or office space. Employees perform work from home or a co-working space either by choice or due to distance from the office space.

Remote workers can be part of a fully remote, distributed, or hybrid team.

Fully remote teams work for a company with no physical company space. So, all employees work from the comfort of their homes. All employees can be based in a single geographical location but only interact virtually.

Distributed teams refer to employees who work remotely from different countries or time zones. There could be a centralized office with other team members spread across Lagos, Ottawa, and California.

Hybrid teams work remotely but commute to the office occasionally, and it might be once weekly or twice monthly.

What are the benefits of remote work?

The growing trend of remote work is more appealing to professionals due to benefits such as; 

Less time spent commuting: Hell hath no fury like the streets of Lagos on a rainy day! I am indeed grateful I do not have to step out of the comfort of my house to get work done, and I do not miss spending all those hours in traffic.

Increased productivity: Less commuting results in less interaction with annoying humans and reduced stress. A study by a Professor of Economics at Stanford University reported that remote employees were 13.5 percent more efficient and 9 percent more engaged than those working out of the office. The study also said that remote employees reported shorter breaks and fewer sick days and took less time off work. 

Wider talent pool: With more companies embracing remote work, the talent pool is widening. You no longer have to be held back by geographical restrictions; the job of your dream is yours for the taking. You can apply for that job with the team based out of Nairobi from your home in Accra or go even bigger and apply for that role in Silicon Valley from Addis Ababa.

What are the disadvantages of remote work?

Remote work is not all sunny side up. There are downsides to not going into a physical office, such as;

Work-life balance: Remember when you could leave work and your colleagues by 5 pm? Now your team members forget that the end of their workday is 10 pm your time. An unhealthy work-life balance can increase your chances of burnout or breakdown.

Productivity: Guilt-free naps are one thing, but binge-watching a new Netflix show for 2 hours isn’t how you get work done. Distractions abound as you work remotely and can sometimes affect your ability to focus and be productive.

Social Interaction: Remote work can sometimes feel isolating and lack the feeling of camaraderie. Staring at a screen can get exhausting, and remote workers often miss interacting with their colleagues.

How to find remote work opportunities

With the increase in remote job opportunities, some job boards are dedicated explicitly to temporary or permanent remote opportunities.

You can find your remote job on job boards and websites such as; 

1. WeWorkRemotelyRemote.co

2. Flexjobs

3. Upwork  (for freelancers)

4. Fiverr (for freelancers)

5. Tamborine (for roles across Africa)

6. You can also network on LinkedIn and check out the jobs section.

How to set up a remote workspace

After securing your remote job, boot your productivity by setting up a remote workspace. No, your bed or couch doesn’t count. Designate a part of your room or house and organize it. Your ideal home office should have a door, but a well-lit space works just as well if there are space constraints.

Get ergonomic furniture to provide comfort and support, such as a desk and chair; you could also consider a standing desk. Invest in a fast, reliable internet connection and work tools such as a laptop, noise-canceling headphones, an external keyboard, or other devices according to your work needs. Decorate your space according to your taste with a painting or potted plant.

Your remote workspace should provide a blissful environment to boost your productivity and minimize distraction. But, if you crave the structure the office provides, you can register at a co-working space.

How to maintain a healthy work-life balance as a remote worker

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is vital, especially when working from home. You should set a schedule daily and designate a time for a break(s). A work schedule promotes productivity during your working hours. You should also track the time and avoid going down the rabbit hole of endless meetings and passive-aggressive responses to emails. We know you do not care if Angela’s day is going well, so track your time and set reminders for your lunch break or a quick stretch. 

What are the best remote work platforms?

When you check out job ads, you might see specific requests for proficiency in remote collaboration tools dependent on the role. 

Project management tools such as Basecamp, Notion, Trello, Asana, and Proofhub. Communication tools such as Slack and Zoom and others like Toggl, Lumen5, Wave Apps, Transferwise, 1password, and Google suite.

How to stay focused and improve productivity when working remotely

Boost your productivity and remain focused by doing the following;

1. Set up your workspace

2. Eliminate/minimize distractions by turning off non-work-related notifications such as personal emails or social media accounts.

3. Set a work schedule to create a routine by selecting a start and end time that you will follow daily.

4. Plan by tracking your meetings, tasks, etc.

5. Track the time

6. Dress up for work to create a semblance of order and routine.

7. Set daily goals to remain motivated

How to be a stellar team member as a remote worker

Communication: Communication is the bedrock of remote work, and interacting with teammates makes them more than faces on your screen. Communicate clearly and openly to bridge any gaps. Effective communication limits misunderstanding.

Collaboration: Interact with your team members by collaborating on tasks and requesting and offering help.

Accountability: Do your job. Your team members should be able to trust you to move projects along. No one wants to do your work while you slack off constantly. Prove your value to the team by attending to your tasks and building trust. You should accept constructive criticism when given and strive to achieve the team’s goals.

Respect people’s time: Schedule meetings when necessary and do not drag them out for longer than they should be. Respect your team members’ work-life balance by knowing the ideal time to reach out and when not to. Know when to clock out.

Take breaks: This is not the suffer-head Olympics; your productivity affects the team. Prevent burnout and decrease in productivity by taking breaks

Team Bonding: Participate in team-building activities. Ask friendly questions about the hobbies or interests of your teammates and improve your socializing and interpersonal skills.

Remote work is here to stay, and switching to remote work can be thrilling, but you should know the pros and cons and weigh your options before jumping in. Remember that you don’t need to stay in the same room as your teammates to do your work, but remote work still requires you to do great work.