Introduction
As someone who leans towards the introverted side of the personality spectrum, the benefits of remote work, for me, far outweigh the cons.
The peace and quiet, the ability to focus without distractions; not being wedged on a busy train between a thousand other disgruntled commuters trying to avoid eye contact!
The rise of remote work has opened new doors for introverts, allowing them to harness their unique strengths in the comfort of their own homes. As the world adapts to a more flexible work environment, introverts are flourishing in the tranquility of remote work.
According to Talentculture.com
Introverts are even more enthusiastic (about remote work), with 88% enjoying working from home and 86% enjoying the peace and quiet it brings.
Create The Perfect Workspace
Unlike the copy and paste desk setup of the office, your home offers an environment that you can cater for solitude and minimal distractions. Make sure to create a designated workspace (beds not included) to enhance your productivity.
Ensure your home office is equipped with comfortable furniture, adequate lighting, and all the tools you need to succeed. Express your personality with posters, plants, some essentials and accessories so that the space is comfortable and yours. Invest in noise-cancelling headphones if necessary or create a quiet space to minimize external disruptions.
Utilize Introvert Strengths
Introverts bring valuable strengths to team dynamics, such as thoughtful analysis, deep focus, and innovative problem-solving and often excel in written communication, making virtual collaboration a natural fit.
A lot of the time this will be required over Zoom/Teams etc, but if you feel more comfortable expressing yourself over email or instant messaging, do so.
Finding your preferred communication method where you feel comfortable to convey your ideas is a great way to put yourself across in the best light.
Depending on the job you do, you might want to make sure you don’t slip into a reclusive mode where you don’t communicate with anyone – I find being proactive in making yourself and your work visible when working from home is key to maintaining your presence in your team and business.
Prioritize Self-Care And Get Outside
Striking a balance between full on work and down-time is so important for your wellbeing working remotely, especially for introverts.
I often need time to recharge after a long meeting/hours of socializing. Schedule regular breaks to step away from your workspace, allowing yourself time to re-energize. Engage in activities that promote relaxation and rejuvenation, such as a short walk, meditation, yoga or reading a book.
Don’t Neglect Your Extroverted Side
Although there are many traits of work from home behaviour that lend themselves to introverted tendencies, be careful not to overly lean into them. We all need social interaction and time with others to maintain our sense of self and belonging.
Especially If you live alone and work from home full time, your time spent with others can be drastically reduced.
Making the effort to meet with friends and family more than you used to, is vital to maintain your mental wellbeing.
Take a look at my article on tips for extroverts working from home for some ideas on how to maintain your outgoing side and harness the collaborative side of wfh.
Flexible Work Schedules
Remote work allows introverts to embrace a more flexible schedule, optimizing their productivity during peak energy hours.
Communicate with your team to establish a schedule that aligns with your natural rhythms. Leverage your ability to focus during solitary periods and maximize efficiency during designated work hours.
I find blocking out ‘focus time,’ often signified by this emoji (⛔) on Slack etc helps minimize distractions and let others know that I need time to focus on certain work – this is a luxury that’s not afforded in the office, so make the most of it.
Set Boundaries
Communicate your work hours to friends and family, and set expectations regarding interruptions. There’s nothing worse than an unexpected phone call right before an important meeting, or a knock on the door when you’d nearly had a breakthrough with a crazy Excel formula!
You can’t control everything, but a mention to family and friends to call after 5 or scheduling the DHL delivery when you’re on down time can help your flow.
Create a daily routine that includes designated work and leisure times to maintain a sense of structure and control.
Why Introverts Excel At Working From Home
Working from home offers a unique opportunity for introverts to harness their strengths and excel in their professional endeavors.
By creating an introvert-friendly workspace, mastering virtual communication, adopting flexible schedules, prioritizing self-care, setting boundaries, and utilizing unique strengths in team collaboration, introverts can thrive in the evolving landscape of remote work.
Embrace the remote revolution and make working from home a fulfilling and successful experience.
James Waite
Founder of Remoteopia, James has worked in remote roles for 6 years. After a stint in recruitment, he now works as a director of website strategy in tech.
