7 Useful Things WFH Employees Need to Consider While Working Remotely

Nowadays, more and more companies are embracing the concept of remote working since the pandemic happened. Team collaboration, meetings, and remote working transform how, when, and where people work.

Remote work defined

In a nutshell, remote work is done from a physical office location. It provides your employees with the flexibility to do their job and stay productive, whether on the road or at home.

Moreover, the rise of cloud technology and enhanced communication and collaboration tools have paved the way for more and more people to join the remote work movement. But if you’re new to remote working, it may be challenging to adapt to the work-from-home lifestyle.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the useful things you need to consider when working remotely.

1. Build a permanent working space

One of the first steps in your work-from-home journey is to designate a specific area in your home where you can get the work done.

It can be either an empty or spare space in your home, which you can easily convert into a home office. If you have limited space, you can set up a desk where you can place your computer and office supplies that you’ll be needing.

Regardless of the space or location, you should create an area in your home where you’ll be working and commit a couple of hours to work in this space each day.

See to it that this area is free from distractions so that you can focus on your tasks. Also, make sure that this environment will keep you motivated to tackle whatever task comes your way.

2. Structure your days

Come up with to-do lists, and put breaks in between so that you can focus on deep work easily. You might want to break down your day into different chunks dedicated to doing various tasks.

The more structure you have in your working days, the less likely you’ll get sidetracked.

3. Know your working style

Before starting your remote work journey, it’s also a great idea to figure out the environment you need to work in successfully.

For instance, do you like being surrounded by white noise? Then, a coffee shop is your best option. Or do you work well in silence? If so, then you should be investing in noise-canceling headphones.

You might want to consider the hours of the day where you’re most productive. Are you more productive in the morning or the evening? Are you more motivated if you take small, frequent breaks or a more extended break at midday?

4. Use time-management apps

Do you struggle to stay on the task at hand when working remotely? Then, maybe it’s high time that you kick things up a notch and try using a time management app.

These productivity apps will help you track the amount of time you’re spending on each task and tone down distractions. Some of the examples of these apps are:

• Harvest
• RescueTime
• Toggl

You might also consider getting a time tracker app to measure your productivity levels regularly. It will provide you insight into your most productive hours during the day and show you how much time you’re spending on every task.

5. Get a reliable tech

Any remote worker will tell you that having a consistent internet connection is crucial to their success.

Aside from seamlessly holding video conferences, you also need to think about the technology tools you’ll be needing to do your job well. For instance, transcription is vital in online meetings. That’s why choosing a transcription software that meets those needs is important.

For instance, you can invest in high-quality headphones with a mic. Ideally, pick one that has noise-canceling features. Ideally, look for a pair of headsets with long battery life, a microphone, noise-canceling, and Bluetooth compatibility.

Doing so allows you to work anywhere minus the background noise. You might also want to consider getting wireless keyboards and mouses, even a second screen which can be crucial to efficiency and productivity.

6. Get comfortable office equipment

In the same way, you should also be investing in comfortable office furniture. Depending on the available space, you might want to consider buying bookshelves, desks, and a comfy office chair.

Remember that you’ll be working on this space all day. So, for the chair, ensure that you get lumbar support, armrests, and a seat height that adjusts to you and your body.

7. Use a planner

It would help if you also got a planner or calendar. You’re working from home on some days, and you’re on the road on other days. Make it a habit to use a planner to write important things down. It helps you keep track of any appointments, deadlines, and meetings.

Fortunately, different task management tools allow you to organize projects and tasks. If you’re not the type who wants a write it down on a to-do list type of person, then there are a lot of project management apps out there, such as:

• Asana
• Basecamp
• Freedcamp
• Trello

These apps offer web-based and mobile versions, so you can easily use them even on your phone.

Over to You

So there you have it. Whether hybrid or working full time, remote working is here to stay for many companies and organizations.

Leaders, managers, and employees should adapt to the new normal. Hopefully, these tips will help you lead a more productive remote-work life. Good luck!