During the pandemic, a lot of people realised they can be just as productive working from home. However, this latest viral TikTok video is sparking a debate on exactly how far remote work should be taken.
If remote work just doesn’t make sense to you, keep reading for tips and advice from a pro digital nomad! But to get in the right mindset, watch the viral TikTok first.
Viral remote work video on TikTok
TikTok user @dinosoph shared a video on the app, showing the receptionist at their doctor’s office working from her living room. Talk about a forward-thinking and modern mindset!
The receptionist was able to easily assist patients via the iPad on the reception desk’s counter. Dinosoph summed it up succinctly in the caption:
“This is as 2022 as it gets”, she wrote, and added a few with crying emojis for good measure.
Now considering this video has been viewed nearly 3 million times, it’s easy to understand how a debate was started in the comments. Some felt remote work has been taken too far while others thought this was a step in the right direction.
Watch: ‘As 2022 as it gets’
@dinosoph This is as 2022 as it gets 😭😭😭
♬ original sound – Dinosoph
While some agreed that this was the way to go for most companies, others felt the doctor’s office took it one step too far. One user said: “And what about it? She’s safe and she’s doing her job”, while another added:
“Honestly, everything the front desk people do can be done over a tablet anyways. Schedule, insurance validation, check in, etc”.
Meanwhile, another user said explained they just had a physio appointment over the phone. The user said she initially thought it was a joke, adding “It’s getting ridiculous”.
A woman called Lori said: “I think I’m old. This makes me kind of sad. I miss interacting in person.”
Remote work – Doing it right
According to tech and lifestyle journalist Cheryl Kahla, who said she’s been doing remote work “since before it was cool“, all you need are the right tools, the right mindset, and you’re good to go. Kahla suggests using the following:
- Use Google Groups to create an online space for your team.
- Use Google Meet and the Google Calender to host meetings like a pro.
- If your team doesn’t have Google Workspace, use Slack to stay in touch.
- If you don’t have Slack, try Discord. It’s free and even better in some ways.
- Keep the lines of communication open and transparent.
According to Kahla – who told us via LinkedIn she managed the content and publishing responsibilities of a group of 16 remote writers spread across nine different timelines – practising good workplace etiquette is just as important.
“Just because your team isn’t at the office doesn’t mean they’re not busy. It’s always a good idea to check calendars before scheduling meetings. You can read more about accessing someone’s calendar here“.
To make the process easier, set up working hours in your Google Calendar to inform your co-workers of your availability. It’s as easy as going to Settings, then General and selecting Working Hours. From there, select Enable Working Hours, and select the days and times.
“You might need to try a few different configurations before you discover how to stay focused and not distract others. I’ve personally come to rely on integrations with Google Calendar (such as Monday, Trello and ToDoist) to stay on top of things.
“If, like me, you’re not all that fond of video calls and conferencing, Google’s blog post with six useful tips might just be the thing you need to take you from video-call-hesitant to video-call-pro”.