Making the switch to remote working should’ve been simple.
The description is in the name after all. Just work from anywhere except the office.
If only it were that easy.
While the allure of less commuting and a more family-friendly schedule drew me to the world of remote work, I soon discovered that it comes with its own set of challenges.
As a mum of three and a General Manager with Freelance business on the side, I consider myself to be a flexible working expert. But it hasn’t always been that way. I made mistakes early on that chipped away at my productivity and professionalism.
Here are five traps that I fell into, and my best remote working tips to help you avoid them.
1. Assuming I needed to kit out a complete home office
When I officially started working remotely, mentally I went shopping. I’m not alone, there are entire Pinterest boards dedicated to home office chic.
My argument centred around the need for dual screens, I need a monitor to work because constantly toggling between tabs isn’t a good use of anyone's time.
The monitor I planned to lug home from the office would need a nice sturdy desk, dedicated power board and enough connections to require an expensive (but visually pleasing) cable management system.
Of course I’d also need a special chair, lamp and maybe a printer and a stack of unopened Post Its for good measure. I could easily have dedicated two weeks to working on this fitout.