Q&A: How organized do you need to be as a remote worker?
By: Laurel Farrer
Q: Do I need to be highly organized to be a remote worker?
A: Great question! To be honest, I used to think the answer to this was "yes" because I am Type A and could easily see how my organization habits helped me with my time and task management as an autonomous worker. However, as I’ve connected with hundreds of remote workers over the years, I’ve noticed that the common thread of successful work management isn’t organization, it’s self-discipline. Are you in control of your time, your tasks, and your energy? If so, you will be a remote rock star.
How do you determine your level of professional self-discipline? Start by asking yourself these questions:
- Do you know when your appointments and/or deadlines are? Are you able to meet them?
- Do you know what your highest priorities are each day?
- Do you have strategies to combat “slumps” (or dips in motivation and/or creativity) when they happen?
- When you get distracted, are you able to address the distraction later or to get back to your original task quickly and easily?
- Can you communicate honestly and efficiently with your team?
- Do you know where to find important or recent information? Can you access it easily?
- Do you have effective methods for yourself that increase your productivity?
Obviously, the goal is to be able to answer all of those questions with a “yes” response, but you don’t have to get there with an alphabetized checklist or color-coded calendar. In fact, a lack of organization can often be a plus that allows a worker to be more flexible and spontaneous, which is crucial in distributed team dynamics. Be aware of your own habits and strategies and implement them in your own unique way to best support your personality, your location, and your work.
What are some of your tips for staying organized as a remote worker? Tweet us @yonder_io with your favorite habits or strategies!
Laurel Farrer is the COO here at Yonder. She always has a notebook and pen within arm's reach, never sits with both feet on the floor, and drives (safely) without depth perception.