How to Become a Productive Remote Worker

If you’re thinking about working from home, there are numerous technology tools can help you become a successful remote worker. File sharing, IM and cloud communication (like the one offered by RingCentral, Taridium or RingSky) can help you stay connected with your team, boss and clients as well as provide you with access to the essential information you need to keep up with your tasks.

Providing huge benefits for employees and business owners, remote working is exponentially rising in popularity day by day. According to ReadyTalk, “Currently, 34 million “occasionally” telecommute, and this is expected to increase to 63 million by 2016.” We’ve come up with a shortlist of tips to help you stay engaged, productive and connected as a remote worker, improving your remote work experience. Here’s a look:

Tip 1: Rely on Technology

Chat online with colleagues and your boss with an innovative Instant Messenger such as Peer.im or Jabber. Since you’re out of the office, you can effortlessly share and access files using clever file sharing apps such as Box, ownCloud and Dropbox. Joining and hosting web and audio conferences effectively can be done with useful tools such as ReadyTalk that can easily integrate with Google, Outlook and Salesforce.

Tip 2: Create Your Home Office

Since you work at home, you can be tempted to stay in bed or sit on your couch in front of the TV for hours. This wouldn’t be very smart as a remote worker because you would feel extremely relaxed and your motivation and productivity would be lessened. It is crucial to create an appealing work area with all your gadgets in your home, separating your work life from your home life.

Tip 3: Create a List of Tasks

It’s extremely relevant to create a list of tasks for yourself and keep to it. By creating a plan, you will stay focused and deliver exactly what your boss expects from you- and more! Follow the time limit by starting and finishing work as if you were at the office. This marvelous routine makes sure that your personal life and work do not overlap.

Tip 4: Take Breaks

Ensure you reward yourself for finishing certain tasks and take breaks after that. Since you have already created your home office, enjoy taking your breaks somewhere else. How about the living room or kitchen? This will help you appreciate a more relaxed surrounding every now and then, clearing your mind and providing a fresh perspective once you get back to work.

Tip 5: Meet With Your Teammates in Person Once a Week

If you stay inside and work by yourself, you have a lot less human contact than you would if you worked in a real office with teammates. Talking with your co-workers by Skype, phone or IM is not enough. Face to face interaction is extremely important! You can make it part of your working week by meeting with your clients, suppliers, boss or co-workers in person every once in a while. Make sure to include this in your list of weekly tasks.

We hope this information comes in handy. Keep in mind that following these helpful tips can serve as ground rules to keep you motivated, avoiding the numerous distractions that you can find at your home. Are you a remote worker? Which tools and strategies have proven to enhance your productivity? Why is that so? We would love to hear your thoughts. Please don’t forget to leave a comment below.

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