The Woman Who Can Do It All

Who are you?

For women in business, it can sometimes feel as though there are countless obstacles in between you and success. This can feel especially true if you’re trying to get in on the ground floor, or even create your own business.

The work environment is typically presented as it is what it is, either you want to jump in or you find a different career path. But, for a modern woman, that model may not be compatible with everyday life.

This can result in many women not taking advantage of opportunities, because of worries about how to make it all work. However, remote work can provide the flexibility needed to help a woman continue to do it all.

Let’s break this down…

According to a recent article from Bloomberg, only 2.5% of all venture-capital-backed startups have an all-female founding team, and only 20% of all American venture capitalist investment goes to startups where at least one female is a part of the founding members.

The low rates reflect how low the number of women in the startup world is. Whether you are looking to create your own enterprise, or be a part of an exciting new company, these numbers could be a part of why women are feeling discouraged about working for startups.

What are the benefits of working remotely?

Remote work can provide so many benefits for a lot of different lifestyles, but it feels especially applicable to women. According to The New York Times, women will traditionally feel more stressed at work. Because of competing obligations, emotional labor, all on top of a 9–5, women are twice as likely to suffer from severe stress and anxiety as men are. For women working for a startup or small size company, this is seen to an even greater degree.

These stressors can impact all aspects of your life, and can even lead to poor job performance. But, the benefits of working remotely, even just part-time, can help to reduce overall stress without decreasing the amount of work done.

No commute:

The time and money that can be saved from working from home is a huge benefit. The time saved means that your workday is truly based on how much time you spend working, instead of adding in extra time on either end of your day. You can also save big on gas costs, helping you get more from your workday!

Increased efficiency:

Your work time revolves around the amount of time you spend working. You don’t have to budget in time for unnecessary interruptions, water cooler chat, and more. This helps you get the most out of the time you spend working.

Increased job satisfaction:

The Wall Street Journal explored this in their 2007 article, where they cite surveys that show that remote workers report the highest levels of satisfaction with their jobs and employers. This is in part because of the high levels of trust and respect that employers must place in their remote workers to continue high-quality work from home.

With all of these benefits, it is now possible to reduce stress without reducing the quality or quantity of your work. This can help you advance your career, without taking away from your own peace of mind.

How to make it work

1. Schedule work hours

   It can be tempting to continue working on a project long into the night, especially when you are working from home. Set blocks of time that are designated for work, and enjoy the time off that you deserve.

2. Check in regularly
   Working from home can sometimes cause people to feel separate from the rest of their co-workers. By checking in regularly, you can stay up to date on all aspects of traditional work life, from home.

3. Find your work zone
   If you chose to work from home, a coffee shop, or a coworking space, having a zone that signals to you that it is time to work can help improve focus and productivity.

What jobs work remotely?

The short answer? Almost any!

If you’re looking to get your own business up and running, check out online resources like the Small Business Administration, which even includes information on SBA-guaranteed loans!

If you’re looking for a change, check job sites such as Flexjobs.com, which features remote, freelance, and part-time jobs. Other job posting sites such as LinkedIn and Indeed will also feature remote work, just use the location “virtual”, “remote”, or “anywhere” in your search. Do not forget to update your resume regularly with the help of a resume creator. Another tip, follow tech news sites to see which companies are at the forefront of digitalization. These businesses are usually more open when it comes to flexible job positions, which will lead to more career development.