How to Maximize Productivity in Different Time Zones

For instance, when you go from Toronto to Winnipeg, you gain an hour, or if you go to Calgary, you move back even more. These changes impact everything, from flight schedules to sleep patterns on long trips. This will prevent your sleep from getting constantly interrupted by phone calls and message alerts (and is good practice even if you’re not working in another time zone!). When moving from Australia to North America, things become a bit more complicated.

• According to Pan Fang, this suggests that firms might benefit from favoring North-South distributions of their workforce.
• With a fresh cup of coffee in front of the computer, your teammate on the other side of the globe may be in the middle of sleep.
• However, in 1942, Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco decided to switch their time zone in order to be in line with Nazi Germany.
• Tools like Google Calendar convert time automatically if you note the correct zone.

The Pros and Cons of Living in Different Time Zones as a Remote Worker

Before scheduling tasks, take into account colleagues’ time zones and working hours. Various spheres of business activity can allow working remotely by choosing the model of the workflow organization that is approaching the most. As a result, the employer has ample facilities in the personnel reserve selection, creating a team of strong players, regardless of the residence place. This is a key factor that influences the transition to remote working across time zones. Working across time zones requires a certain level of flexibility and compromise.

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This discrepancy can delay problem resolution, impacting workflow and productivity, which can be frustrating in a remote setting. By embracing asynchronous communication, setting boundaries, and keeping time zones in mind, you can thrive in a global workspace. The key to success is being adaptable, patient, and proactive—skills that are valuable in any work setting. Working with people in other time zones can lead to extended workdays if you’re not careful. Set clear boundaries for when you’re available, and communicate these to your team. Use tools like Google Calendar to show your working hours and respect others’ boundaries in return.

Daylight Saving Time

Working in a different time zone from your team is an undeniable challenge, but with the right mindset and tools, it’s entirely possible to collaborate effectively. Whether you’re managing a team or simply part of one, clear communication, flexibility, and respect for others’ time will help you overcome the challenges that time zones create. Working in different time zones can create a range of challenges that, if unaddressed, can hinder communication, productivity, and collaboration. “The main challenge is synchronizing projects, which sometimes delays decision-making,” says business owner Josh Cremer, who has experience managing teams in different time zones. Extended travel can complicate work-life balance even more, especially when moving between continents. A digital nomad travelling from Canada to Australia faces a significant time difference.

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When scheduling meetings, tools like SimplyBook.me or Calendly can help you find a time that works for everyone. Remember to also take advantage of video conferencing tools like Zoom or Google Meet for face-to-face communication, which can help build rapport and trust among team members. Now that we learned the challenges of working remotely through a different time zone let’s see a few tactics that you can adopt to master time zone management. They were created in the nineteenth century because the world needed a unified system to keep track of time.

Sometimes, you may need to adjust your schedule to accommodate a meeting or deadline for a colleague in a different time zone. Be open to these adjustments, as they can help create a more harmonious and productive work environment. The lack of physical presence makes it easier for remote workers to lose connection with their team.

This is a true gem for digital nomads wanting to be more productive and avoid endless (and sometimes useless) meetings. Before scheduling meetings or setting deadlines, consider the time differences and find a suitable time that works for everyone. Avoid last-minute changes, as this can cause confusion and stress for your colleagues or clients. Planning ahead will make sure everyone is well-informed and prepared for meetings and deadlines. If you are headed towards the popular remote work destination of Southeast Asia, digital nomad hub cities there, like Bangkok, are six hours ahead of GMT (London).

That’s because researchers claim that, in the locations where the sun sets later, living and working in different time zones people tend to go to bed later. I was going to put together a fabulous list of all the great tools that are out there for working across time zones, and then they did it for me. It’s about creating a series of actions you perform each morning to help transition from a state of rest to being fully prepared for the day’s challenges.

And to keep all the above together, it’s good to organize a space where everybody can communicate despite the time differences. And don’t forget about the software that helps track your team’s work and the progress they make. Another key strategy to maintain a healthy work-life balance when working in a different time zone is to plan ahead.

This means paying attention to your physical, mental, and emotional health, and taking care of yourself accordingly. You can also reflect on your work satisfaction and performance, your personal and professional growth, and your work-life balance, and celebrate your progress and accomplishments. Even if this seems like exaggerations, here’s another fact you should know. When it comes to later bedtimes, researchers say the difference is usually around 19 minutes.

• When scheduling meetings, consider the time zones of all participants to minimize inconvenience.
• I was going to put together a fabulous list of all the great tools that are out there for working across time zones, and then they did it for me.
• Freaking Nomads is the online publication and community for all things digital nomad.
• Check the connection quality before communicating in conferences or personal correspondence.
• We offer ten tips to avoid problems and disruption of the workflow.

You can compare prices with Numbeo to determine your monthly expenses while staying in a foreign country. Choosing time zones is somewhat dependent on the type of remote work you do. Sometimes, you’ll have to stretch your own comfort zone to accommodate others.

Finally, another important aspect is establishing a dedicated workspace and avoiding working from your bed or couch. By creating a physical separation between work and home life, you can help to maintain a healthy balance and avoid burnout. To overcome this substantial obstacle, it’s important to utilize technology to its fullest potential. It’s also important to be proactive in your communication, asking questions and seeking clarification when necessary.

To maintain a healthy work-life balance, you should make sure to establish clear boundaries and always prioritize self-care. As a remote worker, I’ve had the opportunity to work with amazing clients and colleagues worldwide. But there were times that I really struggled with the time zone difference. Working with a distributed team can be challenging at first because it’s difficult to build the kind of rapport that comes naturally when working in an office setting. It takes extra effort for remote teams to stay on task without face-to-face communication.

As a basis, you can take a certain time zone, to which all employees will adjust. Exercise, eat well, and practice mindfulness techniques like meditation or deep breathing. By taking care of yourself, you’ll be better equipped to handle the challenges of working remotely through various time zones and enjoy traveling the world. When you’re working remotely in a different time zone, it can be easy to blur the lines between work and home life.

This could mean, for example, that you work each day between 6am-2pm, or 1pm-9pm, in order to overlap with the start or end of your home country’s business day. There are some definite lifestyle benefits to living overseas while retaining the steady income that comes with a job in your home country. So, you have a location independent job – or will soon pick up a new job that allows you to work remotely – and you’re thinking of moving overseas. To help your body and mind wake up, thus prepare yourself for work, you should try taking a quick walk in the morning. Even better, boost your energy with a 30-minute workout or yoga session.