Over the last few weeks I have met many folks new to the office anywhere lifestyle. Being new to workshifting is sometimes like leaving for college for the first time. You are in a new place with complete freedom over your time and environment. This can be overwhelming for anyone. Laying a good foundation will help you be successful as a new workshifter.

Creating C.L.E.A.R. goals will help you do this.

Communicate

Communication is oxygen to the workshifter. Staying connected with your team, manager, or customers is essential. It is nice to have folks on the other end for feedback and accountability. I recommend setting available hours your team knows they can reach you. Try to respond within 24 hours if possible to messages. The main thing is having a goal to keep communication open and easy.

Learn

Set an education goal. Keep in the growth mode. Stay current on tools and methods that will help you be more productive. Follow blogs and read books on topics that develop your skills as a digital nomad. You are either moving forward or backwards. Staying in the learning mode will keep you ahead of the curve.

Exercise

It becomes routine to camp out in a coffee shop or home office for days on end. Too many lattes or trips to the fridge can diminish concentration and clarity of thought. Developing exercise goals will help you stay active and increase energy levels.

Associate

Get out and meet other workshifters in your area. Form a mastermind to share stories, resources, and ideas. It also gets you offline where you can get some face to face interaction with like minds.

Refresh

Change your environment. Don't let your world close in like a cubicle. Set a goal to refresh your surroundings every so often. This helps keep the creative juices flowing and prevents drudgery from setting in.

Goals will make your transition to workshifting seamless. You will get up and running a lot faster and ensure the win-win relationship between you and your work. What are your C.L.E.A.R. goals?

Photo Credit: lululemon athletica