The freedom trap: How to manage remote working

Remote working requires high levels of time management and self-discipline and is not always experienced as a lifestyle of autonomy and freedom, according to a new UCL study. The longitudinal study, published in the journal suggests that remote workers often overlook the role of discipline when first starting out, and do not foresee how managing work-life balance can become problematic. In the context of the coronavirus outbreak and expected changes to the future of work, anthropologist Dave Cook draws on the findings of his research to provide pointers for home working. Cook's five self-help points for remote working: 1. The best remote work/office set up  Take time to get the right set up at home Budget for key items like a laptop stand if you don't have a monitor, the right chair to protect your back or a headset if you'll be on the phone a lot and live in a shared house Make an effort to separate work and home life as much as possible otherwise it will become an unmanageable mess and its likely you'll experience burnout Set clear boundaries about what spaces and times are for work. Be clear about these boundaries with online co-workers, friends or family  Spend time at the end of each day in first week to write down what works and what hasn't and re-evaluate this to make changes for the second week 2. Making sure strict daily routines are set up