Tag Archives: Remote Worker Tools

How to Create a Home Office Space for Remote Work

With the increasing capabilities of internet connectivity, more and more people are embracing remote work and the digital nomad lifestyle. To optimize productivity, you can set up an office space in your home, even with limited living space. Start by considering these easy tips.

Visit Remote Control for tips and resources on how you can work or run your business remotely. 

Designate a Well-Lit Area

Your priority choice for an office should be the area of your living space with the best natural lighting. Research shows that access to natural light while working improves mood, mental health, and overall well-being. This can be a corner in the living room with windows or a space in the kitchen. Choose the area that gets the most light for the longest part of the day. For example, if you prefer to work in the early morning, choose an area facing the sunrise.

Use Functional Furniture and Fixtures

Ergonomic furniture is a major trend in office decor, and using functional furniture doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your aesthetic. People who work in an office setting, even at home, sometimes deal with repetitive stress injuries. Ergonomic furniture, such as a desk, chair, or table, allows you to work without developing any injuries over time. You can typically find pieces to match the look and feel of your home as well.

Prioritize Climate Control and a Functional HVAC System

Ensuring your workspace is comfortable is an important element of optimizing productivity, and climate control is an easy way to alter how an area affects you. Have the HVAC system in your home checked for any noise issues or heating and cooling defects to ensure it is working properly. A loud unit can be a distraction, and this issue is typically a problem with the motor that you can easily fix. Find local HVAC contractors to come troubleshoot problems and get your comfort back on track.

Start Organized

Being disorganized is a common time waster when you work from home. It’s easy for things to get cluttered when you live in a small space. That is why the minimalist approach to storage and decor is the best way to optimize the space and get rid of unnecessary distractions. Start by organizing your work desk and removing anything that takes the focus from your job. Place all your stationery tools in desk drawers so they are out of view but within reach. Keeping sentimental items, such as photos, is a great way to decorate, but avoid putting them directly in front of you on the desk. Instead, designate a shelf elsewhere for such items.

Rethink Your Entire Living Space

When you simply cannot find the perfect spot, it may be time for a small home makeover. Move the couch to the darker area of the living room so you can take advantage of the light coming through the windows. Move your bedroom to the spare room closer to the street so you can turn the quieter room into your workspace. When all else fails, you can start thinking about getting rid of items to make space for your office.

Creating a definitive work space with a functioning HVAC system is the best way to keep yourself on track. If you lose motivation when things become too familiar, don’t be afraid to apply these tips to a new space in your home. Sometimes changing things up slightly can help you work more efficiently.

About the Author (Sarah Noel)
Sarah Noel and her boyfriend, both left corporate jobs to work as freelancers, chasing balance between the work they loved and the life they wanted. They’ve taught themselves how to work smarter, not harder. They’ve committed to separating work and home so that they can enjoy both. Now, with TaylorandNoel.com, they’re sharing their best practices with other freelancers, in hopes they can do the same.

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Filed under Digital Nomads, Tips and Tricks

The top 8 resources to make remote working a success

Productivity by Alien Frank

Productivity by Alien Frank

As you settle into the life of an remote worker, you will find that you experience many up’s and downs as you settle into your new lifestyle. The freedom is empowering, but the lack of co-workers can be a drain on your personal happiness (or you may even be secretly relieved). I’m going to cover the top methods and resources I use to make your life abroad a breeze, whether you are just starting out or a seasoned professional.

  1. Rework: Office Not Required

Get your hands on a copy of this book. Written by the founders of 37signals, they delve into the challenges and unexpected benefits for working remotely. If you need help convincing your employer to let you break free from the 9-5, this book will give you the ideas to set it in motion, outlining precisely the steps you take in building a remote work setup.

  1. The right hardware

You need a laptop, a decent internet connection and a mobile phone that you always have on. Even though you are working “remote,” you need to be accessible at all times – especially when your boss needs to get hold of you. A separate workstation from the rest of your house will also help to keep you on task while you are working, and a great headset will make it easy to answer every Skype call that comes int.

  1. The right software

There are endless programs to assist during your telecommute. File sharing systems like Google Drive or Dropbox are great ways to share and simultaneously work on large files with your colleagues. Of course you need to regularly check your email, sign up for a free Skype account and ensure you are always online. If your clients are international, tools like The World Clock will let you schedule effective meetings in any time zone.

  1. A strategy to be productive

Decide what it takes to keep you on track. The biggest danger in working remotely comes from distractions. You are going to need to be even more productive than your “traditional” colleagues to maintain your remote lifestyle and grow your career. Find what works for you, it can be a post-it system plastered over your monitor, or more complex tools like Evernote or Wunderlist. Personally I write down everything I hope to achieve in a day in a notebook. I prioritize the list to determine my top four goals, and split these into two each morning and two each evening. I reward myself with a break in between tasks, or ensure I get 5-10 minutes away from my computer every hour if its a longer project. Simple and easy.

  1. Stay social

It may sound trivial, but you don’t want to find yourself distanced from the office “clique.” The people you interact with everyday at the water cooler form the foundation of your professional network. If you’re not in the office, don’t miss out on everything that goes on while you’re not there. Tools like Campfire, or WhatsApp and Line groups allow colleagues to stay connected (informally). You don’t want to fade into obscurity simply because your office is in your home.

  1. A regular way to “Get out of the house”

The lack of face-to-face social interaction when working remotely has a remarkable ability to turn a professional employee into an unshaven, unbathed neanderthal whose sole human interaction involves having the right change for the pizza delivery guy. Dont be this telecommuter. Get active in your community through Chambers of Commerce, MeetUp.com, or local sports groups and give yourself a reason to shower each day! Join a gym and ensure you get exercise three times a week. It will also help to balance your sanity and adds a nice change of scenery to your home office.

  1. Clear guidelines and milestones

Be open with your boss and colleagues on what it is you are working on. Keep them updated with regular progress reports, and ensure they know the timelines to expect tasks to be completed. Yammer is a great way for teams to keep up to date. It’s a common misconception that working from home involves tapping away at emails while your focus is on the daily TV soap opera’s. Don’t ever give your colleagues this impression. It only takes a quick morning call or message to outline your major tasks for the day alongside the progress you made yesterday. Bring your boss and your team up to speed every morning, and they will never doubt your diligence.

  1. A good work life balance

My final resource is more of a guideline. Remember the office should stay the office. This key fact is often forgotten by remote workers who put in a crazy amount of weekly hours because it’s so easy to log on and “just check my email”. Having your office in your home offers a huge risk for burnout, so set yourself a schedule and stick to it.

Make use of these resources and you will find that remote working is easier than ever. It’s not scary or impossible. All it takes is for you to take charge, and grab this fantastic opportunity for yourself.  

Author: Travis Bennett

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Filed under Life Hacks, Technology, Tips and Tricks, Working Remotely