In addition to interning for Greenline, I spent the last four months of 2022 exploring Greece and traveling all around Europe. This incredible experience taught me countless things about the world - as well as remote work. Sitting in a cafe in Athens, Greece inspired me on a different level. When experiencing new things, you’re fostering new ways of thinking and creating. Now, I continue my internship with a new view on remote work.
The pandemic changed everyone’s perspective on working. As a result, digital workplaces are increasingly becoming the future of work as they give employees the flexibility to work from any location without losing out on productivity. In fact, according to Avanade’s definitive digital workplace research, organizations have seen a 67% increase in productivity, a 53% increase in employee engagement, and a 43%increase in revenue by implementing digital workplaces.
Digital nomads are people who travel freely while working remotely using technology and the internet. I came across this concept while I was in Greece, as I newly fit into this category. In 2021, there were approximately 35 million digital nomads globally. This is largely due to the new research that shows people don’t need to be physically in the office to be productive. In fact, one study reported that remote workers tend to be 35-40% more productive than in-office workers. As remote work continues to grow as a more feasible option and offer more freedom to people and businesses all over the world, there is a rising opportunity to pack your bags and move, travel, and explore new places. This is a great opportunity for young creatives in particular to experience a new side of the world and gain a new perspective. Expanding your cultural repertoire is a catalyst for creativity. A study done by Frederic Godart explored the link between time spent abroad and creativity among top designers and directors. The study found that the more time they spent - not just living - but working in foreign countries, the more innovative their designs were.
Working remotely isn’t always a walk in the park. Getting the most out of working from anywhere requires you to adapt and overcome challenges. There are a lot of elements that can deter your success, but if you can combat the bumps in the road, you just might change the way you work.
Working in any environment can be distracting. Whether you’re in Greece, or at home, there are always other things to do, places to go, and sights to see. Getting into a routine is the best way to keep yourself on track. Set aside blocks of time to get things done. Although things might disrupt your routine here and there, learning to adapt and reconvene is an important skill to have with a #WorkFromAnywhere lifestyle.
We all know a FaceTime call is different from a hug from your best friend. The same is true when it comes to remote work. In-person relationships are the foundation of deeper relationships. After all, that’s why experiential and event marketing work so well. Seeing someone every day might not be necessary, but in my opinion, it’s important to meet in person periodically. However, staying connected with people while you work remotely helps develop relationships, it’s just a bit of a different dynamic. It can be hard to communicate with people from halfway across the world, but leveraging remote work tools, asking questions to get to know others, and using collaboration (either sync or async) on work projects makes a big difference.
Even when you love what you do, giving 100% all the time isn’t always an option. For me, the best way to work through periods that lack motivation is to divide things into smaller segments. Looking ahead at what you need to do and setting smaller due dates for yourself. Checking in with your team is another way to reactivate your energy, you’re all in this together, whether you are physically with them or not.
Working remotely can encourage happier, healthier, and higher quality work when you approach it the right way. Working remotely can give you more freedom to set your own schedule. In the office, you might get a lunch break if you are lucky, but working remotely allows you to build things into your day, like walking your dog or working out. In fact, in one study, 72% of the 1,000 remote workers surveyed say that one reason they enjoy working from home is that it allows them to take a nap or exercise during the day. Switching gears for a while allows you to process what you are doing and generate more creative ideas. That being said, it’s crucial to set a routine for yourself to make sure you don’t get sucked into your screen or distracted from not working.
We rarely let our phone or computer batteries get to 0%, so we shouldn’t let our bodies either. When you unplug and replug in throughout the day, you are allowing yourself to recharge to 100%. We need to allow ourselves - and those we work with - the flexibility to set aside time for deep work and to refresh throughout the day. The 12-hour workday was based on the sky, not human needs. Create daily routines where skills are met with the opportunity to get in a flow and dive into your work, but also take a step back. Working remotely gives you a greater opportunity to change your focus throughout the day to keep things interesting and exciting.
Remind yourself to move. Get up and stretch, dance it out, take a 5-minute walk, anything that gets your blood flowing. Set an hourly reminder on your phone if you have to, even just listening when your Apple watch tells you to stand can make a difference. Stand up and take a few deep breaths whenever you are able to, it’s a way to take a moment and re-center yourself. I promise you, it works. Moving your body, even just a little bit, creates a natural adrenaline rush that helps you feel refreshed.
Things come up. Whether you’re talking about meetings or deadlines, waiting until the very last second adds unnecessary stress. Give yourself some buffer time between tasks and appointments. Instead of scheduling 60-minute meetings, try 50 minutes allowing yourself a 10-minute buffer. Give yourself a few seconds to organize your thoughts and plan the next steps while the topic is fresh. This small break gives you a chance to reset and refocus, so you can be fully present for your next meeting or task at hand.
We’ve all heard about all the empty office space companies are holding onto. Hybrid work approaches are the perfect in-between. Even if you have an at-home office, you can implement this by going out to lunch or meeting with a co-worker or even a client in person. The advances in technology and their applications in the business world will continue to shape the future of how and where we get things done. As the world becomes increasingly digital and communication methods grow, so will our work. It’s important to remember that nothing will ever beat the connections formed through in-person experiences, especially after the pandemic. But when done correctly, working remotely can be beneficial to your success and creativity.