Remote in Albany: State of the Biz
Fun and games aside the name of the blog series is called Remote in Albany which means it’s time to actually talk about working remote in my new dwellings. I gotta eat and maintain my wine budget friends! Here are a couple of things I discovered while starting to find my working routine in this new city during this particular time. I hope some of these things to note are helpful to you if you are planning on working remote soon yourself.
1. Research available working spaces
Well let’s get to the obvious, the pandemic has certainly made me think more creatively in utilizing the spaces that are available to me because 1) co-working spaces are either closed or 2) spaces are more expensive to co-work here than in Tampa. I’m not fancy when it comes to a co-working space. I just need a place to put my purse and a charger to plug my laptop in. I usually visit 2 times a week to break-up the monotony of being in my home all day. And I usually work for 2-3 hours before calling it a day anyway.
Hyde House in Tampa was the perfect spot for me to post up in stylish digs, knock out some work, and chat to people while being affordable. Here in Albany? Not the case. It costs almost the amount of one small office at Hyde House for a virtual co-work membership. Different states, different kinds of businesses, different pricing structures, I get it! Just one thing to take note of and make it work!
That is one of the main reasons why I’m thankful my building, Hudson Park, provides lots of outdoor areas as well as a comfy community room for residents to pop into when they need to get out of their apartments. The weather has been cooling off considerably so I’ve been posting up in the main courtyard on a bench to get some sun and enjoy the brisk air. I just designed 4 emails the other day sitting a bench there. It was a productive time!
Usually, my default for working is a coffee shop, but shops are only open for takeout right now. Miss the community and focus I used to get from working at coffee shops though. Great way to support local at the same time!
2. Get creative with the space you live in
When the going gets tough, you make do what the space you are in. Try finding at least one space with a table and chair close to a plug if you’re a laptop person like myself. That’s basically all you need! Luckily, my table and chairs fold-out so I use the same set to dine, as a TV stand and a charging station. Not all at the same time of course, but if you get creative enough and live remote for long enough, you make do with what you have. Here are some extra tips to help you define your space!
That means the furniture has more than one purpose in my space. My couch is thankfully light enough to move against a wall, next to the windows, or by the end of my bed to lounge in when I’ve sat at my makeshift desk long enough. When the desk and couch are not cutting it, I take the cushions from the couch to make a comfortable nook space to cozy up into. Just add a comfy pillow and a blanket then you’re in heaven. If I had a stool, I’d post up in my kitchen too!
When you look at it, you have plenty of spaces to work from, just not all of them are ergonomic and may cause some back and neck pain if you’re sitting in it for too long. So make sure to switch it up at the first sign of discomfort or have a portable desk and chair that you know works well with your body.
I’ve found that these creative working spaces inside my own apartment serve best at different times of the days, spark different kinds of creativity and overall, keep me moving, which is very important while working from home.
3. Experiment with a new routine
The routine you once had will most likely get modified in your new home. The things you do each day stay the same, but how and in what order changed for me. My AM routine stayed the same, but throughout the day, I’ve noticed a shift in when I have my lunch, when I take my breaks and when I log off for the day. Find what works best for you! You may notice things take a short amount of time or a longer amount of time to do based on your layout down to how the sun hits your windows. These little differences help shape your new routine! Don’t be afraid if something doesn’t happen like it did in your last space. Give yourself some space to develop something new and more often than not…it’s for the better!
4. Have a solid client base
I would not have been able to move if it weren’t for my wonderful clients. Being virtual means the only aspect of my work that changes for them is my backdrop for calls and occasionally taking a few more days off to explore which they are all for because I schedule my work to the nines. In fact, in the first week being here I had two new premium sidekick inquires and signed one! It’s now the last week of the month and I have two more discovery calls. The state of the business has been good. You can almost say uprooting myself allowed for more growth.
It’s been a blast moving up here, getting a boost in creativity with extra me-time and exploring the city, but the biggest adventure thus far is finding the perfect spot to ergonomically work without the aid of a co-working space. Overarching lesson? Make it work friends! Get creative! Forgive yourself if your days aren’t as smooth as they used to be. It’ll get there. Just takes some time experimenting to get it just right!
What are some of your working from home best practices? Comment below and let me know!
That’s all for now folks,
Kristen
