This issue is one of the biggest problems people run into when working remotely.
It causes stress, decision fatigue, and burnout - But it's never talked about!
Let's expose the issue and give you the tools to fix it ⬇️
We’ve spent a long time having our job choose our life — where we live, who we spend our time with, and how we work.
Switching to remote work can be exciting at first because, suddenly, we have tons of freedom.
But then the overwhelm kicks in.
You now have endless decisions up to you:
What is "enough" work?
How do you take breaks?
What do you work on next?
Where should you live now?
When do you start/end work?
Where should you work from?
And so on. Overwhelm from new freedom is real.
Here are 3 tips to combat this:
Tip 1: Make the choice before you’re in the moment
In the moment, you are short on time, heavily influenced by emotion, and your focus is pulled in many directions.
Set a framework prior to create an environment where you can make choices intentionally and quickly.
Example 1: Define a meeting framework for calls you will accept.
By establishing that you will only accept x meetings per day, during y hours, and only after determining if it is in the best format, you make the decision before the random invite has even hit your inbox.
Example 2: Define when it is acceptable to quit (before you begin)
Since seeing the value of decision frameworks, I’ve created them for almost every area from where I spend my day working to whether I say yes to an opportunity.
Tip 2: Trial your options
You've worked one way for a long time. You probably don't know what all of your options are and definitely don't know whether they are right for you.
Talk to others about how they are working differently.
Experiment with different working hours or places to work.
Don't write anything off just because you've never tried it before. It might be exactly what you need.
Keep track of what works and what doesn't. This will be valuable info when creating new decision frameworks later.
Tip 3: Put less pressure on your decision
A decision today doesn't mean forever.
You no longer have to go through another awful job search when you want to move to a new area or be around new people.
You can stay in your current position while changing things around you.
Also, keep in mind that every decision doesn't need to be made overnight.
You have a lot of opportunities now to design the lifestyle you want, but these changes don't need to happen immediately.
Pause. Learn about yourself and take one intentional step a day.
Don't fall into the trap of making decisions because that's the way everyone else is doing it (*cough* like moving to Miami *cough*) or because that's the way you've always done it before.
Use these tips to kick aside the overwhelm, and embrace the excitement!
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