Many people are working from home in 2023, and this trend is bound to pick up in 2024. During the pandemic, many employees and employers saw that coming to the office is not nearly as mandatory (or necessary) as one might think. At the same time, the benefits of remote work are simply too vast to ignore.
So, since this is now a dominant trend in the business world, chances are that the next job you land might have at least a hybrid network. You must know how to get the most out of yourself under any circumstances, so here are the top ten simple tips to help you become a better remote worker.
1. Invest in your equipment
You’re in charge of your equipment and some of your licenses as a remote worker. Your computer and laptop are your concern, like your second monitor, mechanical keyboard, ergonomic chair, and noise-canceling headphones.
Some employers will offer to split costs over some of these equipment acquisitions, but this is an exception rather than a norm.
Each of these purchases affects your comfort and productivity, which makes them more than worth it in the long run. Most of these investments are a one-purchase that you benefit from over time. After all, a second monitor boosts your productivity by a fascinating 42%. Just think about the benefits over the long course of time.
2. Have “the talk” with other residents
If you’re not living alone, it will be a hard time explaining to some people that you’re working, even at home. Since the pandemic, many people experienced this, so it’s a bit easier to grasp; however, it’s still a conversation you need to have.
In every relationship, it’s give and take. They should be considerate about the fact that you’re working, but you also need to understand that this silent regimen can’t last an entire day. They’re quiet enough at the office or school and may have to unwind when they get home. Just put yourself in their shoes and understand that what you’re asking of them might – sometimes – not be as simple as it seems. Try to find a solution that works for both parties.
3. Abandon the notion of having no work hours
The bulk of remote work works based on deadlines, not work hours. Even when you have work hours, you usually talk about the number of hours per day, not fixed time. This means that, more often than not, if things get out of control, you’ll have four more hours to work for the day, and it will be 8 p.m.
Instead, you need to introduce self-imposed deadlines. This is the only way for you to stay sane, and productive and keep a work-life balance.
4. Pay more attention to your cybersecurity
As a remote worker, you’re in charge of your cybersecurity. You’re accessing project management platforms, corporate email, and attending top-secret meetings from a network and a device no office person has verified. Why? Well, because this is not simple and because they trust you to do so.
You’re a security liability (not just you but anyone working remotely), and a flaw in this field may haunt you.
Just look at this updated antivirus software list and pick something you find to be the most appealing. Any item from the list will work, and it’s worth getting a paid version.
Also, develop better passwords and learn how to recognize and avoid phishing attempts.
5. Learn how to be self-reliant
As a remote employee, there’s often no tech support on the premises. Therefore, you can’t rely on other people to fix your problems. Regardless of what happens, from various Windows errors to Discord not installing, you need a way to fix this issue.
We’re not suggesting that you just learn how to fix every software and hardware issue out there only to develop these research skills and subscribe to the right channels and subreddits. You would be surprised at how many problems can be fixed in minutes (sometimes even seconds).
Generally speaking, even if you have someone to contact, it’s usually more time-efficient to fix the issue without waiting for them to address it.
6. Take some real rest
You need to get offline.
A lot of people enjoy the digital world a little too much. They’re working on their devices, but even when they’re not, they’re watching something, playing something, or reading. In other words, they spend the entire day in front of the screen. This is dangerous for both your physical and mental health.
Fill your day with non-work obligations. Go to the gym or just invent a reason to go out. In the internet and delivery services era, it’s easy not to go outside. If you allow yourself to lose this incentive, you’ll get so cozy that it will be hard to force you to go outside for whatever reason. You must learn to take some real rest.
7. Consider interval working
Out of all the tricks to drive productivity up, interval working might be one of the best. When you force yourself to work without a break, your focus starts to falter. This means that while you have an hour of work, this is not an hour of active work. Even if it’s an hour of active work, it’s nowhere near work at optimal productivity.
Instead, consider interval working, like with the Pomodoro technique. This way, you work for 25 minutes, rest for five minutes, and repeat the cycle. After every three five-minute breaks, you make a single longer break (about 15 minutes). It’s a method that has shown some amazing results.
8. Get a decent microphone, camera, and headphones
Another thing you need to bear in mind is that, in the modern digital workplace, just chatting will no longer suffice. You’ll need to attend virtual meetings, and for this, you’ll need a decent camera and microphone.
Keep in mind that, for the sake of security, you also want to keep the headphones on. Sure, your family is trustworthy, but they’re not team members. They haven’t passed the vetting process, and your managers and coworkers might talk differently if they were aware that outsiders are listening.
There are a lot of great headphones with a microphone attached out there, so just pick one.
9. Prepare your phone
Your phone needs to be outfitted with all the necessary apps that you’ll use for work. You already have an email (probably even Skype by default). So, download whatever else you’re using for communication with your team, be it Slack, Basecamp, or Trello.
Remember that when you work remotely, you still need to boast a pretty great availability (after all, that’s part of the arrangement). The best way to ensure you always get notifications is to have your phone outfitted with all these platforms.
10. Buy a laptop (as well)
Some people working from home prefer to have a desktop station, but owning a laptop is always recommended. This is great for example when you want to work on a terrace or in a backyard.
Sure, the idea of being productive while working in your underpants on the living room couch has long since been abandoned. However, you also want to know that this option is always available.
If you’re smart, you can create a great system for working from home
The thing is that working from home has so much potential. You have the peace and quiet, you’re the master of your own workspace, and you get to customize it however you feel. On top of this, you get to work how you want when it suits you the most. However, you can enjoy these benefits only if you take things seriously and organize.