Article summary
All I’ve ever wanted to do when it came to my career was work from home or have the opportunity to work remotely. Coming into my job at Atomic Object, it wasn’t a given that I would get that chance. But that was fine because I live so close to work and there’s great company culture.
Unfortunately, while playing for AFC (Atomic Football Club), I ruptured my Achilles. Ouch! I was out of work most of the summer. During recovery from surgery, I was given the chance to stay at home or come in part-time and work. I’d hoped for this situation, but not under these circumstances. In the end, working from home has been an interesting learning experience for me.
My Experience
I’ve enjoyed the autonomy of working from home. I like to think that I am self-motivated, and that has shown to be true. While that autonomy is good, at other times, it gets boring. Atomic Object is based on pair programming, so you get that feeling of teamwork and camaraderie. Even though I don’t work directly with most of the other employees, I missed that feeling when I was out.
This is where the culture of a workplace plays a big role in the success of the employees and the company. Although I was home most of the summer, everyone reached out and made sure I was recovering well. That played a huge role for me. I wasn’t forgotten. It motivated me to complete work.
I learned a lot while working from home earlier this year, and it influences how I approach my work day-to-day. That brings me to my current situation for this holiday break.
I learned how to prioritize and organize my work while I worked from home. The challenge I have now is working remotely. Driving through the mountains of West Virginia is not an ideal situation when I only have my cell phone provider’s hot spot for internet service.
I’ve realized that it is important to make sure everyone is aware that you’re working remotely. It helps set expectations. Clear communication may be the most important thing when it comes to working from home or outside the office.
Takeaways
If you’re thinking of trying this mode of work, make sure you are organized before you start working out of the office. This will help you understand what you need to prioritize.
I will continue to work from home and remotely when possible. I have found that I make more progress on my projects when I work from home. Choosing my own pace at work makes it easier to complete tasks. I know what needs to get done, and no one is watching over my shoulder, making sure I do my work. For me, that’s the best part about working for a great company. They trust you to complete projects, even when you’re not around.