28 Remote Work Best Practices & Lessons Learned as a Remote Worker
The future of work is remote. It is for me, and if you’ve clicked on this article, I’m pretty sure it is for you, too. But just because we know the power of remote work doesn’t mean there aren’t risks.
When I first made the shift to working remotely, I made so many mistakes.
Without strong communication, productivity, and work culture practices, my quality of work took a dip. I knew I couldn’t return to the nine-to-five, so I had no choice but to figure out how to make working remotely work for me.
According to surveys, working remotely makes people less stressed and more engaged - we all deserve that boost to our quality of life. Using this guide to the best remote work practices won’t just improve your work life, it will help you to become an all-around better, happier, and more accomplished person. So, let's dive in!
Communication Best Practices
1. Be Proactive in Scheduling Meetings
I get it, constant meetings aren’t fun for anyone, but when you’re working remotely, meetings are so important. Schedule 1-on-1s, request time with other teams, and be the person pushing for real-time conversations.
2. Stay Reachable
If you’ve told your team or client you’re online, it’s not enough to just be working - you have to be contactable. Whether it’s through Slack, email, or texts, or even asynchronous communication tools, make sure to reply to messages as quickly as possible.
3. Send Progress Updates
Don’t wait to be asked for an update - take the initiative to send them first. This means your colleagues are never left wondering what you’ve been working on (and it gives you the chance to show off how much you can get done by working remotely).
Lifestyle Best Practices
4. Set Boundaries
I cannot stress enough the importance of a work-life balance. When the normal boundaries of an office are off the table, you have to actively make sure you’re putting your work down when you’re supposed to.
Learn more about work-life balance here:
Thalia-Maria Tourikis
5. Factor in Lunch
This goes hand-in-hand with setting boundaries, but is something I embarrassingly didn’t do until far too recently: schedule lunch into your day! Taking breaks is a huge part of a productive and healthy lifestyle - it’s a ‘must do’, not a ‘nice to have’.
6. Use the 'Do Not Disturb Mode'
Working remotely means you’re online a lot. We get work messages and emails at all hours of the day - especially with colleagues in different time zones. Use your phone’s 'Do Not Disturb' function to opt out of stressful work-related updates.
Remote Work Culture Best Practices
7. Connect with Teammates (Over More Than Just Work)
Just because you work together remotely, doesn’t mean you can’t be work friends. Connecting with your remote teammates in a distributed team is a major part of enjoying your job. And make sure to look for opportunities to talk about things other than your projects.
8. Turn Your Camera On
I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but turning your camera on in meetings does make a difference. You may never meet some of your colleagues or clients in person and switching on your camera will help you get to know each other faster.
9. Find Time to Celebrate Wins
From hitting a one-year work milestone or delivering on a big assignment, our wins are worth celebrating - remote or not. Look for opportunities to champion each other because we deserve it…and because it's fun!
10. Join Remote Work Communities
Did you know that remote work culture extends beyond just your company? Digital nomad communities exist online and in person, just about anywhere in the world. Join them to help fight homesickness, find support, and meet new friends.
Remote Work Office Best Practices
11. Invest in Reliable Tech
Picture this, you’re in a new city, sitting at a coffee shop, ready to get started on a project…only to find your laptop isn’t turning on. If you’re a digital nomad, a bad portable desk setup can ruin not just a workday but entire client relationships. Purchase tech you can rely on, and I promise you, it will more than pay for itself.
12. Avoid Running out of Power
Having the best and most reliable tech is only half the battle. Remember to pack a lightweight, travel-friendly power bank like the Omni Mobile 25600 to keep your electronics juiced up all day long.
13. Don’t Forget a Plug Adapter
I like to think of myself as a pretty experienced traveler - I’ve visited 30 countries and lived in four - and yet the fact that different countries use different plugs always slips my mind! That’s where MOGICS Super Bagel comes in. This universal plug adapter has saved me on more occasions than I like to admit!
14. Get a High-Quality Webcam
We know that webcams need to be turned on, so it goes without saying that the video quality matters, too. I recommend the Logitech Brio for a 4k webcam that’s lightweight, durable and comes with auto-light adjustment.
Productivity Best Practices
15. Find a Morning Routine
Something I’ve learned from two years of remote work is that if my morning isn’t productive, the whole day is pretty much shot. A good morning routine ensures I don’t fall into distraction before the day has even begun.
16. Use Noise Canceling Headphones
Noise-canceling headphones are my holy grail hack for remote work productivity. With my AirPods Pro (2nd Generation), I can lock into my work in any environment (we’re talking busy cafes, loud hostels, and turbulent flights). For an over-ear option, check out the Sony WH-1000XM5 for the best sound quality on the market.
17. Try the Famous 'Pomodoro Technique'
This technique has three steps: choose a task, work for 25 minutes, and take a 5-minute break. Then, repeat four times. On days when I’m really struggling to focus, this almost always works to get me back on track.
18. Don’t Underestimate the To-Do List
Not to sound dramatic, but a good to-do list will change your life. You can try out a dedicated remote work tool like Todoist or just use a good old pen and paper - what matters is having a visual list of the tasks that need doing.
19. Change Location
For those days when nothing seems to be working and all your mind wants to do is wander, you probably just need a change of location. Although limiting distractions by moving somewhere new sounds counterintuitive, procrastination actually stems from being bored - so get up and go!
Time Management Best Practices
20. Double Check Your Time Zone Math
I live in Japan, that’s eight hours ahead of London, 13 from New York, and 16 from the West Coast…and those numbers change when the clocks go back! Instead of relying on my time zone math, use apps like WorldTimeBuddy to avoid embarrassing mistakes when picking the wrong timezone.
21. Ask Questions Upfront
Different time zones mean that if I don’t have all the information I need, I’m probably going to waste an entire day waiting for the West Coast to wake up. Try to preempt your questions to ask upfront and save time later.
22. Experiment With Project Management Software
We have so many choices when it comes to remote worker-friendly PM tools. Both Notion and Monday.com are popular choices with plenty of personalization to help you break your projects into manageable tasks.
23. Optimize Your Calendar
Your calendar can be for more than just meetings. I use mine as a daily planner by time-blocking color-coordinated tasks so that I can see what I’m meant to be doing each morning with a quick glance at the calendar.
Security and Cybersecurity Best Practices
24. Use a VPN
Using a VPN isn’t only for watching TV in other countries - it also protects you and your work by hiding your IP address. I use NordVPN to protect against third-party tracking and encrypt my internet history.
25. Invest in a Portable Wi-Fi device
As a digital nomad, I work from hotels and coffee shops pretty much every week. Without a portable Wi-Fi device like the Simo Solis Lite, you’re only option is to join public networks. These are unreliable and open you up to cybersecurity threats, as anyone else on that network can potentially access (and steal) your data. So, please avoid that.
26. Outsource Password Management
Hiding your passwords in a locked note on your phone isn’t going to cut it anymore. Hackers are getting more advanced, and if the only thing protecting your work is a six-digit PIN, things aren’t looking good. Instead, try a password manager like 1Password to keep you and your work safe!
27. Share Your Location (and check in regularly)
Digital nomads work from cities all over the world, and some are safer than others. If you travel alone, it’s important to share your location with someone you trust and send daily check-ins to let them know you’re safe.
A Few Last Pieces of Advice
More a reminder than a final piece of advice: don't forget that although working remotely is amazing, it has of course its challenges.
Look after yourself. Stay healthy. Listen to your body! When you need to take a break - from work or travel - take a break! Make sure you’re treating your mental and physical health seriously and ask for help when you need it.
Most importantly, have fun! Take advantage of the amazing benefits of remote work like travel, flexibility, and community because, at the end of the day, you’ll remember the experience of working remotely far better than the work itself.
Ready to Be More Productive When Working Remotely?
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