7 Essential Lessons You Can Learn From Working Remotely

Apr 10, 2020

Working in a traditional office environment and working from home have their own advantages. But today, let’s put our focus on remote work - especially that we’re dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak. There are certain lessons we can gain by working from home that are worth appreciating. Let’s explore each one in today’s article.

1. Work isn’t limited to a shared office setting

When we talk about work, we imagine office kitchen conversations, cubicle desks, daily commutes, and businesswear. Working remotely strips that stereotype away. Because of this, professions are no longer limited to a collaborative working environment. Any activity that generates money through services can be called work, regardless of whether it’s done in the office or home.

2. Treasure your colleagues

Getting busy with officemates is fun and the social interaction during and after office hours is one great perk. Then we move towards working from home, we do kind of miss being in the company of our officemates. This is where we learn to treat our colleagues kindly and with respect. It’s not only about the quality of work they yield that dictates their worth as a person but also how they make us feel personally.

3. Always do your best anytime and anywhere

In a company, attendance often controls the payroll. In a remote work setting, your performance dictates your value. How is this so? When your employer doesn’t get to see you working personally, all they have to do is evaluate your product. Your promptness and friendly attitude will no longer be enough. You have to show measurable results as well. This encourages us to strive in complying with our attendance and performance.

4. Don’t take your health and time for granted

Remote work minimizes the risk of being exposed to environmental pollutants. Think: Daily commute. You can say goodbye to rush hour traffic. Comparing these experiences makes you think about how much you've neglected your personal health and well-being. Now that you’ve realized it, always put yourself first before work this time.

5. Discipline is an important value to possess

Offices are riddled with eyes and cameras, which means that there’s less chance to slack off. Whereas when you work at home, you have all the luxury to do what you want. If you do too much slacking though, it will backfire and affect your work. But if you have self-control and know how to prioritize things, you’re bound to succeed. Bottom line: Stay focused on your goals by avoiding distractions that are detrimental to your lifestyle.

6. Trust is essential to make relationships work

Gaining an employer’s trust is hard especially if you don’t get to meet personally. The only way to get on their good side is to say what you do and do what you say. In life, it is beneficial to have a reputation for being a man of your word to increase opportunities, regardless of whether you work together in person or virtually.

7. Time management drives us to success

Remote work gives you the flexibility of working to your own accord yet it shouldn’t encourage procrastination. This helps you to identify what part of the day you’re more productive, how many hours you can work, and how long until your body needs a break. The lesson learned here is: Everyone has their own pace in life, and by allowing them to follow that, success is certain.

Working from home is a new life adventure to experience amidst the pandemic situation. Learn to appreciate your working life now and compare it to your previous work situation. You can find that these differences teach meaningful lessons.