WFH is as real as it can be these days. But, how will you avoid distractions and be at your best? From constant text messaging and social media notifications to back-to-back meetings and appointments, maintaining focus can be quite a challenge.

Remote Work in a Nutshell 

• Remote workers struggle more, rather than less, with work-life balance.
• Remote workers have a harder time drawing boundaries around their work, and see it bleeding into other parts of their personal life. 
• Remote workers have a harder time finding meaning and purpose in their work. 
• Remote workers report higher degrees of stress, they feel less engaged with their work, and express a higher likelihood of wanting to leave their jobs.
• Video and phone calls are most impactful in terms of driving connection in a remote environment. 
• Fully remote workers report equal productivity to onsite workers.
• Remote workers see the same number of raises and promotions as onsite workers.
• Remote workers are slightly more satisfied with their work than those who work fully onsite.
• Prioritization and setting boundaries are crucial for successful remote work. 

Mastering remote work makes us more confident about our ability to achieve our goals! 

Some of us might be more social than others. Some of us might like to be alone more than being surrounded by people. Whatever the preference it's important to remember that we need social interactions - it's essential to our health.

Social Connection in a Nutshell 

• It helps improve our motivation and life expectancy
• It sits at the core of our human nature
• It can increase our level of resilience 

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”  ― Leo F. Buscaglia

If we don't feel a sense of connection to others, we are more likely to catch a cold, develop heart disease, experience depression, and even have lower cognitive function. Research shows us that the long-term harm caused by loneliness is similar to smoking or obesity.

Remote leaders are challenged to focus on building trust, psychological safety, and collaboration in their remote teams. How could remote leaders increase remote team performance? 

Expressing gratitude makes us feel better and that’s not a coincidence. 

• Gratitude is powerful.
• Gratitude changes how we see the world.
• Gratitude reminds us to sustain important relationships.

We often hear that kindness is contagious. Well, so is gratitude. Spreading gratitude has a ripple effect, where one small act has the ability to expand beyond ourselves and impact the world.