Starting a New Job Fully Remote?

Here Are My 10 Real-World Tips From Someone Who’s Done It for Years

When my friend told me she was starting a brand-new role at a fully remote company, she said what everyone thinks but doesn’t always say out loud:

“It sounds good on paper… but I’m nervous.”

And honestly, that’s fair.

Starting any new job is vulnerable. Starting a new job without ever walking into an office adds another layer.I have worked remotely in multiple leadership roles. Remote work is incredible. But it requires discipline.

Here are my top 10 tips for thriving, not just surviving, in a fully remote role.

1. Create an Office. Physically and Mentally.

Your brain needs to understand when you are at work.

Do not work at the kitchen counter.
Do not work at the dining room table.
Definitely do not work on your couch.

Create a dedicated workspace. Even if it is a small room with a door or a sunroom with a privacy curtain. Maybe time to make a basement office?

Your children need to understand you are at work. Your spouse needs to understand you are at work. No interruptions unless urgent. The dog having diarrhea is urgent. Not finding a Gatorade is not urgent.

Important: Do not enter your office if you are not working.

Train your brain. Train your household. Protect your focus.

2. Visibility Is Everything

If no one sees you sitting in a chair, how do they know you are working?

This does not mean filling your calendar with pointless meetings.

It means:

Communicating clearly
Updating stakeholders
Responding in Slack or chat
Sharing progress
Proactively surfacing wins

Your ecosystem needs to know you are completely ready and high functioning during office hours. If your light is green, you are available.

One important lesson I learned is that it is not enough for your immediate circle to see your impact. Make sure leadership above you understands your value too.

Visibility protects your role.

3. You Are Always at Your House. This Is Both a Gift and a Trap.

The good:

The best snacks are there.
You can be there for the plumber, grab packages from the porch.
Laundry can run on a break.
Spend quality time with the dog.
You set the thermostat!

The hard:

You can see the house chores that need done.
You can see the stuff that needs to go to the garage.
Answering the door for solar panel solicitors.
Again, you are always home

You will eventually feel the walls closing in. That is normal. Plan your time outside the house intentionally:

Lunch with friends
Industry meetups
Volunteering
A golf or spa day

You must leave the house on purpose. If it’s been 3 days, go do *something* even if it’s just to get a haircut, wander Home Depot, or try the new taco shop.

4. Show Your Work

Like algebra class, show how you solved it.

Document everything.

Keep notes.
Save emails.
Track decisions.
Log stakeholder feedback.
Document processes.

Be prepared to defend your choices.

Remind people you requested input 13 days ago, that record matters.

Documentation is clarity.
Documentation is leverage.
Documentation is protection.

5. Use Your Breaks Like a Pro

I learned this at McDonald’s at 15. Two 15-minute breaks and one 30-minute lunch.

Those 15-minute breaks can be:

Making a smoothie
Throwing in laundry
Taking the trash out
Taking a quick walk

Lunch can be simple. Grab a string cheese, a mandarin, and some crackers and go sit outside and breathe. Or maybe construct an elaborate avocado toast (my specialty).

Small resets prevent chaos. Some days are busy so you can’t take all of your allotted time. Just don’t let them be every day.

Some recent lunches of mine, because my fridge is at my disposal. See more on Insta at @vikkipix 🙂