The Honest Conversation from Collab Fabrik Team

Yes, freelance and remote work are on the rise. They make more and more people believe that office life is a thing of the past and the dream life - having money and not having to leave your house to get it - is within their grasp.

But as with anything that seems too good to be true, there are downsides to this work arrangement that people don't often talk about. In the interest of full disclosure, this article discusses some freelance and remote work challenges.

Who's on the Phone?

Hi! It's Emily - a non-remote worker in the Armenia-based SEO agency, a remote worker for the US-based link-building agency, a freelance content writer at Collab Fabrik and a lecturer of offline lessons at a local marketing school.?

Jumping from one type of work to another for over three years, I've had my fair share of experience with remote and freelance employment challenges.

And the best takeaway is that most of these internal challenges have more to do with ourselves than with the work set-up itself.?

Before I open my heart to you, let's quickly define the two main types of work I'm going to talk about so that we're on the same page.?

Freelancer and Remote Worker | A Quick Recap on Terminology?

A freelancer is an individual who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long-term. They often work project to project basis and have multiple clients at any given time.

A remote worker is employed by one company. However, remote workers do not have to be physically present in the office to do their job.

We often use these terms interchangeably. Meanwhile, there is a big distinction between the two. One of the crucial differences is that remote workers have the discipline and schedule of their employer company. In contrast, freelancers have more freedom regarding working hours and their processes.

Now, as things are clear, let's move to the main challenges you will likely meet when working remotely.

Challenge #1: You MUST Become Your Planning & Discipline Hero?

Why do so many companies invest big sums of money into renting or building office space for their employees?

The answer is – to get everyone to do the job within the set time frame. In other words, to ensure team members commit to the company’s common goal with their full potential.

The office atmosphere, with its necessary infrastructure of work, constant interaction with the team and a sense of common goal, helps individuals to focus on work and avoid distractions.

On the contrary, remote and freelance employees are more prone to procrastination and lack of motivation. Anything happening in their living space can distract them easily.

(Agree, it's harder to concentrate on work when your bed is right next to you and there is a never-ending stream of social media notifications coming through.)

And here’s when the importance of self-discipline and strict planning comes into play. If you want to be a successful remote or freelance worker, you MUST become your own manager. You should set up working hours, deadlines, and goals and stick to them.

Solution: Develop a Routine?

As a remote worker, set a clear routine for your working day and stick to it as much as possible. Get up at the same time every day, have breakfast, work for set hours, take a lunch break, and so on.

For freelancers who don’t have a classical working day, I recommend setting a goal for the number of hours they want to work every day and allocating time slots to different tasks. This way, you will not lose the sense of time and avoid working around the clock. Additionally, you will not take on more work than you can handle, a common mistake among freelancers.

In other words, both as a remote and freelance worker, your goal is not to let your body and mind get used to the idea that there is no work-life boundary and you can do whatever you want whenever you feel like it.?

At first, you will like the freedom this lifestyle brings (younger me will prove this). However, constantly mixing work and personal life can eventually lead to anxiety, stress, and a decrease in productivity.

Visualize Your Tasks

My favorite is Trello. It’s a project management tool that allows you to create digital boards with tasks and then move them from one stage to another as you progress. This way, you can have an overview of all the work that needs to be done, which is excellent for developing a plan of action.

Below you can see one of my ongoing projects with a small team. We use Trello to brainstorm ideas, assign tasks, and track our progress.

The crucial point here is to update the board regularly to ensure everyone is on the same page and no task gets forgotten.

If Trello does not work for you, feel free to find an alternative that suits your needs.

Challenge #2: You Need to Put More Effort Into Staying Connected with Your Remote Team?

Staying connected to the team means more than just being able to communicate with them via email, chat or video conferencing.

It's about feeling like you're a part of the team, sharing the same values and working towards the same goal.

According to research, teams that feel connected demonstrate a 21% increase in profitability. Moreover, connectedness in the team decreases employee absenteeism by 41% and 59% fewer employees want to leave connected teams.

When you’re attending the office, the level of connection is usually high. You see your team members daily, you have lunch breaks together, and you can easily approach anyone with a question or problem.

This energy and connection are harder to maintain when everyone is in a different location.

Harder but not impossible ;)

Solution: Use Every Chance to Engage with the Team

Here are some tactics that help me a lot.

1. Use every chance to meet your team. Don’t miss teambuilding, drop-bys to other offices or other company events. From time to time, visit your team in their location, or organize company-wide meetups.?
2. Use technology to your advantage if you can't be there in person. Use virtual collaboration tools like Miro, Zoom, and alternatives to connect to the team and facilitate teamwork, no matter where everyone is. Enjoy virtual coffee breaks to get closer to your team members through interesting discussions.?

To summarize, use every chance to establish and maintain healthy professional and personal relationships with your team. The connection will make it easier to work together. It will increase the team’s overall productivity as well.

Challenge #3: You Should Find Ways to Avoid Loneliness?

Want a secret? I once cried on the Eve of New Year, realizing most of my friends were preparing or already had fun at their corporate NY parties.

It was the moment I realized for the first time that I DO MISS SOCIAL INTERACTION AT WORK. That’s when I applied for full-time employment at the office in Armenia, with a real desire to commute to the office every day, see people and have some real human interaction (not the small talk kind).

Well, it might be that I’m just “too extrovert,” as my friends usually tell me, but the challenge of loneliness is a very real one for many remote workers – for around 81% of under-35 remote employees, as a recent study shows.

Well, what to do with it?

Solution: Embrace Your Inner Social Butterfly

The key is to be proactive and take matters into your own hands. If you feel like you need more social interaction, there are many things you can do to make it happen.

• Work from co-working spaces near you. It's a great way to meet like-minded people, make new friends, and feel like a community.
• Meet your friends for coffee or lunch breaks.
• Get yourself a furry friend. Numerous studies prove that having a pet can help reduce stress and anxiety and make you feel more connected and social.
• Attend public events and meetups related to your interests.

Before I Say Goodbye

Remote and freelance working is an excellent gift of the 21st-century approaches to work and human resources management. And while it means more freedom, we should treat this workstle with caution and responsibility.

If you can handle the increased pressure of responsibility and self-discipline, you will be rewarded with a high degree of freedom, independence, and flexibility.

Well, that seems to be it for now. I hope this article was helpful and that you found some solutions to your challenges. With that being said, I wish you all the best of luck in your remote career!

Find the Best Remote Jobs with Collab Fabrik

Collab Fabrik is an Employer of Record and a remote hiring agency in one that hires talent from Armenia and Georgia for European small and medium-sized startup companies.

If you want to expand your career and find employment opportunities beyond local boundaries, send your CV to [email protected]. We will get in touch very soon!