01 jun The extroverts remote work survival guide

Yes, I know some of you readers are extroverts – that’s acceptable and totally normal! 😉 This brief survival guide is for all you extroverts!
For us introverts remote work is, and has been blissful as silence and solitude have helped boost our productivity and mental health.
On the other side of the social spectrum, extroverts thrive on frequent interactions and lively environments (aka. distractions and disturbing noise 😵‍💫).
So for extroverts remote work have actually proven to be really challenging.

Even if some work have moved back to the office, a lot of companies have now shifted to letting employees conducting most of their work remotely.
If you are an extrovert who hoped for a full revert to the old “9 to 5 in the office”, fret not – there are still many things you can do to thrive in this new work paradigm!

Good morning

Since you (the extrovert) are energised by interactions with others — begin your morning with a virtual face-to-face – this will both bring a social element into your day right away and keep you accountable — you will probably have to get out of bed and get a cup of coffee (or at least wake up, brush your hair and open your laptop).

Rhythm is a dancer

Studies have shown that extroverts often link their feelings of pleasure with their immediate surroundings.
That’s one reason why silent, static environments can become distracting or even distressing for extroverts.
This one is easy to fix!
Sprinkle your day with excitement by scheduling a short dance session – why not sync it with your five minute break with the Pomodoro technique?
Another tip is to play music that fits your vibe. Why not take it to another level by creating the ultimate 90’s playlist (if that’s your favourite decade) with your co-workers?

The buddy system

Staying focused is a challenge even for us introverts. That’s where a buddy can come in handy.
Virtual co-working sessions are one equal parts socialisation and accountability, and It’s easy to set one up:
Schedule a meeting with your work buddy (don’t cancel), and declare your meeting goal. Work on your tasks separately with your cameras on but microphones off.
Recap your accomplishments and give each-other virtual high fives.

Social interactions

If you do most of your work remotely, you might struggle to get that social interaction you are itching for. An option can be co-working spaces as they will offer interactions with people from other sectors who each offer unique perspectives. Try to plan for a in-person lunch, or if you can’t – find a like minded soul to have a virtual lunch meeting with!
If you are used to getting most of your social needs met at the office and using your free time for solitary projects, now is the time to switch it up.
Why not take up group exercise classes, a great opportunity to chit-chat with others,

Remote work in science

There are plenty of benefits to remote work.
One Stanford study found that remote workers were a full-day’s-worth more productive each week, took less sick time, and were less likely to quit than their in-office counterparts. However, more than half felt isolated, and ultimately opted to return to the office.
Loneliness in remote work is real — even some of us introverts have struggled with it!