The COVID-19 pandemic has proved that remote work is possible and sustainable long-term. Today, thousands of businesses, including those that used to frown upon the concept, are closing or downsizing their physical workplaces to embrace the remote work model fully. However, for employees, learning how to get the most out of remote work is imperative if they want to maintain or improve productivity, creativity, and performance while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

The truth is, without proper planning and organization, this isn’t possible, and as a result, thousands fail to reap the amazing advantages of work-from-anywhere. Therefore, in this post, we’ll share 5 tips to get the most out of remote work.

5 Tips to Get the Most Out of Remote Work

1. Set Up a Dedicated Workspace At Home

The biggest challenge of remote work is separating your work and professional life so you can strike the right balance between your tasks and non-work-related activities, such as family time, errands, and recreation. Therefore, you need to ensure everyone, including you, understands that working remotely doesn’t mean you’re home.

One way to do this is to set up a designated workspace or home office, whether it’s in your living room, shed, garage, attic, basement, or anywhere you can focus without being distracted. Moreover, you should set up your workspace with everything you need for everyday tasks, such as a computer, internet connection, lighting, soundproofing, stationary, etc.

2. Work From Anywhere

If you don’t want to limit yourself to a single workspace, you can equip yourself with a powerful laptop and backup accessories and find a great coworking space or local coffee shop. You could also travel or relocate to another city or town to be closer to your family or friends, and treat your professional life every day like a work-ation.

Working from different locations will also help you overcome burnout or loneliness as you connect with the real world instead of simply hooking yourself to an isolated workstation at home. You can also opt for a remote (virtual or in-person) community and surround yourself with other remote employees to build your connections and simulate an office-like environment.

The only difference is, that you won’t have to look out for your manager monitoring you and pretend to look busy at all times. Instead, you could deal with clients or build software while sipping a fruity cocktail from the beach.

3. Equip Yourself With Proper Hardware and Software

To get the best out of remote work, you need to equip your remote workstation with the proper tech in terms of both hardware and software. This includes a reliable and secure internet connection, communication software, and cloud applications. For instance, you can opt for Microsoft 365 to enable access to files from any device instead of sticking to the desktop version.

Today, there seems to be an app for just about everything. For example, if part of your daily routine involves signing documents, you can opt for an electronic signature tool. Working on several projects allows you to opt for project management tools for greater productivity.

Just because you’re working remotely doesn’t mean there’s room for disruptions or distractions, especially during communications. Since you no longer have the luxury to communicate in person, you’ll need to ensure you have reliable software and equipment to handle video or voice calls without losing connection.

You can invest in a better internet connection, a more powerful WiFi device, noise-canceling headphones, and even a second or third screen for multi-tasking.

4. Find Time for Self-Care

When working remotely, the lines between work and home can blur easily. As a result, many employees begin to find themselves stuck behind their screens for longer periods, even when it’s not necessary. Unless you’re closing a major deal or on the verge of completing an important project, you need to give your mind and body time.

There’s much more to this than taking strategic breaks or eating well. You need to create a smart fitness routine, so you’re focused and productive at all times. You can kick start your day with a run around the neighborhood block or park, or you could end a night by heading to the gym. If you don’t like either option, you could opt for a sport like football, soccer, or basketball with your neighbors or friends.

Furthermore, the flexibility of remote work allows you to take better care of your health. For instance, you don’t have to worry about leaving the office during standard business hours for a doctor’s appointment. You could adjust your work schedule for the day without putting it off.

5. Stay in Touch With Your Colleagues

Finally, our last tip to get the most out of remote work is always staying in conversation with your peers and organization. The last thing you want is to drop off the radar when working remotely, especially if you’re new or looking for more important roles down the line. So, contribute regularly to team chats or group emails. Ask your colleagues about their day and what they’ve been working on.

The idea is to foster workplace relationships without being at the office. So, make time for non-work chats as you would during a lunch break using video calling tools. If your colleagues live nearby, you could hang out with them for a cold one after a long day to get some face-to-face contact. Lastly, don’t be shy to ask for support when needed.

Remote work is a fairly new concept, and it’s okay not to be well-versed with high-tech software and hardware initially.

Wrap up

So, there you have it – 5 powerful tips to reap the full benefits of work-from-anywhere. By learning how to get the most out of your remote work and embracing some or all of the tips above, you’ll notice a significant difference in your life regarding energy, time, productivity, and work-life balance. Remote and hybrid work models have become a norm in the business world. Therefore, adopting both models will be key to your overall job performance and satisfaction.

For more information related to remote work and technologies, visit Percento Technologies today.