Remote Well-Being: 5 Ways to Work Better While Working Remotely

"Remote well-being" generally refers to a corporate strategy that prioritizes the well-being of remote workers—including their physical, mental, and social well-being—in order to generate benefits for the company and society as a whole.

The world of work has changed profoundly; remote work has now become part of everyday life for Italian workers and businesses, after affecting more than 6 million people during the most acute phase of the COVID-19 emergency.

It is important to remember, however, that there can be no remote work without work-life balance, and that the new paradigms of the “New Ways of Working” and “Hybrid Work”—a hybrid approach to work that combines in-office and remote work—place particular emphasis on remote well-being.

Remote work will need to find its most appropriate form (tailored to each organization) to become the most meaningful framework for truly exploring new ways of working—striking a balance between the interests of businesses and the well-being of all their people and resources. In this regard, data from recent weeks shows that over 70% of companies report that they will increase the number of days their employees work remotely.

There’s no doubt that remote work offers countless benefits: lower transportation and dining-out costs, less pollution in cities, and increased productivity—so much so that, according to an article in *Il Sole 24 Ore*, two out of three companies report that remote work has boosted their employees’ productivity.

However, are we sure we’re taking the right approach to remote work? Do we know what it really means to work “smart” and/or remotely?  

What Is Remote Work, Really?

The right approach to remote work is one that puts people and the company’s human capital at the center. This concept is also reflected in the words of Mariano Corso, head of the Remote Work Observatory at the Politecnico di Milano:

“Now we need to rethink work so as not to lose the lessons learned over the past few months and to transition to true remote work, which must allow for greater flexibility and autonomy in choosing where and when to work—fundamental elements for fostering greater accountability for results. We must put people—with their needs, talents, and unique qualities—at the center, by developing training, engagement, and welfare programs that help them realize their full potential.”

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The discussion on smart work must therefore be continually expanded and deepened, while also redefining the paradigms and concepts of work as traditionally understood: we can no longer view remote work as something merely tied to an emergency situation; the“new normal”envisions agile work as an integral part of business strategies and specific investments. We must build on everything we have learned during these months of remote work and accelerate the pace of change.

Of course, none of this can be achieved without digital adoption and the use of technology as a tool to help people work better and with greater well-being.

So let’s take a look at 5 tips for working better remotely by using technology to support well-being.  

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5 Ways to Work More Effectively While Working Remotely

1.Make full use of virtual collaboration tools. When working remotely, it’s important to improve internal communication within the company and to take full advantage of all collaboration tools. Services such as Slack, Trello, Notion, and Microsoft Teams are extremely useful for tracking projects remotely and staying aligned with the entire team.

2.Training is the key to success; to work effectively remotely, adequate training is necessary—not only in the technologies and tools needed for remote work but also in the practical steps to take to ensure physical and mental well-being.

3.Keep security in mind: Working remotely involves exchanging files and other materials, primarily over the internet, and cyberattacks have increased during the pandemic. Therefore, it is essential to implement all necessary cybersecurity measures to protect your devices and files.

4.Time management: Working from home can often make you lose track of time, which is why it’s important to manage your time effectively and completely shut down all devices when the workday is over.  

5.Clearly define goals and KPIs. For digital leaders, a useful tip is to set aside specific times to align with the entire team, define weekly goals, and organize recurring meetings—which also help team members feel part of a “remote community” and strengthen their sense of belonging.

Technology can provide support in all these areas, particularly through a digital coach like hi | habit-inspiringplatform, which—thanks to its remote well-being coaching plan—will be able to train every employee in the company on the best strategies for working more effectively remotely, while maintaining the right work-life balance.

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