Remote working in practice - dispelling myths

The development of new technologies has clearly changed and continues to change our reality. It used to be impossible to shop online or chat with loved ones via instant messaging. At the time, few people were also familiar with the remote working model, which has become more prominent in recent months. To some, it seems like a dream come true to perform professional duties from the comfort of their home, but are they really?

Remote working via the internet - what does it involve?

Commuting to the office every day and sitting in front of a computer screen for eight hours is part of the daily routine for many Polish workers in various industries. But what if you could carry out all your tasks without leaving home, from any location? This is what remote working is all about: carrying out your duties away from the company's headquarters - most often in your own home, although not necessarily. An integral part of this is the use of electronic means of communication. Many employers provide remote workers with special platforms for consulting their team or for completing projects. The Internet is most often used to communicate with the supervisor on a daily basis. Orders are also sent via the web.

Remote working - the most popular myths

At first glance, it may seem that working remotely has only advantages - we don't have to see the boss, attend stressful meetings with clients and talk to colleagues we don't like. Standing in morning traffic jams no longer concerns us - instead, we enjoy our morning coffee and more free time. Is this really the case? Remote working in practice does not look as good as we think. Let's dispel some of the most popular myths about it!

Myth 1: Remote working is ideal for everyone

Some professions require us to be present in the company every day - this is especially true of any kind of production or the need to use specialised machinery or equipment. In the case of office, creative or IT professions, the situation is somewhat different - you usually only need a computer to carry out your duties. Even if your position does not require you to be at the company every morning, is remote working really the right thing for you? Not necessarily. It all depends very much on a person's character and personal predispositions. Remote working requires dutifulness, self-discipline, efficiency, excellent organisation, completing assignments on time, as well as the motivation to act. Without these qualities, we will quickly find that we will find it difficult to cope with daily work activities. Many employees also need daily, face-to-face contact with people, which remote work will not provide.

Myth 2: Working from home is fun and more time for yourself

Being out of the office avoids many stressful situations, and we feel comfortable and safe within the four walls of our own home - this is a fact. However, working online does not have only advantages. At home, there are far more distractions, which is not conducive to concentration. Often there are household chores going on and we are not always able to concentrate on our work duties. Instead, we find ourselves perusing the fridge, running errands, surfing the web or roaming the room. With no one watching over us, we lose the motivation to work hard. It is also not true that working remotely gives us more time for ourselves. Of course, it all depends on the right organisation, but the process of completing assignments at home is not really any different from a day at the office. Moreover, if we are unable to complete tasks during standard working hours, we will still have to sit down at the computer in the evening.

Myth 3: Remote working guarantees work-life balance

Nobody likes overtime and weekends spent at the company. But will working remotely give us more life balance? The issue is not so obvious - once again, it will be important to organise your time properly and to be highly motivated to complete your assignments. Maintaining a work-life balance when working remotely can become a real challenge. On the one hand, it is much easier to fall into workaholism, because we have access to all the necessary data at all times. On the other hand, the trap of procrastination lurks. If we don't prioritise and show consistency, too much relaxation will set in and work will spread out over the day.

Myth 4: You can work remotely anywhere

One of the biggest advantages of working remotely is the great flexibility and the ability to travel or relocate. All you need to have with you is a laptop and the internet to carry out professional tasks. However, it is worth knowing that not every environment is conducive to remote working. It all depends on a person's preferences, but a bustling café, a train or even one's own bed are places that do not help to concentrate and focus on one's duties.