Peter
Why did you start WorkRemoteBetter?
With people starting to return to office after a long period of working from home and permanent remote and hybrid work becoming an option for many of us, it seemed important to try and figure out how to navigate this effectively and how to be most productive.
Setting up this site is a way to hear from others in a similar situation to us and I hope it can be a resource to anyone looking for more flexibility in their work and personal life.
What’s your remote working experience?
I’ve always worked full time in office until March of 2020 and the pandemic forced us to work from home. While there were significant obstacles - especially early on - I found myself to be much more happy and productive working remote and have since been approved for permanent remote work in my role as software engineer and moved to Dublin, Ireland.
What do you hope to see for WorkRemoteBetter.com in the future?
I hope to hear from others and have people contributing to our site and podcast, to help advocate for increased flexibility with employers and making remote and hybrid work in all its forms a reality for anyone who wants it.
Top tips for working remote?
Try to avoid distractions by having a separate work area set up for yourself and try to keep to a routine so you’re not tempted to procrastinate or work unreasonable hours.
Make sure you take care of ergonomics and your desk setup. I swear by my vertical mouse and split keyboard and being comfortable and avoiding injury is important if you’re behind your computer for a large part of the day.
Pauline
Why did you start WorkRemoteBetter.com?
Work-wise, nothing much changed when the pandemic hit and we were all forced to work from home full-time, but I did struggle with the isolation. I felt utterly alone, trapped inside my tiny studio room, and I was not prepared mentally for how removed I felt from my colleagues and friends.
My mental health did take a nosedive at this point, and WRB is born from that place of need for human contact. Working remotely can be challenging, and my hope is that WRB can be a useful resource to help other remote or hybrid workers cope with the issues and stay connected.
But more than that, I started WRB too out of the desire to advocate for work-life satisfaction (not balance. Balance is the ultimate myth!) and flexibility. I had seen my mother struggle for years at a job that tied her down to her desk and punished her for daring to have a life outside of work. I hope to make that a thing of the past.
What’s your remote working experience?
I’ve never had to work from the office, strictly, throughout my career as a journalist. I was always out and about, meeting sources, conducting interviews. My editors didn’t mind too much where I was, they cared for where my story was instead-- if my story was in the content management system on time, promptly and without delay, with minimal error, all was well. I am far more productive, happier, and more satisfied when I am left to my own devices: I like to work independently, I work hard to earn and keep the trust given to me and that keeps me disciplined.
What do you hope to see for WorkRemoteBetter.com in the future?
That WRB will be, above all, useful. I hope WRB will really help fellow remote/hybrid workers be more productive, satisfied and happy with their work situations, whatever those situations may be.
Top tips for working remote
Remember to stop, relax your shoulders, and look outside. Get a cup of coffee or tea. Listen to music while you work (if it helps). Establish a routine that suits you and your needs, whatever that routine may be.