Ways to improve your work/life balance working remotely!

As a fully remote company, I want to ensure everyone at Skale ?? still feels like part of the team and embraces our collaborative working culture!?Working remotely, and having a flexible schedule, is definitely a huge perk so we should enjoy it and make it work for us!

I have put together my top tips on achieving a good work/life balance ????♀? whilst working remotely, linked to our Skale core values - these can apply to anyone though so hopefully you find some of them helpful!

?? Be Collaborative

Just because you aren’t sitting next to your colleague, you can still work on projects together! Arranging a virtual coffee ?? is a great way to feel connected, and you can use that opportunity to get to know them better and discuss any work queries.

Keeping in communication with the team via Slack and email are great - there are also a number of Slack channels related to each industry, and becoming part of a remote community can be a great way to meet new people. ??

Onboarding and training can feel different when doing it remotely!?That’s why reaching out for support when you need it is even more important, as nobody will notice unless you speak up.?Whether that is asking your manager for support on a project, or speaking to your HR team about any general queries you have, don’t struggle alone as everyone is there to support you.

?? Be Exceptional

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut of doing your job and feel like you’re not moving forward.?Finding out which training courses are available is important for career development - don’t be shy to ask which courses are available to you.?Perhaps your company intranet has a list of those available, or speak to your line manager to find out.

Studying for your own personal growth is important too! Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn a musical instrument? ?? Or practice a new language? ???? There are many online classes available and it’s good to have a couple of hours per week to spend on your own hobbies.

?? Be Socially Active

Sustainability is the subject on everyone’s minds at the moment! Getting involved in supporting this is a great way to give back to the environment.?Find out what work your company is doing to help, perhaps they have an agreement in place i.e., planting a tree for every new employee who joins.?Sometimes, you can sign up to a scheme and donate individually too.

Taking regular breaks can really help you focus on tasks, by allowing yourself the chance to clear your head and get out into nature.?Even if it is a quick walk around your neighbourhood at lunchtime, or maybe you can fit in a longer walk/run before or after work??Getting your dog ?? or kids involved is a great way to spend time with them too! The benefits on our mental and physical health are incredible! ????♀?

A huge perk of being location independent ?? is the ability to work from literally anywhere!?Fancy a relaxing beach trip for a couple of days to unwind??Perhaps exploring a new city and experiencing their coffee shops and co-working spaces is more up your street? There are a number of digital nomad social media groups available, where you can meet others living a similar lifestyle and find out the best places to visit!?

?? Be Performance Driven

Having a designated workspace definitely makes it easier to focus, without distractions!?Try to set up an area away from others at home, with adequate lighting ?? and preferably a table/chair ?? to support your posture.?Having an area away from your bedroom can also help us mentally define the work/life balance - when you close the door on your working space, you are entering your home and able to switch off more easily from thinking about work.??

Not everyone has the luxury of having a spare room to work from, so mixing it up by working from a coffee shop or a co-working space can be really helpful!?Most main cities have now opened co-working spaces where you can book a desk - it can also be a great way to connect with others and make new friends!

Getting to know your working style can help you set your daily schedule.?For example, are you a night-owl ?? and get more done in the evening? Or do you prefer to bash through your to-do list before 8am? Perhaps working for 2 hours then grabbing a coffee helps you focus on the next task, or maybe you prefer to work a set block of hours together??Finding out what works for you can help optimise your productivity and allow you to be more efficient.

?? Be Human

Being kind to others starts with ourselves.?With more time and resources available at home, try to ensure you take advantage of being able to cook a healthy lunch.?It is so much better than grabbing a sandwich from the nearest shop, and can help you achieve your diet/fitness goals.?Not only that, it saves the sugar crash most of us have mid-afternoon! ??

Finally, remember to switch off! ?? It’s so easy to pick up the laptop whilst watching some evening T.V, but this blurs the lines between work and home life and we should try to avoid doing this as much as possible.?Proper rest is important for our wellbeing, so being able to fully switch off and put the laptop away definitely helps!