It can sometimes be a bit more than challenging to find motivation when working from home. If you’ve been stuck in a place you don’t like much and working remotely for a while, maybe it’s time to switch things up and go somewhere new! However, there are several factors that you might want to consider before making a decision. For instance, you should probably think about fluctuations in sale and rent prices, the overall cost of living, crime rates, and more.
This article will review some of the top locations for working remotely and give tips on how to be more productive at home irrespective of where you decide to settle down.
What are the best cities for remote working?
When researching which cities are considered best for working remotely, we found that lawnstarter.com put out a great list where they ranked over 100 cities in the United States based on 20 key metrics regarding how great they are for people who consider themselves digital nomads. We decided to share their results with you.
The top 6 cities for remote workers
- Rochester, NY
- Tulsa, OK
- Cincinnati, OH
- Shreveport, LA
- Orlando, FL
- Baton Rouge, LA
Unsurprisingly, cities in California ranked poorly due to the cost of living and overcrowding. In fact, San Francisco came in dead last.
Set your priorities
No matter where you choose to set up shop, as it were, you’ve still got to bring home the bacon. Of course, that means even if you choose to live as a remote worker in the number one rated city in America, you still need to ensure you’re as productive as possible.
To do that, you need to set priorities. You need to know what your employer expects of you, and you should be realistic and upfront with managers about what you can and cannot accomplish. You need to understand yourself, define your own path, figure out what matters most to you, and set realistic goals.
Create borders and set boundaries
It’s hard enough to get work accomplished in an office environment. Working from home can present its own challenges. That’s especially true if you’re living with family or roommates. If it’s the latter, then you must set boundaries. It would be best if you had a dedicated workspace, whether that’s a home office, a bedroom, or even a corner of the living room that’s blocked off with room dividers.
When you’re working, that space should be off-limits to everyone but you. Friends, family, and roommates need to understand this rule from the very beginning. Eliminating distractions as much as possible is a best practice for ensuring your work from home environment is as productive as possible.
Remember communication is critical
Staying in touch for regular updates and feedback from managers and teammates is vital when working from home. Err on the side of overcommunication. Be personal and practice transparency to the degree that it’s possible. Listen to feedback and try to incorporate it into how you accomplish tasks that are assigned to you.
You should also get information from your bosses about how the company you’re working for handles things like performance goals and rewards. You don’t want to worry or be distracted by performance reviews or by how well you’re being compensated when you’re trying to get a project completed.
Practice self-care
In today’s hectic world, where people are concerned about their safety like never before, you need to be conscious of your mental state. If you’re totally stressed out, it can be hard to be as productive as you probably should be. To ensure that you’re as calm and relaxed as possible and ready to dive into your workload, set aside “me time.” Whether that’s talking with friends or family on a virtual call, or better yet, spending time with them in person, you need to have some social interaction.
There is no reason you must suffer from cabin fever either. Get outside. Go for a walk in the sunshine. Get some exercise. All of the above can help reduce stress and increase overall productivity when it’s time to get down to business.
Be productive in whatever city you call home
There are many cities in which remote workers might want to live. We listed six of the best in this article. However, you still have to know how to be productive when working from home, even if you’re living in America’s number one rated city.
If any of the productivity hacks we discussed sound like they’ll work for your situation, we encourage you to try them out and incorporate them into your routine. Finally, one last tip: no matter where you call home, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and do what it takes to make your life one worth living.
