According to a 2017 survey, more people than ever are working remotely.  With advanced technology and increases in our daily Internet usage, conference meetings have turned into Google Hangouts and email chains.  Meanwhile, the daily commute can be a walk down a flight of stairs or a drive to the nearest coffee shop.  We can work in our sweatpants or finish an article while cooking lunch in our kitchen.

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The flexibility remote work gives us is more than just a sense of comfort.  Working remotely allows us the opportunity to make our own hours, closes the gender gap, and provides women with the ability to have a life in both the workplace and their family.  With remote work, people no longer have to be out of the home from 9-5 (and even longer with a commute); instead, those who remotely have more time with their loved ones, friends, and even themselves.

Yet with freedom comes responsibility, and working remotely isn’t always the flexible fantasy it appears to be.  Without coworkers or a boss around, there’s no one hovering over your shoulder to make sure you’re on task.  If you’re in the comfort of your home or your favorite coffee shop, there are limitless distractions.  Here are a few bSmart tips for being successful when working remotely.

Schedule, Schedule, Schedule

Working remotely means you get to make your own hours, but that doesn’t mean you get to skip work altogether.   Google Calendar is a great online tool for keeping track of conference calls, meetings, and your own work schedule.  Whether you use it in-app or online form, Google Calendar allows you to personalize your own schedule with effective reminders, location tools, and color coding (my personal favorite).  Set recurring events or invite coworkers to meetings or events on your schedule -- all the tools you need for organizing are there and easy to use.

While updating your schedule with group meetings is essential, scheduling your own work hours can help keep you accountable for the time you should be in your ‘office,’ focused and ready to work.

Work During Your 'Brain Power' Times

bSmart founder Meagan Hooper recommends following a “brain power” schedule to optimize your working hours during the day.  Here’s a sample schedule she provides for all bSmart interns:

7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. - Non-critical mental tasks and time with loved ones

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Mentally alert, time for creative or analytical tasks

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Tough tasks, to-dos

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Rest

3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Collaboration, exercise

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Personal tasks

8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Relaxing, mindless or repetitive activities

This type of schedule suggests time frames to optimize your brain power and complete tasks accordingly.  For example, writing a blog post at 8:30 p.m. might not be the most optimal time for your brain’s creativity.  Following a brain schedule like this makes it easier to maximize your productivity and take re-energizing, not distracting, breaks.

Make Manageable To-Do Lists

To-do lists are essential for keeping track of the smaller tasks you’ll need to manage while working remotely.  The most important part of these lists is how you organize your tasks.  If you put monstrously large projects like ‘write three articles’ as one item on your list, it can be difficult and overwhelming to check them off.  Instead, split the project into smaller tasks to make them more manageable.  Rather than listing ‘write three articles,’ break it down to ‘research sources for article one,’ ‘outline article two,’ or ‘draft article three.’

There’s no need to just have one massive list either.  Keep all your lists in one place, but separate tasks with different types of work into different sections.  For example, I keep a list of all the blog posts I want to write and another one for all of my editorial tasks.  Having separate lists makes it easier to focus on specific areas of your work, especially when you’re working on a brain power schedule.

Be Mindful of Your Health

While this tip is less about organization, there’s no denying the difference working remotely can have on your body.  Without a commute and office to go to, there’s nothing to stop you from staying in bed, wearing your pajamas or eating whatever’s in the fridge because it’s easily accessible.

Being mindful of your health while working remotely can help you stay on track even with the tempting freedom it offers.  Use your flexible hours to schedule a fun at-home workout or save money and cook up some healthy new recipes in your kitchen.  There’s no reason to wear a pantsuit, but changing out of your pajamas can help refocus your attention and get you ready to start the day.  Once you’re in everyday clothes, designate a specific workspace (outside of your bedroom) to act as your ‘home office’ -- a place where you know you’ll be productive.

Remote work comes with its freedoms, but by no means does its flexibility make your job any easier.  Working from home creates a higher demand for self-motivation and self-direction. However, if you keep an organized schedule with time for manageable tasks, you’ll be able to work successfully from any location you desire (so long as there’s WiFi!).

Zoë is a rising junior at Wesleyan University majoring in English with a concentration in Creative Writing.  To read more of her writing, please visit www.writersblock.space or The Wesleyan Argus.