Remote working can be a liberating and enjoyable experience, but it can also be a strain over the longer term, particularly for those who get their energy from the company of others. Of course, it’s not just extroverts to struggle with remote working; everyone can feel the strain when they’ve been working at home over a long period. So here we’ve gathered a few tips to help you stay motivated and positive while remote working over the longer term.
Facing loneliness head-on
One of the biggest issues with remote work is loneliness. According to a survey by All Things Hair, 58.89% of people experienced increased loneliness as a result of working remotely, compared to just 26.76% who did not.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to combat this. Reaching out to friends through social media and video calls, joining classes or clubs either online or in person and pursuing sporting activities with friends and colleagues are just a few examples of this. Of course, as life slowly gets back to normal, there’s also more scope for social activities outside of your working hours. If you’re working from home and feeling isolated, pack your non-working time with social engagements and other people-based activities to achieve a better balance.
Self-care and motivation
Setting some time aside for self-care is also important. Self-care means different things to different people. It could mean a new hairdo, a relaxing bath, some down time spent playing video games, reading a book, cooking a nice meal, etc. Whatever self-care means to you, make sure you include some time for it in your diary. By taking the time out to be the best you can be, you’ll feel more positive and more motivated at work.
Share your feelings
It’s also important to speak to the people you work with if you’re feeling less than your best whilst working remotely. You won’t be the first to have felt that way and you certainly won’t be the last. By reaching out to your colleagues and, importantly, your manager, you will give your company the opportunity to do something about the situation. If you don’t speak to them about it, they won’t be able to help.
It could also help to join a group related to your work. Across business-focused social networks, there is plenty of support out there for all manner of job roles. Whether you are a solopreneur or work for a giant corporation, they will be groups out there that allow you to connect with your peers. Engaging with your peers can do much to help keep up your levels of motivation and positivity.
Define your goals
If you work for yourself, there’s also plenty you can do around targets and goal-setting that can help you stay focused and motivated. Find a goal-setting system that works for you, set some targets and get to work ticking them off the list.
When you’re feeling positive and motivated, you’ll be able to deliver better results at work and feel happy about doing so. Take some time to work out what you need to change if you’re not feeling your best.
