Maximize Your Productivity: 5 Essential Tech Tips for Remote Work
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In recent years, the idea of remote work has gained significant traction, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. The advantages of telecommuting include flexibility, comfort, and the elimination of tedious commutes.
However, there are also challenges that can hinder productivity, such as time management, distractions, and maintaining focus. These issues are common among individuals working from home today.
As someone who has been navigating a hybrid work model for nearly a year and completed an online degree due to the pandemic, I’m eager to share five crucial tips that can enhance your productivity and overall success.
Whether you're new to remote work or seeking to enhance your existing routine, this guide is tailored for you!
Being a tech-focused blog, I will delve into the tools, applications, and strategies that can help you stay productive. Let’s dive in!
1. Establish a Defined Workspace
Let’s kick off by discussing your workspace. You might not realize it, but an inappropriate working environment can greatly affect your productivity. Our surroundings influence our behavior, and the same holds true for our work spaces.
All living beings make choices based on their environments; if an animal feels unsafe in its habitat, it will relocate. Similarly, humans can find themselves procrastinating when surrounded by distractions, such as a gaming setup.
What Can You Do?
The solution is straightforward: create a distinct separation between your work area and your relaxation space. If you’re a gamer like me, it’s beneficial to differentiate your work environment from your gaming zone.
Ideally, you would convert a spare room into an office. However, for many, space constraints make this challenging.
If you already have a desk, there’s no need to purchase another! I work from the same desk where I game and run my side hustle. The key is to organize it for work rather than play.
I use two separate devices: my work laptop connected to monitors for professional tasks, and my gaming PC for leisure. I also utilize distinct keyboards and mice for each purpose. For work, I prefer the Logitech MX Master 3 mouse and Logitech MX Keys keyboard, while for gaming, I use a Razer Basilisk mouse and ADX FireFight WMK05 Mechanical keyboard.
Before starting my workday, I follow a 20-second rule—spending that time decluttering my desk to minimize distractions. To help with this, I set up an Alexa routine that reminds me to start my 20-second cleaning ritual.
2. Reduce Distractions
This leads us to the importance of minimizing distractions. Anything on your desk, be it an empty mug or gaming remote, can divert your attention. Identify and eliminate these distractions!
Distractions can also arise from items outside your desk area, such as a noisy clock or a nearby bag. It’s crucial to remove anything that could disrupt your focus.
Have You Tried Using Tools?
Believe it or not, there are several effective tools available to help you reduce distractions, especially if your smartphone or tablet is your main culprit.
Whenever I struggle to concentrate, I use an app called Forest, which acts as a Pomodoro timer. After completing a focused 25-minute work session, you plant a virtual tree. The app can also block other distractions on your phone, and if you exit the app too soon, your tree dies. Freedom is another helpful app that serves a similar purpose.
For those unfamiliar with the Pomodoro technique, it involves setting a timer for 25 minutes during which you focus solely on your task, followed by a 5-minute break. This method is simple yet highly effective.
If you prefer not to use third-party applications, check if your smartphone has a built-in focus mode. For example, my Pixel 7 Pro has this feature, and iOS devices offer even more advanced options like automation profiles.
3. Optimize Available Tools
If you're employed by a company, your access to certain tools and software may be limited. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of what you have.
Currently, there’s a lot of content on maximizing Google Workspace apps like Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Drive. However, in the UK, I’ve noticed that many companies still rely on Microsoft’s offerings.
From my perspective, Microsoft provides equally useful tools, and your organization might already have subscriptions to them. Here are a couple of tools I frequently use:
Microsoft To Do
Microsoft To Do is a fantastic app for managing daily tasks. I use it at work and have started testing it in my personal life. The interface is straightforward and user-friendly.
When working from home, it’s easy to lose focus, so jotting down your tasks can be invaluable, especially during busy periods!
One of my favorite features is the “My Day” tab, where all tasks due today are compiled. You can easily add tasks here or designate them with today’s due date, making it incredibly convenient.
Microsoft OneNote
Taking notes is essential, and Microsoft OneNote is an excellent tool for this purpose. I relied heavily on it during my university studies.
OneNote is versatile, suitable for both home and office use, and great for quick notes or maintaining a personal knowledge base.
Additionally, it’s useful for collaboration with colleagues; you can create shared notebooks, work on projects together, and keep meeting notes for future reference.
4. Schedule Breaks
Taking breaks is vital, whether it’s a quick coffee break or your lunch hour. Breaks can help alleviate stress and fatigue, improving your posture, particularly when sitting at a computer for extended periods.
During my lunch breaks, I enjoy going for walks, which allows me to stretch my legs, breathe in some fresh air, and grab a meal deal.
For those unfamiliar with UK meal deals, they typically include a sandwich, drink, and snack at a reasonable price. For instance, £3.50 can get you a decent sandwich, a Coke, and a pack of crisps.
Use Technology to Motivate You!
Ideally, you’d want to disconnect from screens during breaks, but technology can actually serve as a motivator.
I use a Google Pixel Watch with Fitbit integration to track my walks when I have the opportunity. I also sync these walks with Strava to compete with coworkers.
Given the unpredictable UK weather, I set up an Alexa Routine on my desk that announces lunchtime and provides a weather update. This helps me decide whether it’s worthwhile to take my break outdoors.
These little reminders can motivate you to take proper breaks or go for a walk.
5. Invest in Quality Equipment
Depending on your employer, you may receive equipment like a laptop, and some companies even provide monitors or complete setups. If all you have is a laptop, I strongly encourage you to invest in at least a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. This investment will significantly enhance your remote work experience!
Purchasing a home office kit is a wise investment for the future. Consider what happens if you decide to work from home for a different employer; having a solid setup will serve you well.
The best part is that it doesn’t have to be expensive—second-hand monitors are a great option! If you prefer new items, you can find excellent deals, such as a Philips 24-inch monitor.
For mice and keyboards, I recommend buying new ones since they are affordable. A basic but effective choice is the Logitech MK270 wireless desk set.
I also suggest adding a webcam and a good headset for online meetings. The Logitech C270 is a budget-friendly webcam with decent quality, and the Logitech H390 is a reliable headset I use when my Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 are charging.
By the way, I’m not sponsored by Logitech; I simply trust their products based on my IT experience.
Finally, I recommend managing your cables to keep your workspace tidy and inviting.
Bonus Tip!
If you live in a noisy environment, consider investing in a pair of quality active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones. These headphones can help you concentrate by blocking out ambient noise.
I currently use the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 and recently reviewed them on my blog and YouTube channel. However, you don’t need to spend a fortune—Anker offers great ANC headphones at reasonable prices, like the Anker Soundcore Q20 or the more stylish Q30 model.
Summary
Those were my top five tech tips for remote work. If you have additional suggestions, feel free to share them in the comments!
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Originally published at https://techwithdom.com on February 24, 2023.