Remote work and entrepreneurship: tips for achieving a good balance

In the current era, remote work has become a fundamental lifestyle for entrepreneurs who seek the best way to efficiently integrate their business obligations with their private lives. As we approach periods when Spain comes to a complete standstill, remote work becomes even more relevant.

The concept of remote work that we all have in mind not only offers flexible time management but also, when implemented correctly, allows for maintaining high levels of efficiency. This is possible as long as a proper structure is established for project development, without compromising quality of life—an essential aspect for workers.

Undoubtedly, remote work can be a key and valid tool for achieving a balance between launching a project or completing another and personal needs in our current context.

We invite you to discover the most important aspects to consider in making this situation viable. To this end, we rely on the experience of Thais Glod, CEO of Innbound and manager at the Climate-KIC accelerator, where she leads innovative initiatives for the green transition. She is also an ambassador for the European Union's (EU) Climate Pact and a startup mentor. Additionally, we have Ximena Vargas, entrepreneur and co-founder of De Pasada, who shares her perspective as a part-time entrepreneur, combining her role in the travel and activities company for women with her job at a flexible company. Lastly, we learn from Richard Morla, who, before the rise of remote work, launched his company RUDO and worked remotely full-time while traveling the world.

Each of their perspectives will offer us an experiential, realistic, and motivating vision of the possibility of remote work and project launching, something they have experienced firsthand. For Richard, for example, the key lies in understanding that "work is work, no matter the location," emphasizing discipline and personal organization to maintain constant productivity.

“Create Your Work Corner”

One of the key elements to being productive during remote work is establishing an appropriate place that fosters concentration and performance. Morla highlights the importance of having a space that provides tranquility and privacy to become your work area. This approach allows us to focus, improve work efficiency, and help clearly separate work time from personal time. Common examples of remote workspaces outside the home include coworking spaces, hotel rooms, work cafes, and coliving spaces.

Thais Glod, for her part, tells us that when traveling frequently, it is essential to maintain rituals that stimulate a work mindset, such as a drink, accessories, or even specific music to enhance concentration. She proposes using places like work cafes and franchises that standardize the environment in terms of connectivity and tranquility, such as Santander WorkCafés in Spain or Starbucks in the United States.

“Time is Gold, If You Use It Properly”

Ximena Vargas emphasizes the need to adapt work to one's lifestyle and personal projects. However, she stresses that this flexibility requires very efficient time management.

Effective time management is key to balancing entrepreneurial responsibilities and personal life. It is essential to set defined schedules and adhere to them rigorously to maximize productivity, all with the aim of ensuring enough time for personal and professional activities. This structure is crucial during periods of intense workload or when facing changing project demands. Without proper time organization, we will have significant difficulties making remote work an efficient option.

“Far but Always Connected”

Communication, both in the work and personal context, is fundamental for promoting good mental health. Maintaining fluid and constant communication with friends, family, and work teams is essential to ensure a sense of belonging, closeness, and alignment with project or life goals. Thais Glod specifically mentions tools like Slack, Notion, Trello, or Asana to plan these connections and make it more comfortable to achieve. In her team, for example, they always have meetings on Mondays and Thursdays to review the workload at the beginning of the week and then follow up on progress, as well as a weekly meeting on Wednesdays to share some "gossip" and disconnect a bit from work remotely.

Based on his experience, Richard Morla also underscores the need to organize regular meetings and use online collaboration tools to maintain connection and coordination in the work and personal spheres, despite physical distance.

“Adapt or Die”

Remote work, in the context of entrepreneurship, faces the crucial challenge of fully integrating into a person's life. Being adaptable and flexible is essential to meet all changing needs, both personal and professional. This ability not only facilitates effectively resolving emerging challenges but also allows for adjusting work to be compatible with various daily life demands. For Morla, it is crucial to understand that if you do not adapt to the project's needs at certain times, you will not be able to take advantage of this methodology. There will be more and less flexible moments, but adapting to each situation is key for this modality to work effectively.

According to Ximena Vargas, work flexibility goes beyond being connected to a computer. It involves deciding when to meet in person and when it is more productive to work from home. In this sense, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining routines and having relaxation moments, like reading or practicing yoga, to separate work life from personal life.

“If You Want, You Can”

Remote work allows for launching and pursuing projects, as long as a proper structure and mental motivation are maintained, considering the efforts and obligations involved. Thais Glod highlights that remote work, when managed correctly, not only offers the necessary flexibility to lead multiple initiatives but can also foster greater innovation and creativity.

On the other hand, Richard Morla, based on his 2019 experience, emphasizes that remote work, managed with discipline and clear planning, can be an ideal tool for effectively reconciling professional and personal life for entrepreneurs.

Finally, Ximena Vargas underscores the importance of working on something that aligns with your personal and professional purpose. In her startup, Zityhub, they promote the idea that "work is not a place, but the result," thus highlighting efficiency and productivity over physical presence in an office.

We should do all this through the creation of suitable workspaces, efficient time organization, constant communication, and adaptability. Under these premises, it will be possible to maintain high levels of productivity while enjoying a balanced personal life, something we especially seek during the summer months ahead.

Remote work, managed with the right mindset and tools, can become a significant source of professional and personal growth for both the individual and the project being launched.