Tips for Working Remotely as a Software Developer
I have been working remotely for 2 years now as a Software Developer and like anything in life it has it’s ups and downs. I have learnt quite a few things over that time so in this article I wanted to share a few tips, a few warnings and a few observation of the remote life.
Self Discipline Is Crucial
One of the major benefits of working remotely is the freedom that you suddenly have. You don’t need to be in an office at a certain time. You don’t have to abide by someone else’s schedule. You are free to set your own timetable and work when you so desire and not stick to the rigidity of the traditional 9 till 5. Great right?
Well, it’s not for everyone and I think Covid brought that to the forefront for many people to become grossly aware. Some people thrive and relish in these conditions whilst others just go into shock and spiral completely out of control and end up getting nothing done.
Creating a schedule gives your day structure. It brings a sense of control to your day which could otherwise easily lose its way.
The key I believe comes down to ‘discipline’. You have to become your own master and stick to the rules you lay down for yourself. You have to avoid the easy temptations such as lying in bed all day or stopping early. You have to train and develop your own self control.
Stick to a schedule
A great way to start on this discipline journey is to create a schedule. Creating a schedule gives your day structure. It brings a sense of control to your day which could otherwise easily lose its way.
It also allows you to be at your most productive. Unfortunately there is no way around it. Having a schedule allows you to get into a routine that helps you get into the best position to potentially do your best work. There is nothing sexy or glamorous about this but at least sticking to a schedule gives your day structure.
Unfortunately the reality of remote working is not that different to working in an office. You still sit in a chair in front of your computer, usually at a desk and you spend around 8 hours a day there.
My current schedule is to sit down at my computer everyday at around 8:30. I then have lunch at around 12:00–13:00 and then work until around 17:30. This can vary a little depending on the specifics of the week but I have found that by sticking to this schedule I am able to get my best work done on a regular basis.
Appreciate the benefits of working remotely
Unfortunately the reality of remote working is not that different to working in an office. You still sit in a chair in front of your computer, usually at a desk and you spend around 8 hours a day there. The biggest difference being you get to chose where that desk is located and you have more options to change things up.
However, there are many benefits and you should make sure you really appreciate them. For me one of the biggest benefits is the amount of time I get to hang out with my kids. They are still relatively young so it has been an absolute pleasure seeing so much of them and watching them grow and change over time. The reality is that if I was commuting to an office everyday I would leave early and return home late and I just wouldn’t be able to see them so much.
Other benefits I enjoy are:
- Walking my dog instead of commuting to work.
- Having breakfast with my wife most days.
- Being able to do deep work more often due to a lack of distractions.
- Meeting with friends for lunch.
- Working at the local coffee shop which has great coffee!
The point is that chances are you won’t be working fully remote for all your career so make sure to enjoy the benefits when you are.
It’s Harder To Build Relationships With Colleagues
As I stated above there are ups and downs with working remotely and one of the biggest downsides is the ease at which you can build relationships with your colleagues.
Building good honest relationships with colleagues takes time and from my experience it’s built up of many small interactions. You meet a colleague in the kitchen and start to chat about the weekend. You get to a meeting early and start chatting with a new colleague about how they are finding their first week. You leave the office at the same time as someone else and you talk for 10 minutes as you walk in the same direction.
All these interactions add up over time to build relationships, some of which can last much longer than the job itself. This is much harder to do when working remote. These situations just don’t occur naturally when you are working by yourself.
To try and mitigate this somewhat I will purposely turn up to online meetings early just in case someone else does in order to have a chat. Also in meetings I don’t limit the topic to just work stuff. If we go off on a tangent and start talking about something not work related then that’s fine, it all helps in building relationships.
Seek out human contact
When working remotely it is very easy to become isolated and you must work actively against this happening. The worst punishment in prison is ‘Solitary Confinement’ and that is for a reason. Isolation is not good!! You can end up having bad thoughts and also siloed in your thinking.
This conversation between Rich Roll and Dr Rangan Chatterjee highlights the massive positive impact of meeting with a friend in real life just once a week to chew the fat. We are born to be social. Even the most devoted programmer who loves what they do still needs social contact if they want to remain mentally sound and in this development game for the long run.
Therefore I arrange at least once a week to go and meet a friend or friends to do some activity or just grab some lunch or a coffee. I really notice that after these occasions I feel more relaxed and upbeat. It’s strange that something so simple can have such an impact on my wellbeing but I am just happy that it does.
Conclusion
Overall I am happy I can currently work remote and I think the benefits outweigh the negatives at the moment. I also am aware that it has its dark sides and you have to be constantly aware of them before they become too much of a problem.
By adopting certain strategies you can keep these darker elements at bay and really appreciate the positive aspects of remote working. I also acknowledge that at some point I will want to return to a regular office environment but not just yet. I still have some remoteness that I would like to enjoy.
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I’m a passionate Frontend Developer specializing in React and TypeScript. My professional journey revolves around exploring and mastering new tools and libraries within the JavaScript ecosystem.
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