6 Tips That Can Make Remote Work A Lot Better

You’ve probably heard from various sources over the past several months that remote work and other flexible work options are here to stay in the wake of COVID.

Many working professionals are beginning to see the considerable benefits of working remotely. Flexible work hours, zero commuting costs, and the freedom to choose a suitable working environment are all contributing factors.

However, productivity and boundary-related issues surrounding remote work are beginning to crop up. It could very well be that these problems are bound to happen and inherent to remote work’s nature.

MacBook Pro with a group of coworkers working remotely.
Coworkers working remotely on a video call. Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash.

But with a few tips and tricks, you can set clear boundaries and be productive with remote work, just as you would in an office setting.

Leverage Video Calling Applications

Regardless of which tool your organization uses—Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, or Skype—make sure that you’re using the video feature as much as you can.

It’s the easiest way to facilitate smooth communication in a remote work setting. You can quickly resolve questions, get project updates, or ask for help by connecting over video.

Leverage different features that these platforms provide for work-related functionalities—like automatic scheduling, integrations with calendars, waiting rooms, and virtual whiteboards.

Use FaceTime For Non-Work Calls With Colleagues

Given that employees are working remotely, the in-office experience of having interactions, easy team collaborations, and engaging in small-talk is largely absent from a virtual office environment.

For these reasons, use video calling with colleagues for non-work-related purposes. Say, for instance, use a simple application like FaceTime to set up fun team bonding calls or simply to ask your colleagues how they’re doing outside of work.

If you’re facing issues on FaceTime or find that it’s not working on your MacBook Pro, read this guide on how to fix FaceTime not working on Mac.

By enhancing the relationship that you have with co-workers at your organization, you will, in turn, improve your work communication and productivity.

Create A Designated Work Area

A quiet, comfortable, well-lit workspace is absolutely essential even if you think you’re someone who can handle the fuzzy boundaries between remote work and home life.

Over time, you’re likely to slip into your lousy work habits if you don’t have a clearly demarcated workstation.

Woman using laptop to work remotely
Woman using a laptop on her couch for remote work. Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash.

Create your workspace in a way that you’re able to replicate your office setting as much as possible. This will always remind you that your work is a priority and there is important stuff to be done.

Write Daily To-Do Lists

In the thick of staying at home, things are bound to come up all the time. Dirty dishes in the sink, a messy bedroom, and unwashed clothes piling up are all going to serve as reminders that you’ve got a lot of household-related chores to get done.

It’s easy to get distracted and switch from one task to another without thinking about your work priorities. For the same reason, it’s essential to create separate daily to-do lists for work-related activities and one for non-work tasks.

Proactively managing your task lists will help you organize and sort out your priorities in a structured manner.

Get All The Important Tech Stuff

Before you begin work, ensure that you have all the tech resources necessary for working from home.

It’s ideal to go the extra mile and invest a bit here—it will significantly boost your work productivity.

Get a stable and fast internet connection, set up your work desk with tools that you’ll often require, get multiple monitors to avoid being hunched over a tiny laptop screen all day.

Leverage Internet Faxing For Better Remote Communication

If your company utilizes fax-based communication for work purposes, it’s ideal to invest in an internet faxing service provider.

Unlike traditional faxing methods, internet faxing is tailored to be more efficient for remote work settings. You do not need a physical fax machine or a phone line to send documents.

Internet Faxing is a safe, efficient, cost-effective, and reliable way to ensure smooth communication at your organization if you have remote teams spread across the world.

Conclusion

It is common to see some people struggle with remote work and all the challenges it presents. As you struggle with the arrangements, the productivity levels drop, leaving you in a worse spot each day.

Make the most out of the tips mentioned in this article and seek even more suggestions to ensure a productive day despite staying at home and facing potential distractions and other things that disrupt your workflow.

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