Remote work is rapidly on the rise and shows no signs of stopping. Gallup estimates that 70+ million U.S. workers can do their job working remotely;
and Upwork’s findings predict 36.2 million Americans will be working remotely by 2025 (87% percent increase from pre-pandemic levels).
Thinking of switching to remote work? Or perhaps you’re eager to boost your productivity while you work remotely on a workcation? Either way – you’ve landed at the right place. Check out these 10 key tips for working remotely.
- Invest in reliable technology
Reliable tech is bread and butter for remote workers. Yes – this means investing in a reliable laptop and finding a reliable internet connection to match. These are essential foundations of your remote working career. Internet connection can be a little tricky for remote workers, especially if you are in a foreign country. And accidents can happen in life (top tip: keep that coffee away from your laptop). I learned that lesson the hard way.
Here are 3 key tips:
- Bring a spare laptop in case your primary laptop needs repair or maintenance
- Backup and save your data in case your internet suddenly cuts out (so work is never lost)
- Invest in a VPN (a virtual private network) to keep your connection secure. Better safe than sorry
- Find an inspiring workspace
The place you work can make or break your productivity. Make sure your workspace is comfortable, well-lit, and free of distractions. Some remote workers prefer to work in coffee shops for normal work but prefer libraries when they really need to focus. It’s up to you. If you feel like you need to get out of the house to be productive, there are now many coworking spaces available around the world. These shared office spaces provide Wi-Fi, a desk, a chair, (and extras like coffee) for a monthly fee. You can sometimes test them out for a day or two (sometimes for a small daily fee) before committing to a membership.
Remote work-from-home tips:
If you’re going to be working from home for a while, it’s worth investing in some good-quality home office equipment. A good-quality chair, a second monitor, and a noise-canceling headset can all make your work life a stress-free joy, rather than a chore. Above all, if you’re working from home, you want a happy space that inspires you and keeps you motivated.
- Love your morning routine
Your morning sets the tone. It can be the difference between feeling like a lazy student and an ambitious, model professional. That’s why creating and sticking to your morning routines is so crucial for remote workers and keeps you on track toward your goals. 7-8 hours of sleep (while still waking up at a reasonable time), good nutrition, and a little time to ourselves are awesome ways to embrace the day.
Everyone is different. So think about what works for you. For me: a healthy breakfast, a tall glass of water, and a 25 minutes walk refreshes and unlocks my mind for the day.
- Manage your time (and find ways to switch off)
Working remotely can supercharge your productivity, but it can also present distractions. And this is where time management comes in. As a remote worker, creating your own structure of working hours and sticking to them is as crucial as brushing your teeth in the morning.
Trust us; switching off at the end of the day is equally important. As drawing a solid line between work and relaxed ‘you’ time is fundamental to our mental health and productivity. A top tip is to look at your to-do list and review how much you have done in the day and make a new one for the next day; logging out of your work devices, switching notifications off, and changing into different clothes if that helps you.
- Remember to be social
“We human beings are social beings… most of our happiness arises in the context of our relationships with others” (Dalai Lama)
Remote work allows you to create your own schedule; and as digital nomads know – work from anywhere, at any time. But this life can be isolating and lonely without making a conscious effort to connect with others. Remember that even introverts need social interaction. So make sure you create time for socialising. Arrange calls (or meetups if possible) with family and friends. And even video calls with colleagues/clients can give you that energising boost that comes from socialising.
Coworking spaces offer opportunities to meet people and form connections. You can also join networking groups or meetups related to your industry – allowing you to connect with collaborators or even find potential clients. It’s important to contribute to work messaging platforms like Slack.
Just remember: human beings are naturally social animals.
- Communicate and collaborate like a pro
There are many great tools available to help remote workers communicate and collaborate effectively. Email, instant messaging, video conferencing, and project management software can all help you stay connected with your team and get your work done. However, it’s important to find tools that work for you and the team.
A smart move is to try and test a few of them and stick to the ones that help you be productive. Once you’ve found what helps you communicate and work well with colleagues, embrace them to the full. Need some inspiration? Some of our favourites include Slack, Trello, Asana, Zoom, Podio, and Flock.
- Track your time
For your own productivity… and especially if you bill your clients by the hour – it’s crucial to track how long you’re spending on each task. Often remote workers forget to track their time accurately as they work outside an office environment. There are many effective time-tracking tools out there, both online and as apps for your phone or computer (some of which even integrate with project management software). Tracking your time helps you see where you’re spending most of your time – and allows you to adjust your work plans and your billing accordingly.
Clockify, Timely, and Toggl are popular options to consider.
- Remove those distractions
Distractions live everywhere at home. The proximity of family, friends, and housemates, the temptation of the TV, social media, or surfing the internet are everywhere. How many times has a 10-minute social media break turned into an hour lost on a tangent? It happens.
It’s now time to remove these distractions so you can focus and be the best remote worker you can be. But how?
We recommend setting up a dedicated work area in your home; your own little oasis free from distractions, where you can be your most concentrated, creative, and productive.
It’s a good idea to establish clear boundaries with the people you live with. Let them know when you’re working and when you’re available, so they can help you stay focused by avoiding distractions during your work time.
If social media is keeping you distracted, try deactivating your account while you’re working or install a tool like Freedom that blocks access to certain websites while you’re trying to focus.
The same philosophy applies if you work in a coworking space. It’s important to find a spot where you can sit and give your uninterrupted, focused attention. This sometimes requires using noise-canceling headphones if you thrive in quiet environments. It’s also a good idea to work in short bursts with dedicated breaks in between to give yourself time to relax and reset. The Pomodoro Technique is one popular way to do this and there are various apps that can help you with adopting it. Like Pomofocus and Pomodoro-Tracker.
- Set goals to motivate you
When you’re working remotely it can be easy to lose motivation, especially if you’re not used to it. One way to stay motivated is to set clear goals and deadlines for each task. This will help you see your progress and feel a sense of accomplishment as you complete each task. A tool like Todoist can help you with this by easily letting you create task lists and setting deadlines.
It’s important to give yourself positive affirmations, tick off to-do lists and celebrate small wins as a remote worker. And remember that social interaction (from chats with friends to video call check-ins with colleagues and clients) gives you a bump of energy and motivation that can kick-start a work session. Organising regular check-ins with your team is also a good way to stay on track and motivated since you’ll be accountable for the work you need to do.
- Venture away from your desk
Take it from us: venturing away from your desk during your working days is fundamental to your remote working success. And the best part is… if you’re a digital nomad or remote working expat – your work breaks are extra special. There’s nothing like exploring a new country and culture to refresh and energise your mind!
Put simply: sitting still for long periods is bad for us. So make sure you stand up, stretch and go for a short walk. Research shows even 5 minutes of walking can boost your mood and reduce stress. Especially if outdoors in nature, fresh air, and natural light. Need to close all tabs and click refresh on your mind? Time to get outside.
There are also some good apps that prompt you to take a break that can remind you to get up and move around every hour. And remember to drink plenty of water.
- It’s okay to ask for help
It’s okay to acknowledge that you need support – and ask for it. In fact: it shows great courage, communication, and professionalism. Rather than being stuck in your tracks and letting anxiety and tension bubble under the surface, sometimes even a quick chat with a colleague can open a door to new progress for you.
Reach out to your manager, colleagues, or peers for help. They’ll likely be more than happy to provide guidance and support. Sometimes all it takes is a fresh set of eyes to help you solve a problem and move forward
Thriving as a remote worker doesn’t happen overnight. But with these handy tips in your back pocket – you’re well on the way to success and can skip around the common pitfalls of working from home.
Feel free to try and embrace the remote working tips that work for you. (everyone is different). The key is to stay composed and positive, especially if you’re new to this. And once you’ve immersed yourself in this new way of work – it is wonderful.
