Working remotely does not mean “Always online”(3 min read)

Remote work or working from home are commonly used terms in the vocabulary of a knowledge worker.

Work-Life balance is another term that is often discussed at length. I personally do not agree with the term and how it sounds. I prefer to use ‘life balance’. Work as an activity does not conflict with life, like other activities work happens as you live through the game of life. Life is what you live. Work is one of the things you do as part of life. They go together and are not in conflict with each other.

Working from an office and working remotely each have unique advantages to offer.
I love what I do, so for me work brings joy. My family is very important to me. And they do not compete with my work for my time – no ones family should. Work, Family, personal time, hobbies etc are all activities we must do. Its part of our karma. Each of these activities fulfill an important goal (like paying the bills) and all these activities in your life are to be done harmoniously.

Striking the balance

If there is a form of imbalance of activities in one’s life, only you can define what looks like the ‘right balance’ and you must introspect to answer that question. There are many forms of work which can help me pay my bills, maybe the one form that you are engaged in is not in harmony with your life goals. In such a case, pick another path (form of work) that is aligned with your life goals. That’s one way to seeking ‘life balance’

choosing responsibly

The idea of working responsibly is not very well understood by most and once an individual or a group of individuals understand ‘working responsibly’ – the work-life balance discussion gets muted quickly.

• Working at the office – critical to meet people, get to know them better, build relationships
• Working from home – flexibility of time & space, fewer distractions, higher focus & concentration, get more done, higher availability to family

In my view, depending on who you are and your goals, the balance comes from making the right choices. Working from home does not spoil one’s life balance, instead it can enhance it. It brings the individual more control (remember, its a privilege) to bring your life in better balance.
For me working from home means I’m committed to my goals & deadlines while exercising the privilege build flexibility into my schedule. In short, I do what I need to get things done.

When it comes to my time, Its my responsibility to define the boundaries on where and how I spend it. When I make a choice, the accountability of the choice resides with me. With all kinds of ‘power’ there comes responsibility.

Remote work is a gift for both employees and employers. If it involves people, good communication is the key to success. We need to have a clear agreed upon goal. And use the privilege responsibly.

I have found the following to work –

• Be transparent. Look ahead, avoid surprises. Be clear on goals.
• Set expectations. Define boundaries.
• Communicate. Remember to be transparent

These days, we are working from home and its our only option due to the ongoing pandemic. And while it isn’t a choice, we can all still choose how we will make the most out of ‘working remotely’ and experience all the benefits of working from home first hand.

A touch more of communication + a little bit of transparency = Opens up a lot more flexibility in getting work done