I Made These 5 Remote Work Mistakes in My First Month (You Don't Have To)
My first month working remotely was a mess. I stayed online until 9 PM trying to "prove myself," forgot to take lunch breaks, and wondered why I felt exhausted after two weeks.
Here are the 5 mistakes I made — and exactly what I should have done instead. If you're starting your first remote job, learn from my experience.
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Mistake #1: I Didn't Set Work Hours (And Burned Out in 2 Weeks)
❌ What I did wrong:
I kept Slack open from 7 AM to 9 PM "just in case." No clear start or end time. By week 2, I was exhausted and resentful.
✅ What I should have done:
- Set clear work hours: 9 AM - 5 PM (or whatever your contract says)
- Close Slack at 5 PM sharp — no exceptions the first month
- Use the Timezone Availability Calculator to communicate your schedule
- Add work hours to your Slack status and email signature
The result: Once I set boundaries, I actually got more done in 8 hours than I did in 12. Focus beats availability.
Mistake #2: I Didn't Communicate Enough (And People Thought I Wasn't Working)
❌ What I did wrong:
I worked silently for 3 days, then submitted everything at once. My manager had no idea what I was doing and started micromanaging.
✅ What I should have done:
- Post daily updates in the team channel (even just "Working on X today")
- Send end-of-day summaries to my manager
- Proactively share progress, not just finished work
- Ask questions in public channels (helps everyone learn)
Remote work rule: If you're not visible, you're invisible. Over-communicate in the first month.
Mistake #3: I Skipped Breaks (And My Focus Tanked by 2 PM)
❌ What I did wrong:
I ate lunch at my desk while working. No walks, no breaks. By 2 PM, I was staring at my screen accomplishing nothing.
✅ What I should have done:
- Block 1 hour for lunch — actually leave my desk
- Take 5-minute breaks every hour (walk, stretch, look outside)
- Use the Pomodoro technique: 25 min work, 5 min break
- Schedule breaks in my calendar so they happen
Mistake #4: I Didn't Track What I Actually Did Each Day
❌ What I did wrong:
When my manager asked "What did you work on this week?" I blanked. I had no record of my accomplishments.
✅ What I should have done:
- Keep a daily work log (simple text file or Notion page)
- Track tasks completed, meetings attended, blockers encountered
- Use this log for weekly reports and performance reviews
- Also helps you see if you're overworking
Mistake #5: I Tried to Figure Everything Out Alone
❌ What I did wrong:
I spent 4 hours stuck on a task that a teammate could have explained in 10 minutes. I didn't want to "bother" anyone.
✅ What I should have done:
- Ask for help after 30 minutes of being stuck
- Use this phrase: "I've tried X and Y — could you point me in the right direction?"
- Schedule regular check-ins with my manager (weekly 1-on-1s)
- Find a work buddy on the team for quick questions
Remember: Asking for help shows initiative. Staying stuck for hours shows poor judgment.
Your First-Month Remote Work Checklist
- □ Set clear work hours and communicate them to your team
- □ Post daily updates in your team channel
- □ Block lunch breaks and stick to them
- □ Keep a daily work log
- □ Ask for help after 30 minutes of being stuck
- □ Schedule weekly 1-on-1s with your manager
- □ Close Slack at end of work day
Common Questions About Starting Remote Work
What are the most common remote work mistakes beginners make?
The most common mistakes are: not setting boundaries between work and personal life, over-communicating or under-communicating, not tracking your work, skipping breaks, and not asking for help when stuck.
How do I avoid burnout in my first remote job?
Set clear work hours, take scheduled breaks, create a dedicated workspace, and communicate your availability to your team. Use time tracking to ensure you're not overworking.
Should I work longer hours to impress my remote manager?
No. Remote work is about results, not hours. Focus on delivering quality work during your scheduled hours. Overworking leads to burnout and isn't sustainable.
How often should I communicate with my remote team?
Follow your team's norms. Typically: daily stand-ups, weekly check-ins, and immediate updates on blockers. Don't go silent for more than 24 hours during work days.
What tools help track my remote work progress?
Use the RemotelyYou Application Tracker for job search progress, and tools like Notion, Trello, or Asana for work tasks. Time tracking apps like Toggl help monitor your actual work hours.
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Written by Melanie Komjatiová, Remote Work Consultant and founder of RemotelyYou.co. She helps beginners land their first remote jobs using free tools, real examples, and 1-on-1 strategy.