6 months ago, Forbes published an article declaring the remote office as the new normal and noted that several large-scale companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Walmart announced permanent shifts to remote working for some or all of their staff. Aside from COVID-19, studies show that remote working saves employers money, improves the well-being and productivity of employees, and, by avoiding the daily commute, even reduces the negative effects of climate change. Will working remotely be the new normal, post pandemic? If so, what does that look like? Can we establish a work-life balance by honing in the skill of self-discipline? Read on to find out what the experts have to say.

Self-Discipline and Remote Working

PhD candidate Dave Cook (UCL Anthropology) published his research findings on remote working, and found that employees require a high level of self-discipline, while working remotely, to avoid burn-out. He determines that self-discipline is key to maintaining a healthy work-life balance, which is key to being successful and productive while working remotely.

If you are like many employees who currently work remotely, you may have a hard time disciplining yourself to stick to a consistent routine. You may feel guilty when you do not reply to an email after-hours, simply because the ability to continue working into the evening is now, quite literally, at your fingertips. However, this pattern of behaviour is not easy to maintain in the long run. Cook predicts that these conversations about self-discipline and establishing a productive, balanced, and healthy routine will be the hallmark of 2021.

So, how do you overcome lack of self-discipline? Here are three ways you can start.

1. Know your Weaknesses.  Keep a pen and paper around and take note of your distractions throughout your work day. Write down the thoughts that distract you during work hours, and come back to them after you complete your tasks. If you can identify where and when your mind wanders, you will be in a better position to reverse the pattern.
2. Keep a Consistent Routine.  Humans thrive on routine, and consistency is key to establishing a successful routine. Give yourself time throughout the day to take breaks and let your mind wander, and hold yourself accountable.
3. Foster Good Habits. Finally, develop and nurture good habits. Healthy eating, consistent exercise, and reaching out to friends and family members are all good habits that will lead to greater balance, productivity, healthy routine, and, overall, effective self-discipline.

In addition, a helpful piece of advice is to stay connected. Keep the door of communication open between you and your team. Take care of yourself, and be kind and patient to others’ needs. Set up a weekly check-in simply to see how everyone is doing, work-tasks aside. Stay disciplined and hold yourself accountable to these check-ins.

The reality is that balance, productivity, and healthy routine are only achievable once you master the art of self-discipline. Students and professionals alike benefit from honing this seemingly simple yet surprisingly challenging skill.

For Further Reading…

Check out this article from Forbes talking about establishing self-discipline. Or, for a more in-depth analysis, here is one from PositivePsychology.com. In addition, there are so many great books out there that offer techniques to master self-discipline. If you are interested, start with Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. If you are a creative then you must read Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art.

Looking Ahead

Working remotely is a trend that will continue into the future. Some companies are implementing remote working permanently, while others will eventually see employees back in the office. Whatever environment you find yourself in, use this time as an opportunity to hone your self-discipline because it is a skill you can take with you wherever you go. And if the “new normal” is, in fact, working remotely, you are setting yourself apart if you are proactive in practicing and implementing strategies that make you more valuable to employers in the long run. Remember: It is not the hours you put into a day; it is the productivity of those hours that count. As aptly stated by renowned management consultant Peter Drucker, “Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else.” 

Now go ahead and get disciplined!