With times changing drastically and the 3rd wave crashing in, more and more people are opting to work remotely. It is essential that we have the correct tools to assist us. If you were not accustomed to working remotely, it might be quite a challenge. You may not be prepared for what is ahead of you, and it is important to give yourself the best chance when it comes to successfully working remotely. While working remotely may sound appealing, there can be many distractions and you can easily get off track. Gathering essential tools is crucial in allowing you to efficiently and productively work remotely. Below are some essentials tools to utilise when making the shift to a home office.
Set up a Workspace
Setting up a proper and functional workspace is one of the first things that should be done when working remotely. Giving yourself the space that you would normally have within a workplace environment is key to working productively. Your workspace should be free from distractions and clutter. An ergonomic and comfortable chair is also important. Sitting upright can help you focus as it reduces pain by supporting your posture, and improves wellness and productivity. If possible, setting up this space in a quiet room or area is ideal. Keeping your work to this one space will help you to maintain boundaries once the work day is over.
Create an Organized Schedule
Creating an organized schedule to follow is another thing that should be done as soon as you start remote work. If you don’t have a set schedule, you may find yourself losing hours, unsure of where to start and most of all, procrastinating. Sticking to a schedule, like you would in an office, will allow you to keep the structure of your day. If you're working from home, make sure the ones around you are aware of your set schedule. They may view your working remotely as free time, which can distract you from your work.
Taking Regular Breaks
While working remotely, it's easy to forget to take breaks and to work late into the night. We are solely responsible for taking breaks when working remotely, there are no employers or colleagues to remind us. Taking regular breaks in your day is essential for productivity. Breaks can increase your motivation, renew your focus, improve your memory and problem-solving abilities, and give you an energy boost. It's also important to take breaks to ensure your work-life balance, and to separate your professional and personal time.
In addition, taking breaks between those on-line meetings is equally as important. In the past we would jump in the car and have 20/ 30 minutes to catch our breath and process important aspects of our meeting, jumping in and out of on-line meetings with a minute to spare might seem productive but is actually adding to our already existing rat race and deprives us of consolidation time.
Use Remote Working Software
Software and apps are a huge part of working remotely. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to connect with our employers and colleagues, or do our work efficiently. Software and apps are available for many different daily needs and types of work. These programs can be used for time management, note taking, project management, meetings and conferences. Below are some useful apps and software for you to look into.
For time management:
· Hubstaff
· WorkHours
· HiveDesk
· Timely
· RescueTime
For note taking:
· Notion
· Evernote
· Slite
· Google Keep
· Standard Notes
For project Management:
· Slack
· GitHub
· Trello
· Asana
· Filestage
For meetings and conferences:
· Zoom
· Join.me
· Google Hangouts
· RingCentral Meetings
· Teams
Working remotely can be a challenge and feel chaotic, however, with the right tools and mindset it can result in a more relaxed lifestyle if you manage your time effectively. Utilising essential tools to help you work remotely will improve your efficiency, actively connect you with your colleagues and help you to make the most of your work day.
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