<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_yellow.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_yellow.svg" width="40px" /> This page is part of The Toolbox by Danny Smith.
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Like anything, remote working can be tough at times. The first and most important thing to remember is that remote working presents a whole new set of challenges – and we'd be lying to ourselves if we pretended that they didn't exist. The only way to address these challenges is to talk openly and transparently about them.
The advice below has helped a lot of folks to take better care of themselves in a remote environment, but it's by no means exhaustive since everyone's needs are different. And as in any community, everyone in your company has a responsibility to look after each other. No Top Tips can replace that.
"There is always more to do, and when you work remotely, there is no one to tell you to go home or that the office is closing, so it has to be YOU who decides when to stop. You have to decide that the rest of your life is worth making space for, and not let work take over that time" – Kate Stull, Co-founder at Popforms
Over-working is extremely common among remote workers. It's so easy for work hours to accidentally extend into the evenings and weekends – especially if your team spans multiple timezones where work is always happening.
Eventually, this results in burnout. At best, it causes low-level stress and tiredness. At worst, it can have a disastrous effect on mental health.
The root causes of this kind of overwork are usually:
Make sure you're very clear on what's expected of you and what you're happy doing. If you don't do this work hours will stretch. Your manager and everyone on your team should be super clear on your working hours under normal circumstances (e.g. 09:00-18:00 EST Mon-Fri) and when you're working / not working.
You should be very clear that nobody expects you to work or be responsive outside your normal hours.
It's your job to clearly communicate this to others, and enforce it in your own life. It's your manager's job to help you do this if you find it hard.