Working remotely is a dream come true for many people. You can ditch the commute and gain back hours of time every week. You can use that extra time to get a little more sleep, get started earlier so you can finish earlier, or finally catch up on your backlog of work. Working remotely also allows you to have greater control over your environment and more flexibility with your schedule. Remote work does come with some of its own challenges but the benefits of the design typically far outweigh those challenges. There are tools you can get to help you effectively deal with some of the challenges related to working remotely. With these tools in place, you can make working remotely work for you.
Virtual office
A virtual office is a valuable tool for any business owner who wants to work remotely. A virtual office can provide you with a professional physical address that will show up in online searches and allow you to maintain a professional image – even if you are doing your work from a home office. In addition, there are a number of services that are available through a virtual office. Mail and phone services are two options that can help you make working remotely work for you. Transitioning from a physical location to remote work may seem daunting. Setting up a virtual office can help make it a smooth transition.
Dedicated work space
Switching to remote work completely changes your environment. Instead of going to an office each day you can simply step into a different room and get started. This flexibility is wonderful but many people find it difficult to switch from ‘home mode’ to ‘work mode’. Home can have significantly more distractions than a physical option simply because there are always other things that need to be done at home. If you are working in an office there is no way for you to throw on a load of laundry or go pull weeds out of your flowerbeds – at home, distractions such as those will always be present. You can quickly lose the extra time you save from not commuting if you are not intentional about getting into ‘work mode’. Creating a dedicated space in your house to work can be helpful with this process. If you have a home office, work from there consistently. If you do not have an office, find another space to dedicate specifically to work. Eventually, you will be able to switch to ‘work mode’ more easily because you associate that space with working.
Scheduling software
Quality scheduling software can help you manage the extra flexibility that working remotely provides. It is amazing to have more control over when you work. However, if you are not careful, you can get your schedule out of balance and find yourself getting behind. Online scheduling software that allows you to create a detailed plan for your week/month/quarter can give you the big picture so you do no get behind. Choose one that also has a mobile app so you always have quick access to your schedule.
High-quality office chair
Working from home often entails sitting for hours in front of a computer. The chair you use can make a significant difference in your comfort level. It may be tempting to simply use a chair from the dining room table but you will pay the price physically if you do. Take some time to find an office chair that is ergonomically designed so you can be comfortable and avoid pain related to sitting for extended periods of time.
The right tools can make the transition to remote work easier than you thought possible. Take some time to explore the tools outlined above and create a quality plan for transitioning to remote work.
