If you had told me 2 years ago that I would be working remotely with flexible hours for a company outside of South Africa, I would have responded by saying, “Izzit?” with a side eye 👀. That’s a South African way of saying, “Is that so” or “Really?” because I would have never believed it.

Today, I work as a Developer Advocate Intern at the leading open-source Headless CMS’ in the Jamstack ecosystem, Strapi. As this is the first ever company I’ve worked for, Strapi offers both remote work and flexible hours. Something that’s not common in South Africa as of yet.

I also love that we have flexible work hours. Having flexible work hours means Strapiers can begin their work earlier in the day or later than the initially set time. I must admit, working from home is a luxury, but one does get too comfortable. Before diving into how I spend my time working remotely, here’s a brief background.

Me Before Strapi

I am a self-taught front-end developer who is based in South Africa. I started my journey in tech in 2021 and made a brand name for myself as Trecia Kat. Although I’ve mentioned that Strapi is the first ever company I’ve worked for remotely, it's certainly not the first exposure to remote work.

I worked as a freelancer for about 6 months for a remote job-based in the US before I joined Strapi as an intern this year. Since I’ve discovered and experienced remote work, I never want to return. Although working in an office gives you a sense of productivity and work energy, here’s how I make the best use of time and bring out productivity at home.

Preparing The Workspace

I love to work in a clean workspace as it limits my distractions. Working in a clean, organized environment allows me to start my work with a clear mind. What’s nice about having a workspace is that I’m in my work zone once I'm seated. This helps me be productive and get work done, as I feel like I am sitting in an actual office setting. I set a barrier to letting people in the house know that when I am working, my home office is off-limits.

Another thing is to place things you like on your workstation as a way to motivate you for the day. I’m sure you’ve noticed that I am a huge Van Gogh and Hello Kitty fan. I make sure to add anything related to them so that when I get to my office, I feel energized.

Planning A Schedule

Working remotely will come with days when you feel too comfortable and lazy, resulting in not completing work for the day. I’ve experienced it, and one way to curb this is by creating a dedicated work schedule or a to-do list.

When I have a list of things to do, it helps me to see what to prioritize or what-not-to-forget and that, in turn, saves me a lot of time throughout the day. I also avoid multitasking on two or more activities so as not to shift my concentration, which may reduce my productivity.

Taking Breaks

While I do try to get a lot of work done and avoid distractions, it does not stop me from taking short rests or ending my work day earlier. Taking regular breaks while working is a great way to keep focus and productivity throughout the day. I like to take breaks to go on the internet or to read a book.

However, it can happen that once you chill, your will to work is gone, and I do my absolute best to avoid that. I like to start my day early so that in the afternoon, I don’t have to work and have time for other activities. Scheduled breaks can help you resist the desire to leave your desk too soon. You have complete control over the time and frequency of your breaks, but you must create a balance.

Final Thoughts

Remote work and not having to commute has been the best experience. I save money by not traveling to a physical office and enjoy the pleasure of working from home. To successfully get the benefits of working from home and being productive, I really have to take the time to evaluate and plan how I spend my day to ensure that I work at my best.

I am fortunate to be working at Strapi and experiencing the good things remote work offers. Knowing that I can work anywhere, anytime, has me convinced that more companies should invest in this kind of work culture and environment.