5 Tips on Working Location Independent

For the past few years, I’ve been working out of my home, or wherever I may be travelling, and have been able to continue to build my coaching business and work on consulting projects to keep a steady income flowing. This has been very helpful this year especially, as I’ve had two interstate moves taking me from coast to coast. I’ve learned as I’ve gone along what works well – and what doesn’t. Here are my top five tips on how to successfully work location-independent:

1. Meticulously Plan – Before leaving on a trip or an extended stay away from my office, I mentally go through what will be happening each day and what supplies I’ll need. I visualize each step, even the small ones, to help me remember all the components I’ll need, such as files, power cables, presentation adapters, headset, and my favorite writing instruments. I also think through back-ups. (For example, what if I can’t get my computer to work with a client’s system for presentation? Bring a USB drive.) Much of this has come from learning from my mistakes. I’ve accumulated extra power cords from trips when I had to buy one because I forgot mine at home, so I now keep these ready to go in my backpack.
2. Get the Essentials – To be able to do my work, I must be connected with phone and Internet. It’s pretty easy now to find internet access somewhere, and for those few hours here or there when I don’t have it, I focus on the work I can do that doesn’t need internet, such as writing next week’s blog post. I also have times when I’m coaching clients that I need a quiet space for phone conversations. I plan ahead for these to ensure I’ll have the privacy and quiet required.
3. Be Vigilant of Time Zones – Between my cross-country moves this year and multiple trips, I have to double-check time zones to make sure I don’t miss an important meeting or call. For me, this includes changing the time zone on my calendar when I’m landing in a new place, as well as coordinating my time zone with my clients’ locations. I frequently check TimeandDate.com to make sure I’m calculating it right.
4. Over-Communicate – Remember the saying “tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and tell them what you told them?” I highly recommend this for working remotely: tell them what you’re planning on doing, tell them what you’re currently working on, and tell them what you’ve completed. If you’re not in the office, people aren’t sure what you’re up to. It’s better to over communicate than to assume they know what you’re working on. Quick status phone calls and (at minimum) weekly emails give you the opportunity to share what you’re doing. I also have found it’s extremely important to share your accomplishments and kudos. Some people do this more easily than others. For me, it doesn’t come naturally, but I’ve found if I don’t note my accomplishments, others won’t either. Don’t assume your supervisor or upper management know what your contribution is. Make sure they know the part you played.
5. Set Boundaries – For me, boundaries work both ways: I need to clearly define when I’m available and when I’m not for others AND for me. It’s critical to let others know, but it’s just as important for me to honor my boundaries for myself. I know I have a tendency to give more to others, and chronically doing this only burns me out. I set times for work and times to allow myself to turn off email and phone, to let myself recharge. I still have to battle the thoughts in my head that I need to do more. If my mind is churning on what needs to be done, I’ll write a quick list, truly determining if anything is actually urgent, and prioritizing those. I also find meditation helps to calm my mind, but often, I need to get it all written down in a list before I can let it go.

One of the benefits of connectivity in today’s world is being able to work remotely from just about anywhere. I enjoy working location independently, but I’ve also learned it’s vital for me to disconnecting from electronics to connect inward and cultivate inner peace, to connect with nature and experience wonder, and to connect with others to experience love.