How To: Work Remotely

By Lindsey Coleman

Remote work has changed the mindset of companies around the globe, offering opportunities for employees to have more flexibility and for employers to have less overhead while maintaining effectiveness.

However, for many, working from outside an office setting is new, and the spaces we’re working from may or may not be setting us up for success. Pre-pandemic, fewer than four percent of Americans were working exclusively from home — a number that rose to 43 percent in May 2020 and steadied at 25 percent in September 2021, according to Gallup. Many have adapted well to this change of environment and deviation from the “norm,” but as more job postings are listed as fully remote, many are going to be learning for the first time how to work remotely.

Here are a few tips of how to set yourself up for success in your remote work:

1. Separate life and work.

“Make sure you set boundaries and expectations of when you’re available and responsive. It’s easy to check Slack and email ‘just once more’ and never really check out of your work headspace,” said Sarah Aubrey, Managing Director at gener8tor. “It’s not about how long you work, but about what you get done and the quality of it,” said Fayth Glock, Content Writer and Strategist for Destiny Rescue USA.

2. Be intentional with your relationships.

“It’s more challenging to build relationships virtually. I manage a team of ten people I’ve only met on video and must be more intentional about getting to know them as people and creating that ‘organic’ conversation space that exists in an office,” explained Christie Sprunger, Sales Manager for an educational technology SaaS company.

Christie Sprunger

3. Take full advantage of the flexibility.

“I can take a quick walk or attend a quick appointment in the middle of the day without disrupting my team, and in general I feel like I have better control over my own time,” Sprunger said. “Don’t skip meals. Work out or go on a walk in the day if you need to. Design a schedule that’s healthy for your mind, body, and soul,” Glock said.

4. Work where you want.

Many work from their homes, but some utilize dedicated coworking spaces in our area. These include Start Fort Wayne’s The Atrium, the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center’s Flexspace, and Utopian Coffee’s Paper Mill Workspace, among others. Or, make the most of remote work and travel while working, if your job allows. “Now that my husband and I are both remote, it allows us to occasionally travel together while working. When I traveled for work to New Orleans last month, he joined me midweek and got another pass to the coworking spot I was at - it was great to both work during the day and explore the city at night!” Aubrey said.

5. Create a space that’s ideal for you.

“My ideal work environment is a quiet space with no other people, some natural light, a comfy chair with a desk, water, and coffee, and maybe some instrumental music playing. A lit candle is an extra bonus,” Glock said. “I have two kids under five who have trouble understanding mommy is working, so I work 99 percent of the time from The Atrium downtown… I’d love to have a home office, but it’s just too difficult to establish a quiet and focused environment with young children,” Sprunger said.

“[Remote work] has dramatically improved my life. It’s allowed me to be with the people I love more, get more done in less time due to fewer distractions, and my company values the quality and work completed more than how long I worked,” Glock said. “There is honestly nothing I miss about going into an office every day.” a