10 Tips to Work Remotely and Get Your Work Done

As most freelance writers and etsy store owners understand, working remotely allows you the freedom to indulge your creativity whenever available. But, with every job, there are caveats. Working remotely means there are distractions everywhere and you are cut off from face-to-face contact.

For some people working remotely removes the shackles from their mind, while others struggle to adapt to an isolated environment. There’s also no one looking over your shoulder or monitoring your workflow so you are solely judged by your performance and productivity. This matters in some industry verticals more than others.

If you are considering working remotely or you currently do, here are ten surefire tips to improve your workflow and enjoy the workday.

Is This the Job for Me?

It’s tempting to take a job based solely on the fact that it’s remote. I believe liking a job is more important for freelance and remote workers because workflow and productivity will be generated from natural energy and self-determination.

Office and remote workers alike are putting in their time for a paycheck, but the office setting forces individuals to be productive through constant supervision and fear. Distractions, a lack of focus, and a bitter disposition will slowly erode the workflow of a remote worker who hates his/her job.

As the saying goes, “Find a job you like and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”  For remote workers, finding a job you like and removing barriers, such as transportation costs and dealing with workplace politics, amplifies this effect and makes working remotely a dream come true. The days also go by faster, as a satisfied worker is more likely to reach a natural flow.

Work From an Authentic Workspace

Most people think of freelance writers and remote graphic designers lying in bed as they work in their pajamas on a laptop. This may be true of some people, but it’s not very productive and makes workers susceptible to distractions.

I suggest investing in an office desk and a comfortable computer chair to replicate the office setting. If possible, work from a separate room in your house void of a TV set, video games, or whatever distractions are lying around.

Besides, working from your bed will either make you tired or make it harder to sleep at night- your brain will associate your bed with work. You can work in casual attire, but nothing makes you more lazy than working in a pair of sweatpants or pajamas.

Set up a good playlist and create a personalized environment that will help you focus and relax.

Stay Organized

There’s a reason we emulate the corporate office setting at our home office. You wouldn’t leave your work desk a mess, would you? Organization is one of the biggest challenges facing remote workers. The drive to keep organized and clean stems from your own self-determination and no longer a persistent and annoying boss.

Be sure to keep all files on your hard drive or flash drive organized by work projects. The same goes for your desk. This will help with reporting and generally completing tasks quicker. This is a no brainer.  

Ensure You Have Backup

The office setting confers many advantages for its employes. There’s a neat space to prepare meals and there’s typically an IT staff always on standby. Unfortunately, the only IT person you have at your house is Google.

Be sure to always keep backup hard drives and copies of all your folders if you don’t have access to your company’s cloud computing system. If you work from a computer, be sure you also have a laptop or a tablet on standby to temporarily complete tasks on if your electronic device stops working.

A manager will take no pity on you if your internet bill wasn’t paid last month, because even if you found the most affordable aggregated energy, you have to be prepared for anything. Be sure to always have options available to complete necessary tasks and have backup files of important documents that could be lost in the case of a computer malfunction or simply being thrown in the trash accidentally.

Maintain Workplace Communication

The biggest challenge that most remote workers must adapt to are the barriers to communication to other team members and even the lack of human contact. There are endless workplace apps you can take advantage of, such as Evernote and Slack, that will help you stay connected with team members and also help establish connections with other remote workers.

Slack is a great tool that allows teams to segment different tasks by channel and allows for open or private team communication. Set your slack channel to snooze every time you are logged off to let team members know you are done for the day.

Consider using virtual communication, such as Skype or Google Hangouts, to create more personal connections with team members and stay on top of tasks. This will help mitigate any roadblocks or disasters that could result from miscommunication over a text based channel. These applications are also great for hosting team meetings and meeting with clients.

Foster Team Building

It’s still important to maintain that face-to-face communication even if it’s over a video channel. Even if you work in an isolated apartment, you are still part of a team. Go the extra mile in reporting and helps others with tasks using Evernote and other project management tools. This will make team members more loyal to you and more likely to help you with future tasks.

I advise you to attend all of those team meetings or retreats your company hosts. Team building is an intricate part of any organization, but even more so with a remote team. This also shows your engagement in the process and your dedication to the team, which would be impossible to perceive otherwise.

Consider Working Anywhere Else

Being cooped up at your house or apartment can be a significant drain cognitively and emotionally. Consider working from the local coffee shop a few days a week. This gives you a chance to interact with other people and find a spot where you can achieve that flow.  

Many companies and startups even use virtual offices with all of the features of a centralized office without the physical location. If your business offers this, take advantage of their “drop-in” locations and office spaces to complete tasks you wouldn’t have available at your house, such as scanning a file or working with specific software. This also provides a nice change of scenery.

Some remote workers move to different cities where “drop-in” offices are located or wherever their heart takes them. One of the advantages of remote work means that you can truly work from anywhere.

You can also work on vacation. Consider taking a drive across the country in a van or RV with WiFi, visiting the places you’ve always wanted to visit while getting your work done.  

Work in Sprints

Software development companies often use a technique called iterative development. Essentially, software updates are completed in sprints, or small tasks, where user feedback and usability tests are inputted afterward to evaluate the end product and make changes where necessary.

Use this idea and consider working in your own sprints throughout the day. Throw yourself completely at a task for an hour and then take a fifteen minute break. Of course, if you reach that state of flow then don’t stop.

Building on this idea, complete your most dreaded tasks first and leave your afternoons for more pleasant tasks. This will give you something to look forward to throughout your workday.

Many remote jobs are based around computers, so make sure you give your eyes breaks, as well. You can even use supplements for your eye health, because vision is a very important consideration that can be easily overlooked when you are not being careful.

Balance Work with Distractions

One challenge many remote workers cannot overcome is balancing work with distractions. Taking a break every now and then is great, especially if you hit a writer’s block, but make sure you are taking the right kind of break.

There have definitely been instances where I’ve turned on a TV show in the middle of a freelance assignment only to find that four hours later I just completed a whole season and got no work done. I always suggest playing music through some comfortable headphones to limit the distractions around you and allow you to focus on your task.

This reinforces the idea of separating your home office from the rest of your home. Leave your breaks for lunch and exercise.

Exercise!

Finally, working at home and not going outside is bad for your health. It’s recommended that you exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Take two 15 minute walks throughout the day during your breaks. This will also get oxygen pumping through the blood and leave you clear headed and ready to tackle the next task.

Final Thoughts

Remote work entails increased mobility for workers and a free range of creativity to complete tasks their own way. Some individuals simply prefer the interconnectivity of the office setting and are frightened by the idea of working remotely.

According to Gallup’s latest poll, 43% of workers reported that they worked remotely part-time in the past year. With advancing technology and more automated jobs, this number will be expected to rise as it becomes cheaper to maintain a team remotely. The global economy is transforming and creating better choices for individuals to work where they want and pursue what they want.